Orion Engineered Carbons communicates and collaborates globally via the Zoom platform

Orion Engineered Carbons produces a material you probably encounter daily. Its main product, carbon black, is an essential component for many items in our daily lives, like cell phone cases, tires, keyboards, batteries, and many other plastic products. Carbon black is a solid form of carbon that comes in powder or pellet form, used to increase the durability of plastic products, add color or tint, and even provide UV protection.

Orion has 15 plants across the world, including in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. As a global company, Orion’s employees rely on technology to connect and collaborate. It is part of the company’s DNA, with some people spending up to 80% of their day in face-to-face, hybrid, or fully digital meetings.

Hanging up the phone

Before Zoom, Orion mainly used global conference calling. The solution itself was audio only, with inconsistent quality. There was no app, and the lack of video meant no way to see non-verbal cues like facial expressions or gestures during meetings. Orion’s phone solution was also cost-prohibitive. 

In 2018, Orion began looking for a new solution. After trying Zoom Meetings, the team found that it was straightforward to use, easy to navigate, and offered high-quality audio and video. 

The move to video conferencing changed Orion’s culture, allowing employees to get to know each other more personally. Instead of working extra hard to connect, employees had a simple tool that was fun to use at their fingertips.

“The implementation was smooth. All we had to do was configure the product and make it available to our employees and partners. Even from a network perspective, we can say that the implementation was straightforward. Overall, the platform was implemented and up and running within two weeks,” said Ben Scherer, CIO at Orion Engineered Carbons. “There is only minimal fine-tuning required to have a good user experience. “

Another significant advantage, Ben pointed out, is that Zoom’s technology tolerates poor network connections. This ensures a good meeting experience even for those joining from remote locations around the globe. 

“We see an increase in productivity by implementing collaboration tools as part of our Digital Workplace program. It’s so much easier to connect with people and arrange meetings worldwide while still having face-to-face time,” Ben noted.

Embracing and extending the platform

In 2022, Orion gave its flagship offices a new look and adopted a hybrid work style. People working in the new office space enjoyed the more modern, collaborative environment. Zoom Rooms help employees run more inclusive meetings regardless of their physical location. 

Ben and his team also utilized Zoom Rooms’ digital signage capabilities. Screens around the office are not just for meetings but display business updates and important information. 

Orion also began rolling out Zoom Phone’s cloud-based telephony solution to employees, starting with its headquarters in Germany and the U.S. Switching to a cloud-based PBX allows them to replace their desk phones with headsets and move to a virtual phone system. The benefits are easy to see: The company’s phone number is as flexible as its employees, who can use it on their cell phones or PCs. Defined rules, such as call routing, remain intact no matter where the user is. Zoom Phone also offers more affordable calling rates, especially abroad. “Getting rid of desk phones is a significant cultural change,” said Ben. “I think overall it went pretty smoothly.”

Looking ahead

What’s next for Orion? “We are evaluating Zoom Phone for our manufacturing sites to see if it meets our high availability and enhanced safety needs. We are also testing Zoom Contact Center to streamline and optimize the experience for our customers,” Ben said. “Innovation and building enduring relationships are core values for our company. That’s why we use Zoom.”