The S4 Group Boot Camp – provided two training sessions during the 4th Quarter

The S4 Group Boot Camp – provided two training sessions during the 4th Quarter

Both groups of students report Success!

What makes a successful boot camp experience? Companies often ask this when they consider sending employees to our offices in Ogden, Utah. Both of the groups that attended during the 4th quarter had the right combination of integration experience, curiosity about the S4 integration, and a willingness to learn new technology.
Our next boot camp will be held January 12-13. Contact Nancy nsjones@thes4group.com for more information.

The October attendees were from Paape. Here is their story:

Paape Energy Services sends a team to Boot Camp

Paape Companies was founded in 1948 and is still owned by the Paape family. The company started out as a service company to fix and maintain boiler systems but has grown to include a full roster of service divisions, including energy, security, and building automation services. The company’s customers, served by the Rochester and Mankato offices, are well taken care of. Paape has built a solid reputation for providing the finest technicians, equipment, materials, and follow up, all backed by the strong company work ethic culture.

The two Paape attendees were James Muhlenbeck, Programmer, a well-seasoned building automation technical professional, and John Beardon, Project Manager, who analyzes potential jobs and identifies opportunities for building automation services.
This team had the ideal combination of JCI experience, knowledge of today’s BACnet systems, plus the willingness and ability to identify the needs of their customers.

Prior to attending the training, they had identified a potential project for the initial S4 integration and were interested in discussing this customer’s needs and discover how the S4 Open BACnet-N2 router might address these needs.

Both of the attendees see the unlimited potential in the S4 – Schneider-Electric SmartStruxure integration solution.

At the end of the training James shared his thought, “I’ve been waiting for this for 3 years since I’ve been with Paape.”

John added “This boot camp experience opened my eyes to a potential we can grab onto and help customers we couldn’t help before. “

For more information about Paape Energy Services contact John Beardon Johnb@paape.com

The November attendees were from HSC.

HSC sends a team to S4 Boot Camp – With Great Success

HSC is a fairly new S4 Distributor with locations in West Virginia and Tennessee. HSC is a family owned business with a rock solid reputation. They know how to analyze a customer’s needs, recommend the appropriate solution, install it, and offer ongoing support for what they sell. The company is an authorized dealer for both Automated Logic and ABB products.

HSC sent a team of talented individuals who wanted to learn how to sell, install, and service S4 Open products. The team was composed of Owen Clarke, a seasoned engineer who has proven to be an asset to the HSC family, John Hughes the company’s COO who brought the corporate and organizational management skills, and Chris Sargent, the sales engineer who came to the boot camp unsure of what the S4 product was going to be able to do for their customers and left with a commitment to help customers they could not help in the past.

Prior to the start of training, the S4 staff always asks the attendees what they want to walk away with as a result of attending the boot camp. Owen wanted to understand the S4-Automated Logic connection. Chris wanted to know the product so he could represent and sell it to customers.

John Hughes wanted to know everything about the S4 products. How to sell it, install it, and service it. He was concerned about getting in over their heads with the product. This approach is a testament to HSC’s commitment to quality service and support.

At the end of the intense two days, the group was demo ready. In other words, they understand what the value of the product is to their customers and are ready to train staff in how to install and service the product, and educate their customers as to the availability and benefits of the S4 integration solution.

Special Note to all Automated Logic Dealers – HSC will be a Distributor for any integrator (working with any BAS) needing S4 products in their geographic service area. HSC is focused on providing S4 products, providing and completing pre-sales support, and 1st level technical support for all ALC dealers and branches.

After the last system was configured, we asked the group why other companies should send people to boot camp. Chris was quick to say, “This experience far exceeded my expectations.” John added, “You have the opportunity to learn all you can to be knowledgeable for your customers during boot camp. I had all my questions answered and even more I had as I was going through the training. A good investment.”

For more information about HSC, contact John Hughes at jhughes@hsbac.com 865-247-0481