Gail Chiasson, North American Editor
We had a tour of Montreal-based BroadSign International’s new offices Wednesday afternoon, and we can say that we were mightily impressed.
It’s not the size – although at 15,000 sq. ft., it’s double the size of the old offices – with options on another 7,000 sq. ft. should it be needed. And with the way BroadSign’s been growing, it could soon be. This was the company’s sixth move since 2002 (when it had three employees). It now houses 60 who handle some 250 networks in 40 countries worldwide.
No. It’s BroadSign’s use of technology and their furniture, built with both customers and staff in mind.
L-R: Jean Beaudry, Dana Tunks, Burr Smith, Gail Chiasson
Picture the fact that screens throughout the office average nine per employee, with one large screen greeting visitors in the attractive entrance and others of all sizes scattered throughout. Special rail systems above desks in some work areas allow for easy mounting – and changing – of various size screens. Employees sit at spacious and technologically-advanced workstations, while some can work as required at standing desks, with, of course, adjusted lighting. One particular meeting room is set up for quick, stand-up only meetings where staff can do a quick run through with each other of what they are dealing with that day.
Part of the main boardroom
While the layout is that of open-offices, save for the glass-walled boardroom and senior executives’ offices, each area is well defined, allowing collaboration between employees in each area.
And with all the screens and technology in evidence, you might envision cables and wires everywhere, but such is not the case.
They are hidden away in what Brian Mongeau, vice-president technology, refers to as pods. There are three double and 10 single small troughs, or pods, keeping everything looking clean and uncluttered.
Mongeau’s pride and joy is a small, well designed server room, something he’s been dreaming about since the earliest days of BroadSign. This private server room not only handles the company’s own corporate communications set-up, but it allows on-site testing and simulation of environments for things being worked on. (Customers systems are handled at an off-site server.)
Hidden pods keep wires and cables from general view
And of the overall technological set-up, Mongeau said, “The more hardware we have, the more productive the employee is.”
Hidden pods keep wires and cables from general view.
All this technology didn’t come out of the blue. First of all, these offices are equipped with 600 volts, industrial strength and three times the norm.
Of that, “The engineers thought we were crazy,” said Stephanie Gutnik, director of marketing and business development. BroadSign also had to build its own cooling system on the roof.
”We had to find the right building and the right landlord that would allow us to do the things we needed to do,” said Burr Smith, chairman and CEO, adding that the entire design, development, technology and construction was a million dollar operation.
The overall custom design, with constant BroadSign staff input, is by Kiva Design, Montreal.
Multi-screen work stations
It’s not all just about technology, either. The sleek kitchen, which includes some recreational table games, offers four microwave ovens, an upscale espresso machine and a beer tap “which our employees are not abusing,” stressed Gutnik – although it proved empty on our visit 😉
We had the chance to meet Dana Tunks, BroadSign’s new chief financial officer – see DailyDOOH on Friday for more on her appointment, Ed, and to talk to her, Smith, Mongeau, COO Jean Beaudry, Frank Vallenga, sales director EMEA, and others during the afternoon.
“We signed the budget for this in March, construction began with the laying of wires and cables, and we moved in in mid-August,” said Beaudry.
A kitchen view
We learned that Smith is traveling about three weeks per month, and spending one week each month in the Montreal office for meetings. When he joined BroadSign last spring, it made a major difference in the office, we were told, because it meant that the money and the decision-making were in the one position.
“This way, when he is away, the management committee members can make their decisions and be ready to discuss them and various problems and solutions with Burr when he comes in for meetings,” said Beaudry.
“BroadSign is actively getting input from customers on their needs on a regular basis, and this helps the company in its product development,” said Smith. “Our software is based on customers’ needs and problems.” He said that the company has the largest number of players connected to a unified platform in the world, and that BroadSign had signed about 35 new contracts in 2015 to date.”
‘BroadSign’ cupcakes
We are expecting several new announcements to come out of BroadSign in the near future, including a new Pro product based on Express, more information on customer input and more.
“This company is well positioned for growth,” said Tunks.
Our tour that was topped off with coffee and a plate of designer cupcakes featuring the BroadSign symbol – an absolutely ‘sweet’ ending for a most interesting afternoon!!
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