Video Conferencing

Last year SCI installed video-conferencing, at the Columbiana, Ohio office. This piece of equipment has been used to communicate with customers around the world. It was even on display at the HPA Expo in Baltimore, where a live feed from SCI's Laboratory was actually shown on the trade show floor. SCI customers were invited to the booth to take a look at new log designs in progress. Many of the concepts on display at the expo resulted in new business for the 2000 season.

Video-Conferencing has given SCI the ability to make sales presentations, quality reviews, and product development over ISDN lines. Traditionally in business the sales representatives are the most visible people within an organization. With video-conferencing capabilities, everyone within the organization is accessible. It is possible for our customers to visually convey information to our line supervisors with this technology. This generates better overall communication with SCI customers. Unfortunately, video-conferencing only works when both the sender and the receiver carry the equipment necessary for communication. Many companies within the industry do not have video-conferencing capabilities. SCI would like to urge all of our customers to consider installing this equipment. If you would like to know more about Video-Conferencing, please contact SCI. It is very easy and affordable to get started.

Digital Imaging and Net Meeting

In addition to video-conferencing, SCI has also begun many advances in digital imaging technology. Working with the various design consultants in the industry, SCI has been able to submit design proposals on gas projects via e-mail. Digital imaging has allowed for concepts to be sent back and forth between designer and customer for review.

SCI has also implemented Net-Meeting as an inexpensive alternative to video-conferencing. "With Net-Meeting, we are able to play show and tell with our customers on the internet at the cost of a local phone call", explains Dick Wilk - President.

Net Meeting has been such a success, all SCI sales personnel and designers are equipped with mobile digital cameras and laptop computers to visually communicate with SCI management in Columbiana. This comes in play when SCI is designing log sets at the customer location. If a question is raised that needs review at the SCI facility, a local phone call is made to an area ISP connection, and the question is further reviewed by SCI Production or Quality Assurance.

The advances SCI makes in communicating with customers increases the potential for designing and producing products correctly on the first iteration. "The one thing it cannot prevent is the propensity at which customers change their mind about a certain log or brick panel design. But that's O.K. with us".