In the fast-paced, cold storage environment of Lineage’s Westfield, Massachusetts facility, clear communication is essential for maintaining peak efficiency and excellent worker safety. Previously, the team relied on traditional two-way radios that struggled to penetrate the freezer’s thick, insulated walls. General Manager Matthew Fortune explained his frustration, “The problem with those radios is they couldn’t penetrate the freezer wall. We only had about a 40% connectivity rate.”

This spotty connection meant that 60% of the time, messages didn’t go through, so team members had to physically go and pass along messages in person. Warehouse Supervisor Ivan Serrano shared what the experience felt like prior to Relay, “I would physically go into the freezer, go down the aisles and scream for the operator to make sure they were seeing me.” This wasted valuable time and created operational bottlenecks, especially when coordinating tasks across the vast warehouse. For a company that prides itself on innovation as a core value, Fortune knew that enhancing team connectivity was the key to better serving their customers and improving the site’s ROI.

“We have significantly reduced our turn times over the past three years and now average between 35 and 45 minutes. The Relay devices had a huge impact on that.”
– Matthew Fortune, General Manager, Lineage Westfield, Massachusetts Warehouse

Achieving 98.7% Connectivity with Real-Time Location

The introduction of Relay was a significant step forward for the Westfield facility. With 98.7% connectivity throughout the warehouse, the team could finally communicate instantly, whether they were in the freezer, on the dock, or in the office.

A key feature for Fortune’s team was the ability to see a live map of the facility showing the exact location of every team member with their Relay. “The Relay devices give us a real-time location of our operators, which we did not have before, and it helps us make smarter, faster decisions that translate to better service for our customers.” This new visibility allowed supervisors to direct freight and coordinate tasks with greater efficiency, eliminating guesswork and wasted movement.

Reducing Turn Times up to 80%

The operational improvements were significant. With streamlined communication and location tracking, the team saw a major impact on their benchmarks. Truck turn-around times were reduced from 3-4 hours to an average of just 35-45 minutes. The facility went from handling 35-40 trucks a day to efficiently managing over 50, with the capacity to handle up to 60 trucks on busy days.

This boost in efficiency had a direct impact on the facility’s bottom line. “The return on investment in this building has improved since we brought the Relay devices in,” Fortune stated. “We’ve been able to handle more trucks than we have in the past.”

Built for the Demands of the Warehouse

Beyond the operational improvements, the team was impressed by how well Relay devices held up in the harsh cold of their warehouse environment.

• Durability: In a warehouse environment, devices must perform and survive regular handling, as well as accidental drops. They’ve been durable, they’ve been strong, and they’ve kept operating the entire time,” shared Fortune.
• Battery Life: Even in the energy-draining cold of the freezer, the Relays last. “When you’re in the cold, the battery goes down a lot quicker,” explained Operations Manager Cristian Acevedo. “The Relays are in there for hours and they last in the cold.”
• Safety & Morale: The benefits have also extended to the team’s well-being. “These Relay devices have also helped us operate safer,” said Fortune. “If we see something that’s unsafe, we can call it over the Relay device and we know it’s going to transmit.” This reliability and connectivity also led to a noticeable boost in spirits. “Everybody was so happy,” Acevedo noted. “It just brought up their morale.”

Fortune’s advice to other facility managers is clear: “To increase efficiencies and ROI, I would highly recommend that people look into this program and try it out in their warehouse.”

Sauder’s Eggs isn’t your average egg company. What began as a humble family operation in the 1930s has become one of the nation’s leading egg companies. For decades, they have built their business by partnering with over 100 local, family-owned farms across Pennsylvania and Ohio to deliver some of the freshest eggs possible. At their packing facilities, like the one in Lititz, PA, a dedicated team works around loud, fast-moving machinery to grade, pack, and ship fresh eggs to customers across the country.

A Scramble to Be Heard

Inside Sauder’s busy packing facilities, however, past communication methods couldn’t keep pace with their commitment to quality. Plant Manager Cody Rhinier, knew the old system was flawed. They had previously used traditional walkie-talkies with long cords that would snag on equipment. This led to a less-than-ideal workaround. “Half the time people were just yelling across the production floor,” Cody shared.

The challenge was compounded by a significant language barrier. With a team that is roughly 50% non-English speaking—including speakers of Spanish, Vietnamese, and Arabic—clear, real-time communication was often difficult, relying on typing into translation apps or using an on-call phone service. This not only slowed down operations but also limited opportunities for talented employees who weren’t fluent in English.

A Fresh Way to Connect the Flock

Having heard about Relay at a previous company, Cody knew it could be the right solution for their diverse Lititz, PA facility. He introduced the devices to bridge the gaps in their operations and the impact was immediate, especially for overcoming language barriers. No longer limited by impersonal apps, team members could now speak in their native language and be understood instantly by others.

