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Connexus Energy Case Study | WAVE

"It puts the right technology, right in the hands of the field personnel so that everyone can be more efficient and productive"

Matt Yseth | Vice President | Electric Operations

Connexus Energy Extends Workforce Communications With WAVE

The Challenge: Replace An Aging System With Future-Ready Technology

When a recent FCC narrowbanding mandate caused Connexus Energy to replace an older, non-conforming analog system, it was the impetus to re-examine their communication needs. In addition to a new two-way radio system to comply with the mandate, Connexus Energy knew it had to upgrade its near-obsolete dispatch console. The utility also wanted to connect its diverse workforce to broadband networks, since not all employees needed to carry a radio. Connexus Energy realized this was an opportunity to completely rethink its push-to-talk (PTT) communication capabilities to deliver the high level of service customers expect.

 

Customer Profile

Connexus Energy

Based in Ramsey, Minnesota, Connexus Energy is electrifying the community with reliable power that is competitively priced. As the largest customer-owned electric cooperative in Minnesota, it provides electricity to nearly 130,000 homes and businesses. Connexus Energy consistently ranks among the top utilities in the U.S. and is heralded for its power reliability by the American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.

Executive Summary

The Challenge

With a looming FCC narrowbanding mandate, Connexus Energy needed to replace its aging system with future-ready technology.

The Solution

Connexus looked to MOTOTRBO™ and WAVE to provide a unified communications platform allowing them to communicate across radios, smartphones and desktops.

The Benefits

By linking different systems, workers and technologies, Connexus Energy is reducing downtime and elevating customer service.

Jump to ...

Transforming PTT Communications With Flexible Software

The utility’s experience with Motorola Solutions radios and expertise in next-generation technology paved the way for an easy decision. Beginning with their field workers, Connexus Energy selected our MOTOTRBO digital radio system with its enhanced system capacity, clear audio and integrated data applications. 

When it came to the dispatch console, Connexus Energy wanted a solution that was less dependent on proprietary hardware and more flexible so they could extend PTT beyond radio to other networks and devices. This would deepen collaboration among their personnel and create interoperability with other agencies and municipalities.

WAVE Work Group Communications offered the perfect path. Not only did the utility replace their obsolete console with WAVE’s richly-featured software, but they transformed PTT communications from radio-equipped workers to anyone, anywhere, on any device. Connexus chose the WAVE Advanced Desktop Communicator to provide an affordable, flexible, scalable and futureproof dispatch solution. They also picked the WAVE Mobile Communicator app to turn their field workers's smartphones into a multi-channel radio handset for secure PTT communication.

Empowered Workers Elevate Safety And Service

MOTOTRBO and WAVE are unifying communications to help Connexus Energy reduce downtime, optimize efficiency and keep personnel safe. Where previous hardware issues created costly delays and impacted power reliability, today, collaboration throughout the utility is seamless, crew workers are more effective and response times are faster.

The benefits of extending radio PTT to broadband devices go far beyond internal operations. “For our customers, it is bringing reliability and safety to our people and also bringing service, productivity and financial gains to those using the commerce,” says John Rono. The combined power of MOTOTRBO and WAVE are connecting Connexus Energy like never before – so they can elevate customer service and help their community thrive.

Download The Full Case Study

Connexus Energy Extends Push-To-Talk Communications With WAVE

Updated 2016/08/08 | PDF 391.66KB

Connexus Energy, of Ramsey, Minnesota, uses MOTOTRBO digital radios and WAVE Work Group Communications to unify the utility's push-to-talk communications.