From Aaron Colton, President
There’s truth to the old maxim that two heads are better than one—especially when it comes to serving our customers. So that we can deliver superior value to clients, Ceitronics has developed strong alliances with vendors that go far beyond the traditional client/vendor relationship. In a customer-focused organization like ours, we have found that we can compete more effectively, and provide better customer value, by working as partners with our vendors.
This month’s featured story, for instance, features A/V systems we installed in boardrooms at the new world headquarters of a Fortune 500 company in Silicon Valley. This installation features a technologically-advanced product called e-Control that is made by Crestron, one of our partner vendors. Crestron e-Control™ allows remote control of all presentation and playback devices, and communicates over a LAN or over the Internet.
The vendor allowed us to provide value-added capability
Crestron has been a valued vendor to us for many years. In fact, a few years ago we helped them launch prototype liquid crystal touchpanels for an earlier generation e-Control system at San Francisco City Hall. The prototype touchpanel and e-Control system designed by Crestron for that project helped to automate San Francisco City and County Supervisor meetings, broadcasts, and even voting and attendance notification. That prototype has since evolved into the more sophisticated model which we installed recently. By working with us to evolve its product, Crestron allowed us to provide value-added capability to our customers.
Armstrong Ceilings is another vendor that Ceitronics is working with in a special alliance. A few months ago, when Armstrong was looking for a distributor in Northern California, I toured their factory in Pennsylvania to look at a new product called the i-ceiling system. It was apparent that this product, which integrates a new in-building wireless antenna system into acoustical ceiling tiles, was one that would deliver many more sophisticated options to our clients.
These panels look like ordinary ceiling panels, but they make an interior space more aesthetically pleasing by eliminating surface-mounted antennas that are typically installed on the ceiling or on walls inside buildings. Armstrong also offers ceiling panels with special flat-panel speakers that deliver sound, paging, and masking audio. The Armstrong i-ceiling eliminates the need for multiple systems for sound masking and music. Another feature is the ability to locate a speaker virtually anywhere there is a ceiling tile.
Based on the merit of their product, Ceitronics has become a value-added Armstrong retailer, so that we can offer this advanced technology to our clients.
Another of our new partners is Hirsch Electronics, an advanced high security access-control solutions provider. Hirsch manufactures outstanding hardware and software for access control and management. Hirsch has earned industry acclaim for their intelligent card readers, which have the ability to read any type of card format. Hirsch has selected us to install and integrate their security products. These products allow us to offer many more flexible options to our clients in the security arena.
We develop long-term relationships with vendors
A special case in vendor relationships is the long and ongoing affiliation that Ceitronics has shared with another company in Silicon Valley, VMI Broadcast and Professional Video. In the beginning, our relationship with VMI was very traditional. We purchased various presentation systems and broadcast products from them. As time passed we became more familiar with their capabilities for engineering and consultive selling. VMI also began to understand the depth and scope of our capabilities.
The relationship grew to encompass an easy flow and ongoing mutuality that has evolved into what is now two companies working in tandem on very sophisticated projects. We often share staff and work on installations together, with Ceitronics providing systems integration expertise, and VMI offering the latest and greatest in A/V and presentation systems products and technologies, plus custom video engineering. Together, these installations represent the strongest level of customer support and technical skill.
Increasing agility is needed to offer superior value to customers in this ever-changing world. We find that we best meet that challenge through alliances with other firms like VMI, Crestron, Armstrong, and Hirsch. When we work hand in hand with our vendors, we create exponential return for you, our customer.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
1. Ceitronics Installs State-of-the-art Executive Board Rooms For A Silicon Valley Fortune 500 Company
2. Ceitronics Purchasing Manager Makes Communication Work
3. Creating Greater Value For Our Customers Through Partnerships With Vendors
Illustrations
1. State-of-the-Art Presentation Systems in New Executive Board Rooms Facilitate Worldwide, Real-Time Meetings
Other Features
1. Newly awarded Ceitronics Projects
2. Ceitronics Installs Crestron e-Control so Either a LAN or the Internet can be Used to Operate A/V Equipment
3. What does corporate America typically install in its board rooms?