This unlocked new potential for the team. “It’s easier to move some of these non-English-speaking employees into some more key positions that do require radios and communication,” Cody explained. “And now, we have some very good employees who don’t speak any English, but they’re some of my key people on the floor that I need every day.”

The change was deeply felt by employees. Cody shared a story about introducing the Relay device to a key Vietnamese-speaking line lead: “I spoke into it and she heard it in English and she goes, ‘oh good.’ And then it started translating in Vietnamese and she just kind of looked at me and she was so happy. It was just a really really cool reaction to see and now we use them every day.” 

The sentiment was echoed by Sophie Schmitt, Senior Director of Marketing at Sauder’s Eggs who had recently been discussing the capabilities of Relay with Sauder’s CEO. She shared his feedback that he wished he had Relay back when he was running the plant because it was often difficult to be understood, resulting in wasted time and miscommunications.

Clearer Communication Delivers Grade A Results

With Relay in hand, Sauder’s has transformed its day-to-day operations. The crystal-clear audio has eliminated the need to shout over machinery, creating a more organized and professional environment. “With the radio’s running off 4G, I can hear them whether I’m here or if I run to another facility for something,” Cody adds, highlighting the reliability of the network.

• Operational Efficiency: In egg packing, precision is everything. Miscommunication can lead to over-packing one order while shorting another. With Relay, the team can coordinate seamlessly. “It’s just crucial to have good communication to make sure orders are getting completed as efficiently as possible,” said Cody.
• Enhanced Safety: Should a team member need assistance, they can use their Relays to instantly alert Cody and a supervisor, far faster than if they had to walk to the intercom, page someone, and wait for a callback or to be met at a specific location. The intercom system didn’t allow the team to communicate additional details quickly and could be difficult to hear over the facility’s loud machinery.
• Stronger Culture: For Cody, the biggest change has been in the team’s culture. He can now connect with every employee, regardless of the language they speak. “I’m a huge people person, and when I come in on a Monday, I like to ask people how their weekend was. Before, I could only ask whoever spoke English, but now that we have so many different languages, I can go around, use the radio and ask everybody,” he said. This ability to build personal connections, he believes, is critical for retention.

“Relay creates a more personable experience and you build a stronger relationship with your employees. I think this will help make them feel more comfortable here and want to stay rather than go to another company where they can’t talk to anybody.” 

– Cody Rhinier, Plant Manager, Sauder’s Eggs

For Sauder’s Eggs, the decision was simple. The affordability and immense value made it an easy choice. As Cody put it, the cost was a “no brainer.” By investing in their people and their ability to connect, Sauder’s Eggs didn’t just find a better walkie-talkie; they found a tool that strengthens their entire operation from the ground up.

On paper, Dutch Valley Foods is a busy bulk food distributor in Myerstown, Pennsylvania. But it operates as three businesses in one: a distributor shipping pallets of dry goods to everyone from farm stands to multi-chain grocers, a dry food production facility packaging everything from soup starters to trail mix, and a logistics company with its own fleet of 75 trucks and 150 trailers delivering to 29 states up and down the East Coast. Juggling all of this requires flawless communication to keep things running smoothly and safely.

A ‘Radio Graveyard’, Poor Connectivity, and Growing Safety Concerns

As Dutch Valley Foods grew, it physically expanded, adding on to its warehouse facility almost ten times. The result? A massive, complex layout full of concrete walls and floor-to-ceiling racks that made reliable communication nearly impossible. Not only did the business face extensive dead spots and range issues with these added materials, their previous off-the-shelf walkie-talkies couldn’t withstand the industrial elements.

This left Corporate Director of Safety and Compliance, Tom Houtz, with a “radio graveyard” of broken devices. He shared, “I mean it’s a warehouse environment, so all of our floors are concrete, so you drop one of those radios and it’s instantly done. I can take you out and show you the radio graveyard and antennas are broken off and the screens are cracked and there’s corners chipped out of them, it’s awful.”

The fragile devices and unreliable connectivity created significant safety vulnerabilities. This communication gap was often illustrated when a manufacturing employee would attempt to call for assistance, but their radio call couldn’t get through. For critical situations, like a worker needing help, the official plan relied on whistles to call for aid. In a large, noisy warehouse, there was a serious concern that a whistle could go unheard. Tom realized the urgent need for a more dependable system to protect the team.

Finally, a Device That Actually Worked

Tom Houtz led the charge to find a new solution, believing that “clear, concise communication is what drives a business forward.” Given his past experiences, he was cautious about trying another radio system. “We were a little hesitant as to whether or not it would work because we’ve just been burned so many times on radios,” he says. After a Google search, he found Relay and decided to move forward.

