Connecting Colleagues While Reducing Costs

Ahold improves collaboration and cuts travel expenses.

Customer Name: Koninklijke Ahold NV Business Impact • User-friendliness of solution encourages frequent video Industry: meetings, with 80 percent usage of equipment

Location: The • Improved collaboration results in increased productivity

Number of Employees: 200,000 • Reduced travel delivers cost and time savings

Case Study

Business Challenge Ahold recognised that TelePresence™ could help achieve Ahold is an international group of leading this and looked for a suitable solution. Key factors affecting active in the United States and Europe. With more than 2900 the company’s choice of supplier were user-friendliness, stores and 200,000 employees worldwide, the company is top-quality visual and audio features, and compatibility with a the number-one retailer in the Netherlands and one of the wide range of TelePresence systems. largest retailers on the east coast of the United States. In the Netherlands, Ahold owns the , and Gall & Gall brands. Solution and Results Cisco® equipment met Ahold’s key purchasing criteria, and the company implemented Cisco TelePresence T3 The company was looking for a way to help its staff endpoints across its operations. “We opted for a Cisco collaborate more effectively and also aimed to reduce travel solution, because they are the only ones in the sector that requirements for management and employees. “We wanted are interoperable with systems from other suppliers, and to enable our staff to work together more efficiently, while we considered this a critical requirement,” says Looman. reducing expenditure on intercontinental business travel,” “In addition, Cisco worked with a partner to provide a “By reducing business trips, we can cut says Ronald Looman, corporate IT director at Ahold. “By comprehensive video, audio and lighting solution, which our carbon footprint as well as saving reducing business trips, we can cut our carbon footprint as added significant value to the offering.” well as saving time and costs.” time and costs.”

Ronald Looman, Corporate IT Director, Koninklijke Ahold NV Connecting Colleagues While Reducing Costs

Continued Case Study

One of the specialised Cisco TelePresence service partners through improved efficiency of management meetings and provides Ahold with a TelePresence services solution. This easier communications with colleagues based in different solution incorporates the VideoButler service, with the countries. partner carrying out key support activities such as reserving rooms, setting up connections and providing technical assistance during a meeting when necessary. This service “TelePresence plays a key role in our operations,” says allows participants to focus on their meeting without being Looman. “It has become part of our business culture.” distracted by technical issues.

The user-friendliness of the system encourages regular use of the TelePresence equipment, with occupancy reaching as much as 80 percent. “The solution is so easy to use that managers now talk to each other more often, and this supports better collaboration across the company,” says Looman. “In addition, as the TelePresence room is constantly busy, meetings have to end on time, which helps to improve their structure and effectiveness.”

Since Ahold first signed the contract for leasing and “The solution is so easy to use that servicing of the Cisco TelePresence equipment, it has seen a rapid return on its investment. From the very first month, managers now talk to each other the company made a considerable saving on travel time and more often, and this supports better expenses. collaboration across the company.”

Ronald Looman, But Looman feels that the return on investment generated Corporate IT Director, Koninklijke Ahold NV should take into account not only the direct savings on travel. The company also gains other indirect productivity benefits

For further information go to www.cisco.com/UK or visit www.cisco.com/telepresence

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