Press Release

< Back

Woods Bagot Begins Global TANDBERG Roll-Out

Successful pilot program drives adoption of video conferencing technology across 15 locations  

Sydney, 17 March 2009 – TANDBERG® (OSLO: TAA. OL), a leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition video conferencing and mobile video solutions, today announced that Australian headquartered, global architectural and design firm, Woods Bagot, has begun deployment of TANDBERG video conferencing technology across all 15 of its offices worldwide.

The deployment follows a 2008 pilot program involving three countries and which delivered annual travel savings in excess of $440,000.

The extent of the new video conferencing network will enable Woods Bagot to reduce physical travel while increasing design collaboration and communication between offices. It is also expected to open the way to closer, more frequent client consultations.

The pilot program involved deployment of TANDBERG high definition MXP 8000 twin screen video conferencing systems and a suite of personal telepresence systems in Sydney, Dubai and San Francisco.

The technology was trialed in company board meetings, across design and project teams, and was also used for customer video conferences. By the end of last year, the Board of Directors had abandoned its previous quarterly face-to-face meetings, replacing them with monthly video conferences.

Increasing collaboration was a major driver for Woods Bagot's adoption of video conferencing technology.

Nectarios Lazaris, Group IT Operations Manager for Woods Bagot explains, “When I joined the firm I soon realised that the Board and our designers are all visual people. Everything we deal in is visual.  Our studios frequently collaborate and we needed a platform to bring these virtual teams together - to enable visual collaboration and critiquing.”

The green impact of travel was another factor, especially given the firm's need to account for the environmental footprint of every design and every project. 

“What we've managed to do is cut travel but increase communications,” Lazaris adds. “Everyone realises that time is money, particularly now.  People don't want to travel to meetings any more. Phase one of video conferencing proved so successful that we are now scheduling video conferences that IT doesn't even know about.  It's easier than making a phone call. With phase two we plan to build on that momentum, but this time the focus will be on deeper communication with our clients.”

About Woods Bagot
International design practice Woods Bagot provides its clients with innovative design solutions that are both functional and inspiring.  Some of its local designs include The Ivy in Sydney, and the Melbourne Convention Centre Development. The firm originated in Adelaide in 1869, establishing a strong base of offices in Australia and Asia.

In 2001 it began its expansion into Europe and the Middle East and last year opened two studios in North America. Demand for the firm's expertise in lifestyle, workplace and education projects has since seen a five-fold increase in the firm's annual revenues. Woods Bagot employs more than 700 staff in 15 offices across the globe.

About TANDBERG
TANDBERG is a leading global provider of telepresence, high-definition video conferencing and mobile video products and services with dual headquarters in New York and Norway. TANDBERG designs, develops and markets systems and software for video, voice and data. The company provides sales, support and value-added services in more than 90 countries worldwide. TANDBERG is publicly traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange under the ticker TAA.OL. Please visit www.tandberg.com for more information.