Unlike their previous devices, Relay promised total coverage. It also included a dedicated panic button, providing a modern and direct way for employees to signal for help which was a significant improvement to their existing safety protocols. The risk paid off. “It has worked flawlessly,” Tom says.

“We have 100% coverage everywhere in our building. We’ve never had that before.”
– Tom Houtz, CSP, MSP, Corporate Director of Safety and Compliance at Dutch Valley Foods

When evaluating Relay, battery life and audio output were also important. In the past, the team needed amplifiers to properly hear their radios. Now, “they can hear the Relays better than they even could with the amplifier,” shared Tom, even over loud dust fans. The battery life has also been a stark contrast. The team has accidentally gone two or three days without charging a Relay, and found that the device just keeps working. Previously, their radios would start to fade around hour 8 of a 12-hour shift.

Amazing Results Lead to a Quick Expansion and New Standard of Operations

Dutch Valley started small, with just 10 Relay devices for the order picking team. The reaction was instant. “We were like, ‘This thing is amazing. This is working really well,’” says Tom. It didn’t take long for other teams to see the benefits, who were more than ready for a reliable solution. “They immediately said, ‘We’re ditching our old radios. Let’s do the Relay thing,’” Tom recalls. Word spread, and soon the maintenance and manufacturing departments wanted in, too. Today, Dutch Valley Foods uses over 30 Relays and counting.

This rapid expansion was fueled by improvements that have changed the game for the entire team. The panic button isn’t just a feature; it’s a source of confidence, with Tom noting that after seeing the system work, “everybody gets a big sense of security by seeing the response.” Tom has also leveraged Relay to broadcast alerts to the entire team, “We had one drill here where I used the summon feature and called every user back to a main channel and was able to communicate to every single device out there. It was perfect.”

The devices themselves are tough, and with the geofencing feature, not a single one has been lost. Ultimately, this new internal efficiency translates to a better customer experience. With clear communication, the whole operation runs smoother. When a customer arrives, the team coordinates instantly.

“What our customers see is that we’re on top of our game. They see that we’re a well-communicating organization.”

– Tom Houtz, CSP, MSP, Corporate Director of Safety and Compliance at Dutch Valley Foods

Magic Laundry Services operates a large-scale industrial laundry service in Montabello, California, processing high-quality linens for an impressive roster of clients including local high-end hotels, resorts, and casinos, across three adjacent buildings. Joe Gayton, Assistant VP at Magic Laundry Services, described their environment on a typical day, “We have automated equipment. We have people digging inside of laundry carts, putting linen in, taking it out, sorting linen, walking here, walking there. It’s a lot of moving parts, machines, equipment, bells, whistles, you name it. There’s a whole lot going on.” 

In this fast-paced setting, with departments from transportation and engineering to production all requiring constant coordination, clear and reliable communication is not just a convenience, but an operational necessity. 

The Challenge: Breakdowns, Blind Spots, and Wasted Steps

Before adopting Relay, Magic Laundry Services relied on traditional walkie-talkies, which they found cumbersome and prone to breakage. Gayton recounted, “We used to have these old black walkie-talkies, kind of big ones, that you would clip on your belt. Then you’d climb on a machine and it would get caught, slip, fall, and break.” Not only were these awkward to carry, but each broken unit meant a significant expense. Furthermore, when these walkie-talkies broke, repairs could take a long time. Gayton noted, “We would send them to go get repaired and it would be out a month or six weeks or longer.”

The range of the walkie-talkies had often fallen short, impacting communications between the three buildings. When this happened, significant time was lost getting messages to the right person, as Gayton and his team would spend significant time walking within or between the buildings. Channel management also proved problematic, “Each building would be on one channel, but then everybody would forget to change channels to communicate.” Due to the business’ fast-paced operations, losing time and missing messages was far from ideal. 

Finding the Right Solution in Relay: Already Trusted By Current Clients

About three years ago, with their existing walkie-talkie stock dwindling, Gayton began searching for a better alternative and discovered Relay on LinkedIn. His research revealed that many hotels, including Magic Laundry Services’s own clientele, were using the system for communications. After getting positive feedback from one of their clients, he approached Relay. 

The key selling points for Magic Laundry Services included Relay’s competitive pricing and significant added features. “You’re going to get so much more for less money,” Gayton explained, mentioning GPS tracking, geofencing, and language translation. “It was a pretty easy sell,” Gayton recalled. “But cost isn’t always the main thing. It’s also performance, availability, effectiveness, those kinds of things.”

Additionally, he also noted the convenience for managers like himself, “I’m the assistant VP here now, so I’m on call 24/7 anyways and this is just another tool that helps me to be able to do that,” adding that with Relay on his phone, he can be two miles away and still keep in touch with his team.

