Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL), largest oil PSU in India, and one of the Maharatna CPSes in the country with diversified, yet integrated energy major is also one of the most socially responsible brands. The company that accounts for almost half of the country’s market with over US$24 billion (₹2.03 trillion) market cap prides a very successful blend of business offerings and corporate social responsibility agenda. As Asia’s finest in downstream petroleum R&D, IOCL also enjoys a competitive advantage through world-class technology, cutting-edge process solutions, and innovative products.
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With such a grand combo of credentials, IOCL was seeking to transform a single-use space into a multi-purpose room with specialty solutions that would cater to any need by using every angle of the room. The space needed to act as a meeting or training room, and with a click of a button, change into an extra-curricular or cultural activities room for hybrid and offline scenarios.
The Challenge
Understandably, it needed a solution provider with a strong track record of performance. A vendor that matched its scale in reputation and potential, with sustainability, reliability and user-friendly operability as central to the solution.
Due diligence brought Crestron India onboard the technology deployment team for the prided purpose. Crestron took on the role of both adviser/consultant and integrator, thoroughly inspecting the room to understand the best way to leverage everything it had to offer. In collaboration with the IOCL team, Crestron designed spaces that would increase the efficiency and improve the user experience.
The Technology
The centre of this technology deployment is a Crestron control system, a high-performance control processor that can be integrated with a wide variety of audio, video, lighting, motorized shades, thermostats, door locks, sensors, security systems, and other equipment. The control system brings together AV and UC capabilities in a scalable solution that can adapt to different room sizes, audience numbers, and event types. This allows users to adjust the lighting, sound, and video display settings depending on the type of event.
Crestron applied a specially curated UC solution to equip the room with video and audio capabilities through native Zoom Rooms video conferencing offerings, which also provides seamless BYOD functionality through USB pass-through, making the solution platform-agnostic. The room consists of four displays positioned where content can be routed by a Crestron touch screen interface, allowing anyone to control the room using a single point of control. In addition, conference room visitors can connect their laptops to the Crestron Flex system to use their own UC conference platforms from their own devices. The Crestron tabletop touch screen provides a consistent conferencing experience that enables employees to run their Zoom Rooms meetings natively or control their environment across the multi-purpose room.
A high-resolution DigitalMedia switcher comprehensively manages each display to ensure that every source is presented at the optimal resolution and format. Crestron’s XiO Cloud management and monitoring platform is also used for remote provisioning, monitoring, and managing all Crestron devices across the enterprise. The solutions can integrate with other systems in the room, such as high-end tile ceiling microphones, digital signal processors, and high-resolution cameras working in speaker-tracking mode.
High-quality DigitalMedia transmitters and receivers were also deployed to provide a simple point-to-point signal extender for HDMI connectivity video and audio signals up to UHD and 4K. Post-deployment training smoothed the transition to the new system offering staff and employees the tools they needed to use the system successfully.
Result Experiential
The combo of technology architecture and system deployment enabled the IOCL team to take its training across India, allowing anyone to connect on the call at the touch of a button. In addition, it has eliminated the burden of people carrying their laptops and other devices, increasing efficiency and saving time while enabling users to focus on their meetings with easy-to-use technology. The success of the space has prompted IOCL to roll out the same technology in other meeting areas.
“Coming from the basic idea of turning a single-use room into a multipurpose one, we didn’t know what we specifically desired beyond ensuring the room was used to its full potential. However, we didn’t have to because Crestron took charge and guided us through the entire process and what the final product will look like,” explains Himanshu Aggarwal, Senior Manager (ES), IOCL. “We had no trouble following because of how seamless it appeared. We complied with their request to trust the process and are very happy that we did! The result has been excellent.”
