Electra is an electricity network company based in Levin and Paraparaumu. It provides electricity to over 46,000 customers in the Horowhenua and Kapiti districts.
Electra contacted OfficeMax looking for a solution for poor sound quality in their meeting rooms. They were concerned about echoes and reverberations which were disturbing the momentum of their meetings, especially during video conferences.
OfficeMax's Furniture Specialist, Sharryn Martin and Account Manager Cory Stephens met Electra's ICT General Manager, Matt Grover. They inspected both sites and worked out a plan to resolve the issues.
The Challenge
- Echoes and reverberation were impacting the sound quality during meetings.
- The Paraparaumu office meeting rooms also backed onto one another, and they could not host video conferences in both rooms simultaneously due to the noise.
- Electra's sites had limited meeting rooms and no quiet places for private meetings or quick catch-ups.
"Getting our staff private space to conduct impromptu meetings and calls was important. Sometimes, they had to pace up and down in the car park to make their calls."
Matt Grover, ICT General Manager, Electra
The Solution
Sharryn and Cory worked with OfficeMax's supply partner and organized additional meetings with Electra onsite to see the space, take photos and understand better how they used the meeting rooms.
Based on the inspection, they proposed acoustic panels that absorb sound.
Acoustic Panels
They supplied samples of the acoustic panels for review and 3D floor plans for all the rooms to envision how they would look once fitted, providing a great compliment to Electra's logo on the wall.
"Involving the supplier was important to answer any tricky questions that might arise around the material and fitting. We were able to convincingly demonstrate how the acoustic panels will help resolve their sound issue and give their meeting rooms a brand-new look and feel as well."
Sharryn Martin, Furniture Specialist, OfficeMax
Once approved, a partner vendor installed the acoustic panels in all meeting rooms covering the four walls and fold-back concertina doors, ensuring precision cutting around electrical fixtures, doors, and windows for a seamless look.
"The acoustic panels changed the room's ambience drastically – we can now have more focussed meetings with noise greatly reduced from the other side of the boardroom."
Matt Grover, ICT General Manager, Electra
D-Pod Privacy Booth
OfficeMax invited Electra to visit their Wellington showroom to look at privacy pods and open meeting booths. We arranged a six-week trial for the D-Pod privacy booth at Electra's head office in Levin to help them make an informed decision.
"The OfficeMax showroom visit in Wellington helped us see a variety of privacy pods in action. We selected the D-Pod for its compact size, ergonomic furnishings, elegant looks and, most importantly, the privacy it provides users.
Matt Grover, ICT General Manager, Electra
The D-Pod was tremendously popular with Electra's staff, with an average occupancy rate of 70% during the trial period. It eliminated the meeting space issues and provided a closed space for privacy to make calls and quick catch-ups.
"The D-Pod is an absolute winner. Our staff love it, and it is being widely used by everyone in the office. We are planning to get one for our Paraparaumu office as well.
Matt Grover, ICT General Manager, Electra
The D-Pod resolved privacy issues for staff and was a great use of the confined space in the office.
Logitech Tap Scheduler
OfficeMax also identified that they could streamline Electra's meeting room space booking system with Logitech Tap Scheduler. These hard-wired units placed outside the meeting rooms show their occupancy status for the day. They do not need to be removed to charge the units, a hassle Electra had faced with their previous technology.
The Results
- The acoustic panels eliminated echo and feedback in the meeting rooms, especially during video conferences.
- Noise from the adjacent meeting room was greatly reduced, divided by the fold-back concertina doors.
- Clever meeting room booking technology improved efficiency.
- Aesthetically pleasing meeting rooms, with panels featuring Electra's brand colours.
- D-Pod privacy booths created a private space for quick catch-ups and one-to-four-person hybrid meetings.
"The planning, execution, and communication on this project with the OfficeMax team and the supplier were amazing. We got all our doubts cleared by meeting the interior specialist, the supplier, and the 3D plans before we signed off on the project for installation."
Matt Grover, ICT General Manager, Electra
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