Transformative Results: Streamlined Operations, Enhanced Oversight, and Proven ROI

The switch to Relay immediately brought some substantial improvements, with Magic Laundry Services seeing an increase in the efficiency of communication between buildings due to Relay’s more reliable connectivity. Gayton shared, “Now with the Relays, we’re able to communicate a lot more effectively and in a timely manner.” 

On top of that, the business is seeing cost savings from not having to frequently replace broken devices like they used to, “There hasn’t been any replacements or repairs or anything like that since the new ones we got. So, I think in that sense, we are saving money.” Not only are Relay’s devices more durable, but their smaller, more manageable size has been an improvement for the staff carrying them to communicate across the facilities. 

Gayton has also enjoyed the extra operational insights he’s gained with Relay. “I’m able to monitor all of the voice traffic and let’s say two people are having a problem trying to fix a machine or something, I can chime in or I can go out there and help.” Relay’s geofencing and GPS tracking has been invaluable for locating misplaced devices and preventing them from getting lost off-property in the first place. Looking forward, Magic Laundry Services also plans to leverage Relay for their facility, about 60 miles away. 

“I would say the biggest plus for us is that we don’t have to go walk to find anybody, being that it’s such a big facility and three separate buildings. Now we’re able to communicate with another employee in another building. If I need something or something’s coming, I can let them know without me having to stop what I’m doing to go find them, and then come all the way back. So, we’ve been able to save a lot of wasted time.” 

– Joe Gayton Assistant VP at Magic Laundry Services

Phoenix Integrated Security, headquartered in Wayne, Michigan, delivers comprehensive security services to its clients, with operations spanning across numerous cities and municipalities. Their highly-trained teams are responsible for on-site guarding and ensuring the safety and integrity of large-scale facilities, such as vehicle manufacturers and processors. Maintaining clear, reliable, and professional communication is paramount for the business’ dispersed teams, who provide a vigilant presence and rapid response capabilities 24/7/365.

Cell Phones Lacked Oversight and Professionalism

Before implementing Relay in 2023, the security company relied on cell phones for team communication, including phone-based walkie-talkie app, Zello. Because the app resided on employees’ personal phones, the lines between work and personal time were blurred. The Head of Operations shared, “there was really no way as a company or as an operation for us to manage it professionally.” With reliable communications being a top priority for the business to ensure the safety and security of its employees and clients property, Phoenix Integrated Security knew there had to be a better solution out there, one that could provide the oversight they wanted.

Enter Relay: Cost-Effective and Reliable Across Long Distances

Over the years, the security company has evaluated various radio options and consistently found Relay to be the best fit with its built-in long range, user friendliness, centralized management capabilities via the Relay Dashboard, helpful customer support, and of course, affordability. Switching to a traditional radio system would have required high costs and complex startup infrastructure in order to use them across the hundreds of miles within Phoenix Integrated Security’s operations. The Head of Operations noted, “It’s always come down to Relay has been here for us and we’ve been there for them, and they’ve always done what we need them to do.” 

“Other radio providers offer a similar service but they can’t do it the way Relay does it. Especially for the cost and the quality that you get.” 
– The Head of Operations at Phoenix Integrated Security

Enhanced Operations, Reliable Insights, and Proven Efficiency

With over 1,000 messages being sent across devices on a busy day, Relay’s Dashboard has become a central asset for Phoenix Integrated Security’s Operations Center, significantly enhancing visibility. “We have all the data now right at our fingertips,” the Head of Operations stated. Features like location tracking have proved invaluable for verifying personnel positions and locating lost devices, while Relay’s geofencing provides real-time alerts when devices leave designated areas. “Location tracking is phenomenal with us operating in so many different cities,” they shared. “It’s not always practical for me to go to the site and ask questions but I can look at the location tracking and see where an employee was when an incident occurred.” The team also leverages Relay’s message transcriptions to verify events for reporting and compliance scenarios.

The team in the Security Operations Center (SOC) actively uses Relay’s Dashboard to manage device settings remotely, such as ensuring devices aren’t on “Do Not Disturb” and volumes are turned up loud enough so no essential communications are missed. They are even utilizing pre-scheduled broadcasts for standardized announcements like charging reminders at shift change and weather alerts to improve efficiency. The Head of Operations shared, “Relay has allowed my Operations Center to become a tool that really helps us oversee and maintain our team.” Communication across their extensive service area became so seamless that, “it doesn’t feel like we’re operating in eight different cities when you sit in our Security Operations Center (SOC) and you hear everyone talking like it’s just another conversation,” they continued. “With the distance we span with them, I think we’re really closing the gap.”

