A fast-changing global world and international projects force companies around the world to create effective models of global cooperation. That is a big challenge that often requires frequent travels and generates additional costs. But what if it would be possible to be in two places at the same time? Blue Ocean Robotics brings such possibility to the market through a RoBi-X Partnership with Suitable Technologies. The partnership has introduced the Beam Telepresence Robot to the global market, facilitating virtual presence for people who cannot physically be at a particular place.
Beam is a semi-automatic robot providing mobility that is operated by a user through his computer, tablet or smartphone and is equipped with a high-end audio and video system. It also provides view corresponding to the range of a human sight, what contributes to an overall presence-alike experience.
Joining RoBi-X Partnership
Suitable Technologies, the developer of the Beam Telepresence Robot based in Palo Alto, wanted to enter the European market in order to gain global recognition. Blue Ocean Robotics was chosen as the best partner for this venture as a company with experience and special program dedicated to such challenges. The RoBi-GoToMarket cooperation with Blue Ocean Robotics under the RoBi-X Partnership program was initiated in 2013. The RoBi-GoToMarket program aimed at introducing the Beam to the market through integrated marketing and sales activities.
In the first phase of the cooperation, Blue Ocean Robotics created a business and lead generation strategy for Beam sales in Europe. The company analyzed possible user cases and identified markets and organizations where Beam could be utilized. Through RoBi-GoToMarket Blue Ocean Robotics also provided communication tools and channels and marketing platform for Beam in order to build brand awareness. Those efforts resulted in the first sales of Beam on the European market in business, healthcare and education sector. As the time passed the partnership grew stronger and led to the global sales made directly by Blue Ocean Robotics or through cooperation with a global network of sales partners and joint venture franchises such as Blue Ocean Robotics Southeast Asia in Singapore. It led to selling Beam on the markets of Europe, Mexico, Australia, Thailand, Vietnam and many more.
Beam in business and everyday life
One of the great examples of applying Beam in a business environment is T-Mobile shop in Munich, Germany. Here, Beam is used to assure the best customer service as it provides an easy way to consult with T-mobile employees from Berlin and other cities. By using Beam an employee can take the initiative by connecting to the robot and steering it to the desired location in the shop. This removes barriers to knowledge flow and provides an easy and customer friendly way of communication. Another example is applying Beam in Boost.com where it is put to service as a support for the quality control. Beam allows visiting the warehouse anytime without the need to actually travel. This helps preserve the resources of the company by cutting the unnecessary expenses on travel without compromising the quality of product or service.
Beam is also a great solution for the healthcare sector. A local hospital in Aarhus, Denmark, uses Beam to facilitate weekly remote visits by a doctor in a care center in Vikargaard. The hospital tested the solution in 2015 and started using it on a weekly basis in 2016. It saves time on commuting and travel expenses as well as provides a constant medical care to the patients. Beam is also used in a nursing center Solhavecenteret in Karise. It is used for telemedicine purposes as it allows a remote follow up on the patients provided by doctors, nurses or physiotherapists. But what is equally important, it gives families of the seniors living in the center the ability to remotely visit them regardless the distance that separates them. Beam can also help people with disabilities to gain mobility and visit places they are unable to visit physically, as well as serve people with long-term illness to experience and enjoy the outside world and social interactions. Currently, Beam is used in around 23 municipalities around Denmark.
At the Danish school Skolen ved Nordens Plads Beam allows an eleven-year-old boy suffering from a long-term illness to participate in classes and interact with kids during the breaks. Home-bound illness is no longer a limitation as the robot facilitates the virtual presence enabling an integration and inclusion in the school life. In other circumstances where educational institutions are under constant financial pressure Beam is also a solution reducing the costs of travel for the specialized educational staff. This is how it is used at SOSU Nord, a school for social and healthcare assistants. The school uses the robot to conduct oral exams with the virtual presence of the professors. The robot allows the examiner to move around the room, depending on whether the student presents something on the board or presents some material at the exam table, so the quality of teaching and examining remains intact.
Going global with RoBi-ScaleUp
Beam’s wide range of applications creates a huge market potential. As the first sales and marketing activities have been a success, the RoBi-X Partnership between Suitable Technologies and Blue Ocean Robotics moved forward to the next phase which is RoBi-ScaleUp. This is the part of the program that is dedicated to creating a global sales, service and support of the Beam Telepresence Robot. As of the beginning of 2018, Blue Ocean Robotics launched the company, Globe Robots, that will include a special sales team dedicated to Beam sales growth.
“The Partnership with Suitable Technologies is one of the strongest and longest running at Blue Ocean Robotics. We strongly feel that the creation of Globe Robots and dedicated Beam sales team is the best step towards propagating the Beam on the global market.”
Through RoBi-GoToMarket and RoBi-ScaleUp Blue Ocean Robotics created a fast-growing market for the Beam Telepresence Robot and continues to utilize its global potential. The RoBi-X Partnership is dedicated to every company seeking to optimize their business, improve their competitiveness and grow their global potential.
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