K'NEX
Speeding up decision-making with videoconferencing technology
Challenge
Developing toys for the next generation is now child’s play for the UK’s largest toy manufacturing and exporting company K’NEX, with the installation of videoconferencing equipment for instant communications between its UK and US offices.
Solution
Having spent many years making, at times, frequent cross-Atlantic trips from the company’s offices in Surrey to its research and development centre in the US, K’NEX staff need now only travel as far as the conference room to make face-to-face contact with their colleagues overseas. Whether it be an urgent review of the latest product design
or a team discussion, Videocall, the leading independent supplier of videoconferencing equipment, has provided the solution to achieve immediate results at a fraction of previous costs.
Tony Thomas, Head of Information Management at K’NEX, explains: “The toy industry is fiercely competitive where product development decisions have to be made quickly to catch a marketing opportunity. Prior to videoconferencing this meant either discussing products over the phone or travelling to the States to do so in person. Both options were unsatisfactory; the first lacked visual and manual interaction and the second was neither
time nor cost effective.”
The answer to K’NEX’s problem came in the shape of a group video conferencing system. Having reviewed the toy company’s situation, Videocall recommended, demonstrated and then installed the system which can accommodate a meeting of up to 15 people in shot, relay audio visual footage or zoom in on a prototype to enlarge the smallest detail.
Results
“Decisions can now be taken instantly and confidently by gathering people around the ‘worldwide’ meeting table at the flick of a button,” said Tony Thomas, Head of Information Management at K'NEX
"Decisions can now be taken instantly and confidently by gathering people around the worldwide meeting table at the flick of a button."
Tony Thomas, Head of Information Management at K'NEX
