As a customer, you can and should expect high quality products, as well as a full service support team, when choosing an imaging furniture provider. What you really want is a partner, meaning the provider is looking for a long-term relationship instead of just hoping to close the first sale. It takes some time and research to find the best provider for the job, and here is some sound advice to help you on your way.

I don’t know about you, but, love the idea of packing a healthy meal on the go! So why not pack a mason jar? This antiquated food vessel makes for quick and easy grab and go. The best part is, you don’t have to worry about forgetting any of the ingredients and its leak proof! (Because I SPILL EVERYTHING (no seriously)). There are so many healthy ideas from salads to soups, quiches, desserts. What I really wanted to know was, how. How...? How do I do that?

When it comes to purchasing dispatch furniture, there are many reasons why touring the manufacturing facility that you’re buying furniture from can be beneficial. Why should you take the time to do this? Why is it important to know how manufacturers build their furniture? Why is a plant visit a critical part of due diligence?

Last year when I wrote my review of the APCO dispatch furniture vendors, I went into the color themes and what I thought I saw as upcoming trends. This year, I noticed that not much has changed in terms of the design and color there is still a lot of dark colors and some wood-looking work surfaces.

What I noticed this year was how many dispatch furniture makers still put electronic equipment, mostly computers, under the console. I saw far too many sales reps doing presentations by bending down and showing the techs how they would access the computers, cables, radio, and power.

With the rigorous demands of a 911 dispatch job, the tedious, long hours and the sedentary work, it’s understandable that many dispatchers use caffeine as a mere means of survival. Let’s face it, the majority of the population leans on caffeine as a crutch to get through the work days and week! Whether it’s Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, Caribou Coffee, diet soda or energy drinks, caffeine is what we all crave.

In my past life I worked in outside sales and was pretty active; I later accepted a position requiring me to sit at a desk for the majority of my working day. If anyone had told me then, in the nineties, that sitting at a desk all day could be hazardous to your health, they certainly wouldn’t have been taken very seriously.

APCO International’s 81st Annual Conference and Expo is right around the corner, and that means all of the newest and most innovative dispatch furniture will be on display for the world to see. Ha, ha, ha! Ok, not really! Similar to last year and every other year, you'll see almost all of the same vendors making a repeat cameo appearance!

So, same vendors, same sales pitch, pretty much the same product. With a variety vendors offering 911 furniture choices, it can be tricky arriving at an informed decision when it comes to who to make a purchase with for your next dispatch furniture project. This list of questions can be used to help narrow down which vendor has the product best suited for your needs:

Trade show floors can be intimidating and a bit overwhelming. After all, APCO 2015 is one of the largest, if not the largest, trade shows for public safety professionals all year. And, whether you’re a Supervisor, Director, Dispatcher, or Manager, odds are that you’ve got a pretty busy week planned for Washington, DC. Hustling from one session to another, and obviously coming back to your agency with some key take-aways! Trust me, we know the drill.

So, let us help you by giving you 3 great reasons why you shouldn’t come by Xybix’s booth at APCO:

This past week I was sitting at home flipping through the TV channels, and I found myself involved in the first round of the Home Run Derby contest. The rules to this game are very simple; the players hit as many home runs as they can in a specific amount of time, and the players with the most home runs move onto the next round. It sounds simple, right? However, the further the players advance, the more tired they become, and I can only imagine what the players’ arms feel like when it gets down to the final two contestants..                        

Is a standing imaging desk just a trend, or does it really benefit the bottom line for an imaging center? 

Let’s face it radiologists tend to love new technology (toys) which can hopefully make their job easier, faster, and better. Efficiency is great for both the doctor and the management, who is trying to maintain a healthy bottom line. So, does a height adjustable imaging desk fall into the category of improved efficiency or is it just a new toy for the doctor to use for a few months? 

While the imaging desks are cool, let's face it, there are also some great health benefits to standing at work.