SMART’s collaboration solutions enable O2 to work better, connected.

With 29,000 employees across the group servicing 45.8 million fixed and mobile customers across Europe, O2 combines sophisticated voice and data products that help people get more out of their lives. SMART’s collaboration technology provides O2 with much the same benefit, translating into more time, less travel and reduced costs. Uniting disparate teams and enabling them to collaborate effectively regardless of location, SMART’s technology wholly supports O2’s ethos that “we’re better, connected.”

The challenge O2’s business case is built around realising efficiencies, improving time to market and reducing costs for the business. The company has multiple offices throughout the UK and headquarters in Slough where it also has two other offices. With frequent travel between the Slough and Leeds locations, the company realised the setup had to change.

“We decided to amalgamate the three Slough offices into one location accommodating 2,200 people,” explains Alan Parkin, programme manager, infrastructure design and delivery. “We recognised that uniting disparate teams and improving interdepartmental collaboration was central to delivering an outstanding customer experience. And the infrastructure to support this would be critical to success.”

Previously, all meeting rooms contained a conference phone and flip chart, but projectors had to be booked through reception and a great deal of time was wasted simply ‘setting up’. With only 47 meeting rooms - half the number previously available - the new Slough site demanded a more productive and collaborative working environment. A smooth and timely transition between meetings would be essential to ensure that the new office has the meeting room capacity to support operational needs.