Reebok steps up to the challenge - Reebok International, Tandberg's Vision 600 and Vision 3000 videoconferencing equipment - Company Operations

Communications News, Feb, 1999

International company meets its global communication needs.

Founded in 1958, Reebok International Ltd. was named after a small fast-running African gazelle. The company has grown from a family operated running shoe manufacturer to a leading worldwide designer, marketer, and distributor of sports, fitness, and casual footwear, apparel, and equipment with approximately 6,000 employees and over $3 billion in sales. As Reebok's manager of network engineering, Fred Doherty must oil the gears that keep its telecommunications system running smoothly.

Reebok was recently faced with the challenge of maintaining quality worldwide communication, both within the company and with outside suppliers. When Reebok began an extensive project with SAP Germany--one of the world's largest application software companies--the MIS group needed a proven method of keeping all its global divisions working together. Doherty realized that videoconferencing could provide the ultimate solution. Its use by the MIS team in handling the immense SAP Germany project proved successful and contagious.

One of the first groups to gain interest was Reebok' s Research, Design & Development (RD&D). With development centers and designers located in the U.S., Korea, and Taiwan, RD&D embraced the opportunity to reduce travel time and expenses through videoconferencing. Since RD&D must discuss and agree upon every detail of a shoe from the coloring to the stitching, videoconferencing products allow the U.S. team to simply place a shoe on the desk, zoom in on any aspect, and discuss with the team in Korea all changes that need to be made. A word-of-mouth campaign spread quickly through Reebok. Human Resources ordered its own unit to reduce the number of people that need to be flown in for interviews.

"Reebok is benefiting from our complete product line with a variety of fully compatible systems, plus our ability to provide comprehensive post-sales support, both in the U.S. and around the world through our Global Presence Program," says Karl Hantho, president of TANDBERG in the U.S. and Canada.

Reebok decided on TANDBERG's Vision portfolio for its reliability, ease-of-use, and value. "Our installations at Reebok highlight our focus on providing value to our customers," says Hantho. Reebok invested in Vision 600 units, the perfect solution for its executive office and small meeting room applications. Taking up the same desk space as the average phone, the Vision 600 can also be used for larger group applications by utilizing the executive option that provides an additional camera, microphone, and monitor capability. Reebok also purchased the Vision 3000 which offers a wide range of options for large meeting and conference room-type applications. With multiple connectivity features to a variety of communications networks, the system supports transmission speeds from 56 kbps up to T1/E1. The Vision 3000 features the award-winning AudioScience, a ceiling-mounted boundary microphone for superior audio quality; a split-screen feature that allows the user to divide the group for a closer view in large meeting settings; and voice-activated VCR functionality that concurrently records the entire videoconference.

Reebok currently owns 12 TANDBERG videoconferencing units around the world. The Vision portfolio has proven to be a successful method of communication for Reebok with products that have met all of the company's expectations. Because the products are software upgradeable, Reebok protects its investment in the technology. "We believe that value can be defined in two ways: the tangible benefits of videoconferencing with improved productivity and cost savings, as well as excellent products that deliver high-quality and easy-to-use videoconferencing at a competitive price," says Hantho.

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