The Record - Issue 18: Autumn 2020

17 Crestron has launched its new Flex MM conferencing system to help enterprises maintain continuity while employees are working in various locations as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the solution’s native Microsoft Azure software, Crestron says that users can “work efficiently and effectively from anywhere”. The tabletop system features a seven-inch touchscreen, three-metre audio pick-up range, an intelligent camera and enterprise-grade network security. Users can join meetings with one touch. “The pandemic has dramatically shifted the way we work and the spaces we work in,” said Andrew Gross, director of unified communications enterprise at Crestron. “Microsoft Teams and Zoom are household names, huddle rooms and conference spaces are being redefined to team units, and our desks are overrun with migratory devices that are never ready for the next video call. Crestron is quickly engineering products to solve these problems. “The future of work is in Crestron’s DNA and solutions such as Crestron Flex MM demonstrate our continuous innovation in enterprise technology that allows people to work efficiently and effectively from anywhere.” China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) Richfit is using Microsoft HoloLens to improve its training programmes for technicians and frontline employees in the oil and gas industry. The organisation will use the virtual reality technology alongside Microsoft’s computing developer kit – Azure Kinect DK – to overcome space constraints needed for training large numbers of staff. CNPC Richfit will use HoloLens to construct 3D models to display information and on-site scenarios for training conducted in mixed reality. Microsoft says that “this is critical in helping the workforce familiarise themselves with production equipment structure, process flow, and equipment operations of production sites at faster speeds”. Crestron launches new Flex MM conferencing system CNPC Richfit uses Microsoft HoloLens for staff training AXA Gulf uses VeriPark CRM solution to increase conversion rates Insurance company AXA Gulf has implemented VeriPark’s customer relationship management solution VeriTouch and Microsoft Dynamics to reduce its customer onboarding time by almost 40 per cent and increase conversion rates by 20 per cent. The company had been working towards a single platform to manage customer sales and service in an omnichannel way. It wanted to improve the quality of both customer data and customer servicing to be able to follow up on leads and prospects in a timely manner, and chose VeriTouch to achieve this.