Panasonic Aligns U.S. Operations to Deliver Technology for Vertical Industries

Panasonic System Communications Company of North America outlined key elements and organizational changes related to its expanded operation focused on helping its customers to transform information into innovation. The combined B2B solutions organization, initially announced in January, is part of an extensive corporate transformation in this region.

“The new company is built on the foundation of Panasonic’s celebrated engineering capabilities and the core principles of our founder, Konosuke Matsushita, who believed that customers should be at the center of all activities,” said Rance Poehler, president, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “Based on these core principles, we are focused on delivering reliable and trusted solutions that help our customers convert information into the insights that drive true innovation. With an expanded breadth of products and customer-inspired solutions, we are now able to offer our channel partners and customers a streamlined way to work with us. With one strategy and one organization, we are unified in our purpose to help our customers make the connections that improve business processes and drive better outcomes.”

The company is expanding upon the vertical market and partner-centric approach it pioneered within its video production, audio/visual, mobile computing and other businesses. Panasonic solutions for business are structured to align with multiple vertical market and practice areas including: Government, Defense, Public Safety, Healthcare, Retail, Hospitality, Broadcast Media and Production, and a range of commercial enterprises, from Automotive, Utilities and Insurance to small-to-medium-size businesses in a variety of markets.

“Panasonic brings deep experience in reliable devices and vertical markets to the solutions business,” said Roger Kay, president, Endpoint Technologies Associates. “Quality products form a solid foundation for integrated solutions, whether in military, retail or other applications.  With a broad array of such products—video, display, imaging, point of sale, security, surveillance, communications and rugged endpoints—Panasonic is well positioned to support customers seeking to modernize their technology infrastructure in an increasingly interconnected world.”

Toughbook brand mobile computers have become a mainstay in mission-critical environments, from defense and public safety to field operations and healthcare. As part of the company’s transformation, Jan Ruderman, vice president, government solutions, will assume responsibility for the development and growth of the Toughbook and Toughpad mobile computing division.

To better address customer needs, product management and business development functions are embedded within each of the company’s vertical market groups. Panasonic will also create new opportunities for the company’s network of more than 9,000 dealers, resellers, systems integrators, wireless carriers, hardware and software providers. These relationships enable Panasonic to tackle complex technology challenges and provide a single, streamlined experience for its customers.

Sheila O’Neil, vice president, distribution, will lead Panasonic’s relationships with key distribution partners, and Bill Brennan, senior director, reseller channel, will be tasked with managing Panasonic’s expansive channel relationships. Brennan will oversee a dedicated internal team of partner sales representatives whose sole focus will be to generate demand for the channel. In another appointment, Craig Greenwood, has been named vice president, business development.

“In today’s world, audiovisual communication and collaboration tools have become essential to business success,” said Doug Hall, chief executive officer, Whitlock.  “Over the years, Panasonic has worked with Whitlock in an effort to help our customers achieve their business goals. Now, with access to a greater set of Panasonic technology solutions, we can help our customers in new ways, creating business opportunities for them and us.”

Panasonic has grown from a linear, one-to-one exchange of information to a complex web of interrelated technologies and processes. Panasonic’s expanded business solutions mission is focused on helping customers create and manage the data core to their operations.

For example, the company has announced plans to enable broadcast video cameras to wirelessly upload content via LTE networks, which will drive significant savings and time-to-market advantage for broadcast outlets and other content creators. Panasonic has also partnered with Intel to embed computers in digital display technologies for signage applications.

“Intelligent systems will help us gain data and information from all things in our environments. Whether at work, at home, in cars or in hospitals—we will soon be connected everywhere we go,” said CJ Bruno, vice president and general manager of Intel Americas. “We have worked with Panasonic for years expanding the frontiers of mobility by delivering reliable endpoints and see countless opportunities to help them enable their customers to drive innovation through a variety of applications, including digital signage, networked video, mobile technology and office systems.”

For years, Panasonic has led the industry in embedding wireless and related technologies within devices, and was an early leader in embedding Qualcomm’s Gobi 3G technology in notebooks.

“Qualcomm is pleased to be working closely with Panasonic, which understands that its business customers need their mobile devices to stay connected regardless of where they are traveling,” said Fram Akiki, senior director, product management, Qualcomm. “Our Gobi 3G multimode technology can connect users to both HSPA and EVDO networks worldwide and keep them productive.”

The broad portfolio of solutions offered by Panasonic allows new and existing customers to benefit from having a single vendor to address a wide spectrum of business challenges.
“Panasonic is more than a technology vendor; it is a partner with Hendrick Motorsports and a huge asset to our organization,” said Chris Newsome, director of infrastructure, Hendrick Motorsports.  “We have an array of Panasonic products throughout our complex, including security cameras, commercial displays, HD projectors and approximately 60 Panasonic Toughbook computers that travel with us to the race track. Panasonic’s reliable equipment, along with their excellent service and support, allows us to focus on our goal of winning the championship.”