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Polycom Video Collaboration Improves Productivity for Engineering Firm Buro Happold, Saving up to £3 Million Annually in Travel Costs
Posted on Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Travel costs reduced significantly (up to £250,000/US$406,000 per month); 3,000 hours a month gained in productivity; over 90 percent of staff now video-enabled
 
London, UK - Sep 25, 2012 : Polycom, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCM), the global leader in open standards-based unified communications (UC), today announced that global engineering consultancy Buro Happold has implemented Polycom® RealPresence® video solutions across its global offices to reduce travel costs, improve engagement and collaboration, and increase productivity. With engineers based in multiple locations and involved in a wide range of design and construction projects from hospitals and living spaces to commercial developments, the firm uses video meetings to enable teams to collaborate face-to-face in real time. With RealPresence video solutions, Buro Happold has reduced travel costs, amounting up to £3 million (US$4.9 million) annually; gained 3,000 hours a month in productivity by working smarter; and improved the work/life balance for employees, 90 percent of whom are now video-enabled.
 
Buro Happold recently implemented a unified communications solution for its global workforce* based on Microsoft Lync Server 2010. Virtually every desk has its own high-tech camera and speaker system, enabling team members to connect and collaborate from anywhere with anyone, using instant messaging, video, audio, at any time. Polycom RealPresence video solutions directly connect with Lync through open standards. This tight combination of Microsoft Lync and Polycom enables Buro Happold employees, for example, to click a name on their Lync contact list and instantly meet with a colleague face-to-face on a Polycom video collaboration solutions.
 
“We chose Polycom over its competitors because we needed to fully utilize our Microsoft Lync installation and we wanted a communications solution that would be truly unified,” said Jason Kane, IT Operations Manager for Buro Happold. “The combination of Microsoft Lync and Polycom video solutions has been a real game-changer in terms of collaborating across the business. Together, they provide a true unified communications platform, where anyone can join HD video or voice calls at the touch of a button. The core reason for choosing Polycom was its close strategic relationship with Microsoft,” said Shaun Mundy, Group IT Director.
 
“The use of video collaboration has helped make Buro Happold more competitive,” said Paul Westbury, CEO, Buro Happold. “If anyone in our 27 offices needs to offer a client their unique expertise, whether it’s a hotel or stadium development or the design for a new city, we can readily bring in the relevant people using Polycom HD video. And I can now join in meetings all over the world from my laptop, even from home, without worrying about interoperability issues—because it’s Polycom.”
 
Buro Happold has used Polycom® RealPresence® Room video solutions (including the HDX® 7000), powered by the Polycom® RealPresence® Platform – the industry’s most comprehensive and interoperable software infrastructure for universal video collaboration – to video-enable many of the company’s work processes that previously had involved costly travel and eaten in to staff time. These processes include:
  • Engineers communicating and visually collaborating and sharing data in real time on complex designs to accelerate decision making and enhance teamwork.
  • Staff hosting client meetings over video to discuss and collaborate on projects plans.
  • Project teams holding real-time digital design review meetings to present their designs and get feedback.
  • Managers holding internal management and team meetings across multiple locations.
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Douglas Fearing- Co-Founder / President

A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.

Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.

Lois Fearing- Co-Founder/Accounting, Human Resources

A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.

Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.

Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.

Ehren Tresner-VP of Technology and Innovation

Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.

Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.

Ben Voeck-Director of Commercial AV

With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.

By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.

Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.

Chris Matson-Senior VP of Sales

Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.

Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.