The Challenge

PETRONAS operates in over 50 countries around the world across a fully integrated value chain that spans from exploration to marketing, logistics to technological infrastructure. Efficient communication and collaboration throughout the organization are critical to ensuring smooth-running of its operations.

To facilitate this, PETRONAS created the PETRONAS Digital Collaboration Centre, a visualization and collaboration facility housed within their headquarters at Petronas Twin Towers. Spread across 22,000 sqft, the center accommodates a team of 6 and functions primarily as space where employees can centralize their communications and collaborate across different disciplines.

The Solution

Crestron deployed its suite of intelligent solutions which integrated multiple operational functions under a single processor and also introduced extenders and scalers into PETRONAS infrastructure to enhance the efficiency and reliability of their system. The enhanced structure helped provide users with a seamless experience through the integration of the organization’s existing and separate hardware and technologies.

Ensuring Smooth Interactions

For an organization that constantly pursues innovation, strategic research, and development activities, ensuring smooth interactions between teams is of paramount importance. PETRONAS recognized that an initiative to renew and enhance the facility was required to serve and complement its users’ needs better.

The Data Facility Management team – who operates the center, manages the upkeeping of its tools and equipment, and monitors staff’s usage of them – was tasked with the responsibility of leading the upgrade. Crestron was a natural choice as the team had a good experience with the setup at the time – utilizing the Crestron CP2E, a compact Ethernet control system designed for small to medium sized residential and commercial control applications, and Crestron Fusion, a monitoring, and scheduling software.

The existing CP2E was upgraded to the latest model in the line – the CP3. A compact, rackmountable 3-Series control processor, the CP3 possesses immense power and numerous integrated control ports. This allows the management team to manage and integrate all the disparate technologies throughout their facility for an easier, greener, more productive, and overall more enjoyable experience.

PETRONAS also made the switch from their existing display matrix to Crestron DigitalMedia, a fully-engineered, field-proven, end-to-end solution for managing and distributing digital AV and control signals. Smaller rooms were equipped with Crestron DigitalMedia Presentation Systems to enable smooth automation and matrix switching.

Conclusion

Within three to four weeks, all seven rooms within the facility were outfitted with Crestron’s solutions. The CP3 processor was deployed with the 10” touchscreen, and DigitalMedia 8×8 and 32×32 were used for the medium and large rooms respectively.

The facility has also seen a significant decrease in downtime, which allows the room to be utilized more actively. The numbers are impressive, with
room utilization rate averaging 95%.

We needed an efficient technology infrastructure that allows our workforce to collaborate even more closely.

Users of the PETRONAS Digital Collaboration Centre now enjoys a much better and easier interface to automate most of their equipment, ranging from AV, lighting, video conferencing, mechanical lifter to electric privacy glass.

Since the installation, the results are nothing short of impressive. The team has yet to experience technical issues pertaining to display controls and automation.

Source: Crestron