“Using Relay across the vast distance of our operations has streamlined communications from the field to my security operations center. All they have to do is press that button and say whatever they need to say and my Operation Center has got it instantly.”
– The Head of Operations at Phoenix Integrated Security

Superlite Block Lone Butte Plant, a subsidiary of Oldcastle APG, a CRH company, is a recognized leader in concrete masonry technology and design. Located near Phoenix, AZ, the Oldcastle location strives to deliver high quality standards and innovative products to its local major retailer and professional landscaping customers. Some of the landscape and architectural products they manufacture include premixed bags of concrete, permeable pavers, paving stones, and retaining walls.

With a 90-person team spread out across a 36-acre operating facility, Site Manager, Christian Schultz quickly recognized the need for a better way of communicating. 

36-Acre Manufacturing Facility Needed Better Communications

Before Relay, Christian and his workers were used to using cheap walkie talkies or non-company provided cell phones out on the forklifts in the yard. Inside the plant, workers just yelled over the loud machinery or used hand signals to communicate. Having worked at many other manufacturing facilities throughout his career, Christian shared that his teams have always been frustrated by the radios they’ve used in the past.

He described the high-costs, reliance on radio dealers, and constant need for replacements, just for the radios not to work properly. “They were good, but not great. Nothing like the all-in solution Relay has.” Because even the best traditional radio solutions have their flaws, he shared that sites often go with a cheaper solution, leading workers in the field to lose trust in radios all together. “Most people buy a cheaper one and then it doesn’t work and people believe no radios work.”

Using Radios Beyond Communication

Regardless of past poor radio experiences, Christian recognized that radios were absolutely necessary for communication in areas where workers were spread out. It didn’t sit well with him knowing that their current way of communication wasn’t reliable. “They didn’t have real-time, crisp and clean communication,” he shared.

When Christian saw an ad for Relay, he was immediately attracted to the modern yet rugged hardware design and reached out for more information. He admitted that he had never even considered that radios could be more than just communication tools. It wasn’t until he had onboarded Relay that he realized the full extent of what Relay could do. 

Describing Relay’s Dashboard, he shared, “I didn’t even know I needed this but I love it and it’s not just because it’s cool, it gives you that flexibility that I never even realized you could have.” Christian also mentioned that he has appreciated the extra thought and user-friendliness that’s gone into 1:1 calling, automatic time outs back to the home channel, ease of channel management, and of course, language translation. “Those things are really cool and they’re a massive step over other solutions.”

TeamTranslate™ Bridges Language Gaps

Relay’s translation capabilities have been a game changer for the Superlite Block Lone Butte plant in many ways. Limited-English-speaking workers are using TeamTranslate™ to send and receive all Relay messages in their native language. They’ve always managed to get by, but this has helped certain employees understand things better. Christian shared, “We ended up changing his device to Spanish so that he could communicate more clearly and he definitely has a better understanding of stuff being said back and forth, and same the other way.”

The facility also has hundreds of truck drivers come through everyday, some not speaking any English. The Superlite team has used Relay’s pocket translator function many times to streamline communications with these visitors. “When interacting with non-English speaking truck drivers, our employees would have to get someone who spoke their native language. Now with the pocket translator feature, we can avoid any delays.” He continues, “We can just turn the device to translate and then exchange it back and forth. That’s been immensely helpful and has been used many times. It’s been well worth it.”

Best of all, the Superlite team has been able to expand hiring efforts now that they have a reliable translation tool in place. “There’s a lot of hardworking Hispanic groups in the area but many of them don’t speak English,” shared Christian. “I just want good talent, period. You’re often going to find that in different groups with different cultures and languages, but I’ve always kind of been restricted because if they can’t speak English, I couldn’t teach them safety or train them properly.” They started by hiring one non-English speaking employee, and after great success, tapped into even more non-English-speaking talent. “Relay now allows us to tap into that employee for referrals. He has referred three more people who were in the same boat, but now we have a way to work with that in any plant that they go into,” shared Christian. Seeing how passionate the non-English employees are about their Relays has been awesome for Christian to see, “I’d paid for that all day long.”

“I think we’re only scratching the surface on what this will do for us. It’s exciting.”

– Christian Schultz, Site Manager at Superlite Block Lone Butte

Recycle Management LLC operates a sprawling 20-acre metals recycling facility in Rockingham, Virginia, recycling everything from household appliances and automotive vehicles to industrial scrap and recreational equipment. Handling heavy materials in a dynamic environment that is inherently loud, dusty, and dirty requires precise coordination. For the team at Recycle Management, clear and immediate communication isn’t just about efficiency—it’s critical for safety and smooth operations. However, language barriers within their workforce were hampering the team’s ability to communicate effectively.

