What’s one thing you find most customers are looking for when they contact a member of our sales team?
I’d have to say that a lot of times people will take a look at either our catalogue or our online web presence and ask for help. We offer so many products that I think it can be overwhelming at times to find a system that works for you. That’s a large part of the role I play as a Visual Systems Specialist; my job is designed to assist companies when it comes to the intricacies involved with visualizing information. Having accessibility to someone with a collective understanding of our products and the problems they alleviate is a huge benefit to many of our customers.
One of our most popular products, the PlanView control center, has become a go-to resource for members of the US Military. How are they being used in bases nationwide?
A lot of the PlanView systems we sell to the US military are primarily used as a strategic planning tool. A lot of officers will mention that they are hoping to tack maps onto the boards for planning purposes. Given that the system allows for multiple panels to be displayed at one time, having the maps act as supplemental to whatever is being plotted on the dry erase board is crucial to the execution of a plan. I also know that a large percentage of our military customers use the PlanView systems for personnel management; they really like to think of it as a command center of sorts.
Are there any other industries that come to mind when you think of the PlanView System?
More and more often, it seems that companies with a commercial aspect are gravitating towards the PlanView. They all have some sort of quality department within their factories and warehouses, and it seems like there’s an application that can be found there—with tracking inventory and other items, that is. I recently processed a handful of orders for some schools as well: Administrators are looking at these systems as a way to enhance scheduling of both teachers and students. Whether it’s located in the principal’s office or perhaps in the main entry, I think PlanView systems fill multiple roles within the education sector, and that’s something that’s really appealing.
One of the more interesting PlanView orders that came across my desk recently was for a fire and rescue emergency department, which caught my attention. They were tracking emergencies and where they were located using a collection of some of our map and plain white dry erase panels. So I think it really goes to show that the PlanView System doesn’t have to be restricted to any particular industry; the value of the system really boils down to the pain points that it can address.
The PlanView command center supports up to ten separate whiteboard panels and can range in size from 85-165”; what panels and sizes are the most popular?
The six-track configuration is definitely the most popular, as it doesn’t take up an absorbent amount of space, while still giving the user the opportunity to display multiple panels at once. As far as sizing is concerned, I’d say our most popular is either the 125” or 165”. The nice thing about those configurations is that both are compatible with any of our 4 x 6’ panels, meaning that any past, present, or future Magnatag whiteboard of that size—which is pretty standard for what we manufacture—is instantly compatible with the system.
Why choose PlanView over a traditional projector or stand alone whiteboard?
I think a lot of time it comes down to a spacing issue. People will want to track multiple things, and rather than cover their walls with a collection of whiteboards, they prefer to keep everything in a centralized location. It’s also nice because you’re never locked into any set configuration. The panels easily slide in and out of the system, so they allow for an interchangeability that is something other alternatives don’t necessarily offer. Add all that into the fact that any panel can be customized to meet the exact specifications of the customer, and I think the choice to go with the PlanView is a no-brainer for most.
Are most people using the PlanView as a point of reference for their organization, or is it being used more as a supplemental meeting tool? What’s your opinion?
I would say in the instance of that firehouse, a lot of people are going to be looking at it. It’s going to be located in a central area and include critical information, so in that instance it’s definitely a point of reference—but you also see people purchasing the system for meeting rooms and conferences. I think it’s a case-by-case basis really.
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