Over the last few months, various news stories have caught my eye because of their relevance to dispatch centers. My first takeaway from these stories is the importance of attention to detail in everything from mats to lighting to ergonomics. And my second takeaway is that sitting for long hours is no good for any of us! Read on for details.

With the 24/7/365 use, the moving parts, and the bells and whistles, do dispatch consoles last more than 10 years? For high-quality dispatch consoles, they not only last more than a decade but can still look like new and perform at their best. Recently, Xybix checked in on a client, the Onondaga County 911 Center, for feedback on their 10-year-old consoles. Four dispatchers with a combined 43 years of experience serving one of the largest counties in New York State shared their thoughts in video.

Think about how edgy you feel when you leave your phone in the car or plug it in a few feet away at, say, a coffee shop. Imagine if your belongings were always out of your possession like this, while you’re busy taking critical dispatch calls. This is where personal lockers come in—and they offer plenty of other benefits as well.

When you’re looking at creating or refreshing a workspace, you have the unique opportunity to take a fresh look at how the room suits your team’s needs. Who really needs to work in that room? What really needs to be in there? Is everything in the most convenient location?

To achieve a goal—like launching, expanding, or remodeling a control center or dispatch center—you need to start with a realistic completion date. Without this target date and supporting milestones, you have nothing to aim for and nothing to hold you accountable. The timeline will be as custom as your project, and can range anywhere from 4 months to 4 years. The typical timeframes here can help you get started.

People who work in dispatch centers are experts in all kinds of emergency and non-emergency situations that I’ll never understand. They are not likely, however, to be experts in remodeling and selecting dispatch center consoles. So once funds are approved for a remodel or expansion, who is assigned to manage the project?

Control rooms for transportation and utilities see 24/7/365 use, contain a massive amount of technology, and host employees in charge of functions that are critical to all our daily lives. As a result, these rooms need specialized workstations that are highly functional, comfortable, and built to last. These projects generally require a capital expenditure, which requires a budget request—and approval.

It’s easy to say that creating a nicer workspace improves morale—but can you prove it? Tina Buneta can.

Most of us think that interior designers make spaces beautiful with paint, furniture and artwork choices. In the dispatch world, however, I would say that the No. 1 function of an interior designer is to solve space problems. Unless we’re talking about new construction, most centers have space challenges, whether it’s the size or shape of the room or the placement of columns and electrical boxes.

First, let me say Happy New Year along with a heartfelt Thank You to our loyal customers and our prospective customers. I’m honored that we’re able to make your challenging jobs in dispatch, healthcare, operations and other 24/7 mission-critical functions just a little bit easier.