Communication Bottlenecks in the Harsh and Demanding Environment

Operations Manager Blaine Cash emphasized the importance of clarity in their environment, stating, “Communication is very key back there, either loading the right material or staying out of the way of whatever else might be going on.” Before adopting Relay, attempts to bridge the language gap were inefficient and often frustrating. Yard Supervisor Nathan Walker recalled, “Trying to communicate before Relay was Google Translate or I had to go find somebody that was bilingual. It was difficult, especially if you needed something quick.”

These makeshift methods often led to misunderstandings and costly errors. “When we were communicating with just cell phones, the guys back there would say they would understand us, and then be off doing the exact opposite thing,” Blaine shared. This not only affected productivity but also placed an unfair burden on the bilingual employees. “The bilingual guys would feel like we’re always going to them, putting them in a position that they really didn’t want to be in,” Blaine added. 

Finding a Robust, Multilingual Solution

Recognizing the need for a fundamental change, Recycle Management sought a communication tool that could provide instant language translation, withstand the elements in their harsh physical environment, and cut through the loud machinery noise, especially during critical safety situations. Relay stood out with its integrated real-time translation capabilities, rugged design suitable for demanding industrial use, and clear audio performance. “Listening to the guys in the loud environment back there, I can hear them clear as a bell,” Blaine remarked. The ability to communicate instantly with individuals or the entire team also addressed their operational efficiency and safety needs. Dependable battery life has further contributed to their confidence in choosing Relay, with Blaine noting, “I haven’t had anyone run out of battery yet. I think they can go 2-3 days.”

Real-Time Translation Boosts Productivity, Safety, and Confidence

The implementation of Relay yielded immediate and substantial benefits across Recycle Management’s operations. The most significant impact came from overcoming their language barriers. “With Relay, they’re actually understanding us,” Blaine confirmed, highlighting the effectiveness of TeamTranslate. “English to Spanish works great, the guys are understanding what we’re saying now and it’s boosting production. We’re not having to go back and ask guys to do what they already should have done.”

This newfound clarity streamlined daily tasks and even simplified routines like morning meetings. Previously the bilingual owner needed to conduct separate briefings. “Now with Relay, I’m able to hold the meetings, translations happening in real-time, and we only have to say it once,” Blaine explained. These positive changes extended to the team’s morale, as non-English speaking workers feel more empowered to ask questions and are more confident in their ability to understand instructions.

Beyond productivity and language translation, Relay has significantly enhanced safety protocols. “One of the big things with Relay is emergency situations. With a cell phone you’re just texting one person. With Relay, you’re getting it out to the whole crew,” Blaine stated, emphasizing the critical advantage of instant group alerts. 

Just with the communication side and everyone doing what they need to do at the time they need to do it, communicating through the device, we already know it’s a big return on the investment.” 

– Blaine Cash, Operations Manager at Recycle Management LLC

Palumbo Foods is a multi-generational, family-owned and operated mushroom grower, processor, seller, and distributor, located just outside of “Mushroom Capital of the World” Kennett Square, PA. Their customer-first mindset and competitive drive has quickly allowed them to become one of the fastest growing fresh mushroom distributors in the US. Palumbo Foods currently sells mushrooms nationwide to retail stores, produce distributors, and well-known fast food chains. 

Mushrooms are an incredibly difficult type of produce to work with. From the unique indoor growing process to keeping them fresh during transportation due to their extremely short shelf life, being a successful mushroom distributor requires exceptional care and speed. That’s why Palumbo Foods is determined to make team communication as efficient as possible.

“Communication is key from start to finish. Whether it’s the amount of product that’s coming in, the amount of product that’s needed, or when a truck gets here, it’s a constantly moving industry. For us, communication is important because one little hiccup can mess up the whole process.”

– Kimiko Palumbo, Director of Sales at Palumbo Foods

Traditional Walkie Talkies Weren’t Suited for the Production Floor

Prior to Relay, Palumbo Foods tried everything to make communication more efficient, including three different types of walkie talkies. “Those had battery issues, signal issues, if you weren’t directly staring at the person 30 feet away it didn’t work,” shared Palumbo Foods’s Operations Manager, John Tonsil Jr. As the Operations Manager, he also saw how many times messages went unheard or unreceived from the various walkie talkie issues they were facing, including fast-dying devices and lack of connectivity.

The team at Palumbo Foods also tried text messages, WhatsApp, and emails. Unfortunately, with spotty cell service and people not always answering their phones, these didn’t provide the speed they needed to efficiently communicate last-minute order add-ons or transportation time adjustments.

Sending Several Hundreds Messages Per Day with Relay

The team at Palumbo Foods needed a solution that could thrive amongst the facility’s loud, industrial equipment, constant flow of messages, and even the cold, with storage rooms kept as low as 34 degrees.

When John discovered Relay being used by doctors and nurses in a hospital, he figured, “if doctors were using it for emergency situations, that it would work here.” He assumed the cost of a device with all of Relay’s capabilities was unobtainable. Yet, when he reached out he was pleasantly surprised to find Relay’s costs comparable to traditional walkie talkies. “The price was much lower than anyone anticipated, it was a no-brainer for us,” he shared. 

That was over three years ago. Since then, there’s barely a minute that goes by that the team at Palumbo Foods isn’t communicating over their Relays. “With Relay, no matter where we are, the communication will happen with the Relay device”, shared John.

Long-Range Communication Means More Time at Home for CEO

Relay’s impact on Palumbo Food’s operations has been undeniable. Common walkie talkie issues like range, interference, and poor audio are all things of the past, allowing the team to get things done faster. Palumbo’s CEO, Shawn Palmubo shared, “There’s no interference, it literally sounds like we’re talking in person, like it’s so clear.” Relay has given them more assurance and flexibility, that they can pass along to their customers. They’re able to communicate things like mushroom add ons to an existing order instantly, getting product onto the right pallet within minutes. The team also shared that Relay’s durability has been impressive and its battery life has lasted as long as 2.5 days.

Most importantly of all, Relay’s nationwide connectivity has allowed Shawn Palumbo to spend more time at home with his family. He shared that, “Prior to Relay, I was onsite almost 7 days a week, now I can take the weekends, work from home and be able to answer their questions.” The person who’s seen the greatest impact of this is Shawn’s wife and Director of Sales, Kimiko Palumbo. She shared that Relay has transformed their family life, allowing Shawn to do more of what he loves on the weekends, including spending time with their son and coaching football. “He’s been able to be connected, but also disconnect.” She continued, “Having the communication through Relay, he’s been able to be home but also be here at the same time.”

“I wouldn’t be as happy at work without Relay”

– Shawn Palumbo, CEO at Palumbo Foods

Founded in 1976, Poppies Bakeries began as an artisan bakery in Belgium, selling traditional Flemish pastries and biscuits to market vendors, small shops, and other businesses in the local community. Today, they’re an international company with 13 bakeries and more than 1,300 employees across Europe and the USA, selling mostly private label products in over 64 countries. In the U.S., their popular Delizza brand, known for frozen cream puffs and eclairs, is produced at their only American facility in Battleboro, NC. We visited the Battleboro location to chat with the Preventative Maintenance and Safety Coordinator, Jordan Childers, and Production Manager, José Luis Vàsquez, about Relay’s impact on their bakery operations.

Traditional Radios Were Causing Dead Spots and Safety Concerns

Before Relay, Poppies Bakeries’ U.S. location was using traditional two-way radios. Not only were these creating obstacles in their communications, the radios were big and heavy for staff to carry around. A main concern was the radio’s connectivity issues. “Especially if it’s an emergency, you’re trying to communicate with someone and you don’t know if they heard you or not,” shared Jordan. 

The old-school radios were also interfering with the food manufacturer’s industrial equipment. “If you were to use the two way radios too close to the metal detector, it would actually cause it to go off which was causing headaches for our production team and our QA team,” said Jordan. He continued, “They have to go in there and justify why this went off and then run product back.” 

Removing Language Barriers with TeamTranslate™

One of the big reasons Jordan began looking into Relay was its real-time language translation capabilities because language barriers have been a safety concern for him. “Before Relay’s translation feature, in order to overcome the language barrier, we would have to have a bilingual person translate that meeting or conversation, no matter how big or small it was,” shared Jordan. 

José Luis Vàsquez, Production Manager at Poppies Bakeries and one of the team’s primary bilingual translators gave us insights into how this affected his day to day. “It was frustrating,” he said. “Sometimes I was in the middle of doing something important and then all of the sudden I’d have some translation to do.” He continued, “Now with Relay, I don’t have to call maintenance or other departments for help when needed. All the employees have to do is speak in Spanish and Relay will translate.” 

“Our Spanish-speaking employees now feel that they are listened to, they’re more part of the team. With Relay, there’s been a lot of change.”

– José Luis Vàsquez, Production Manager

José Luis also shared that the Relays can be used for private 1:1 training sessions that the plant does for new employees every 30, 60, and 90 days. “We have Spanish-speaking new employees that don’t speak a word of English, and that has made a big difference.”

“Just prior to us getting on board with Relay, we actually did have a significant safety incident that occurred with a non-English speaking person and I was unable to communicate with them as a safety coordinator. Had we had the Relays in place already, I would have been able to communicate with that person on my own and not need an interpreter.”

– Jordan Childers, Preventative Maintenance and Safety Coordinator

Relay’s translation feature has been really positive for Poppies Bakeries’ U.S. location because most of their workforce is Spanish-speaking. By having the translation feature, Relay has been able to eliminate their language barriers.

Better Connectivity, Audio Quality, Battery Life, and Durability

By switching to Relay, the bakery has eliminated the frustrations of missing messages and machine interference due to its superior connectivity. José Luis shared, “the connectivity is much, much better.” He continued, “now I feel comfortable knowing that my partners know when I’m calling them.”

In terms of durability, Relay has blown Poppies’ past solutions out of the water. “I’ve dropped them, I don’t know how many times, from different heights and they’re intact,” shared José Luis. José Luis has also noticed Relay’s improved battery life over the traditional radios they were using before. In addition to lasting through two 8 hour shifts, “It’s a fast-charging device, it won’t take more than 30-minutes to an hour to fully charge.”

Jordan shared that Relay’s audio quality is superior to the two way radios they were using before. The noise cancellation feature has proved to be really impressive, with communications coming out crystal clear, even in their 100dB+ ammonia room.

When it comes to Relay’s App and Dashboard, Jordan uses these to see where devices are, make sure they’re up to date, and to assign or reassign devices when necessary. “It’s also nice from a safety perspective or even a HR perspective,” he shared. “We’ve had instances where HR has requested the recording logs and that’s obviously something that’s not available with our two way radios.”

With two way radios, they are just what they are. They’re push-to-talk. At the end of the day, that’s it, that’s all that they offer. Relay offers the chance for there to be growth, new features, new technology, new accessories. That was another big plus that we were looking for.

– Jordan Childers, Preventative Maintenance and Safety Coordinator

Located in Indianapolis, Indiana and one of BHI Senior Living’s latest affiliations, Westminster Village North is a nonprofit, nondenominational continuing care retirement community. The community is set on 57 beautiful historic acres, featuring 42 cottages, 115 independent living apartments, 89 assisted living apartments, 124 health and rehabilitation suites, and 24 memory care units. With award-winning dining, a fitness center, and mini golf, Westminster Village North is proud to cater its thriving, pet-friendly community to those with an active lifestyle. It also offers residents a seamless transition between different levels of care without needing to leave the community. When it comes to choosing a new technology solution, Westminster Village North holds the provider to the same high standards they set for their own patent care.

Cell Phones: Slow Responses and Unprofessional Looking

Before Relay, Environmental Services (EVS) Manager, Dena Lira, and her team of 20+ staff had been relying on cell phones to communicate with one another. This presented a variety of challenges, including slow response times to texts and calls, staff not wanting to use their own personal devices on the job, and conflicts with the facility’s cell phone policy. It was also difficult for Dena to be sure her team was using their phones for only work-related tasks. To speed up team communications and hold employees more accountable for their time at work, Dena began exploring a new communication technology recommended by corporate: Relay.

Location Tracking and Language Translation

In addition to its compact size, one of the main reasons Dena began considering Relay was for its bluetooth beacons and indoor location tracking system. This would give her added insight into where employees were during their shift, especially break areas, and for how long. She’d be able to track efficiency and reduce time employees spent outside their designated areas. What made her confident that Relay was the right solution for her team was its TeamTranslate™ enhancement. With over 50% of her team being Spanish-speaking, some with little English proficiency, the ability to translate messages in real-time across devices would be an invaluable capability. 

12 out of my 22 person staff are Spanish-speaking, so TeamTranslate™ has been a huge feature. We use it a lot for 1:1 meetings and it’s been great for going back and forth. It’s also been useful for communicating when they’re on a unit and I need to let them know what needs to get done.

– Dena Lira, EVS Manager at Westminster Village North

Relay Enhances Team Accountability and Efficiency

In just two weeks, Dena and her team at Westminster Village North had beacons strategically installed and were communicating almost solely over Relays instead of cell phones. While the team was a bit hesitant at first, they’ve all seen the efficiency Relay has brought to their tasks. In their first two and a half months with Relay, the team sent over 8,000 messages – an incredible feat for the small but mighty team. 

Dena has been pleased with the results she’s seen with Relay, now able to:

• Track employees location history and time in break rooms
• Communicate with staff quickly and efficiency using Relay’s Dashboard on her computer
• Use TeamTranslate™ during 1:1 meetings or across units with primarily Spanish-speaking employees
• Check in on her team from home, especially important with the smaller staff on weekends and evenings

I put some beacons by where the laundry staff stocks their laundry, and that’s helped a lot too, just knowing that they are actually going to the linen closets on those units. I can see that they are going into each unit where they should be doing the linen drop offs. That has been a big issue in the past. I would get complaints that no one was delivering linens in the evenings. Now I can see that they did go to these units and I’m no longer getting complaints.

– Dena Lira, EVS Manager at Westminster Village North