In hospitality, we often obsess over what the guest sees: the lobby design, the plating of the food, the smile at the front desk. But as any veteran operator knows, the things that truly define a guest’s stay are usually the things they don’t see.

We recently hosted a panel titled “The Ripple Effect: How Seamless Operations Drive Guest Experience and Hotel Performance,” and the insights shared by our panelists remain a blueprint for operational excellence in today’s market.

Moderated by Nadeem Elborno, Director of Sales at Relay, the discussion brought together leaders from Davidson Hospitality, CoralTree Hospitality, Pyramid Global Hospitality, and the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa. They dove deep into the “invisible infrastructure” that shapes culture, profitability, and consistency.

If you missed the session, here are the four critical takeaways on how back-of-house operations ripple out to the guest experience.

1. Invisible Coordination Creates Visible Luxury

Shane Tavolino, Assistant GM at Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, perfectly captured the essence of the discussion: guests feel everything, even if they don’t see the mechanics behind it.

“Guests feel everything. They feel your anticipation of their needs. They also feel hesitation and uncertainty.,” Tavolino noted. He emphasized that luxury isn’t just about expensive furniture; it’s about the seamless handoff of information. If a guest mentions a birthday at check-in, the restaurant should already know before the guest sits down for dinner. When a guest has to repeat themselves, the spell of luxury is broken.

The Takeaway: Great operations mean the guest never has to ask twice. The data collection and systems behind the scenes must be robust enough to make the front-of-house execution look effortless.

2. Proactive Maintenance is a Guest Experience Strategy

Engineering is often viewed as a department that only gets noticed when something breaks. Chris Richardson, VP of Engineering and Sustainability at Davidson Hospitality, argued that we need to flip that script.

“Preventive maintenance is our biggest deal at Davidson,” Richardson explained. “Your guests are going to feel it right off the bat if you’re missing some preventive things.”

Dan Monahan, Director of Engineering at CoralTree Hospitality, echoed this, noting that preparation is the only way to handle the unexpected. “When it happens, you shouldn’t be asking questions, you should be taking action,” Monahan said. “If you’re asking questions, you’re already behind.”

The Takeaway: Operational reliability isn’t just about fixing pipes; it’s about protecting the guest’s peace of mind. A proactive engineering team prevents the friction points that lead to negative reviews.

3. Reframe Cost as Investment in Efficiency

Implementing new operational tools usually comes with a price tag, which can lead to resistance from owners or busy operators. Molly Preston, VP of Procurement at Pyramid Global Hospitality, shared her strategy for guiding these conversations toward long-term value rather than short-term cost.

Preston noted that her role is half procurement and “half sales and marketing”. When introducing a new tool, she doesn’t just look at the financial ROI; she looks at the impact on the staff. Does it streamline the process? Does it remove a burden from the back-of-house team?

“The [purchasing] system is easier to use, better for the team to navigate, they can get in and get out,” Preston explained regarding a recent system overhaul. “Our corporate teams [are] easily able to facilitate training and support much more quickly. So the teams really feel the end-of-the-day operational impact benefit, even though there was some initial investment of time.”

The Takeaway: If a tool makes your staff’s life easier, it inevitably improves the guest experience. That is a tangible ROI that goes beyond the spreadsheet.

4. Technology Bridges the Gap (and Language Barriers)

A recurring theme was how technology acts as the glue for a diverse workforce. Tavolino pointed out that empowering associates with autonomy—like giving housekeepers the ability to signal for help or report issues instantly—builds psychological safety.

The panel also highlighted a specific feature of Relay that has been a game-changer for diverse teams: real-time translation.

“We have so many beautiful different languages spoken at each property,” Preston said. “One of the things I love about this system is it translates from one language into the next. It’s a really, really cool way to ensure quick communication, effective communication in the language that your team needs.”

The Takeaway: Communication isn’t just about talking; it’s about understanding. Tools that break down language barriers and provide safety (like panic buttons) prove to your staff that you care, fostering a culture that translates into better service.

The Bottom Line

As we move forward, the lesson from this panel is clear: Communication is a strategic lever.

Whether it’s breaking down silos or ensuring engineering is looped into the daily huddle, the most successful properties are the ones where the back-of-house teams are talking, preparing, and anticipating.

The post Why the Best Guest Experiences Start Deep in the Back of House appeared first on Relay.

When it comes to industrial operations, communication is not just about convenience. It directly impacts safety, efficiency, and trust on the floor. That idea sits at the center of a recent conversation on the Industrial Talk podcast, where Chris Chuang, Co-Founder and CEO of Relay, joined host Scott MacKenzie to talk about why communication tools need to evolve to meet real-world conditions.

Why Traditional Communication Falls Short

In many industrial environments, teams still rely on legacy radios or cell phones that were never designed for noisy, high-risk settings. Dead zones, dropped connections, and fragile hardware create gaps that workers have learned to work around, even when the stakes are high.

Chris explains that these gaps are not just frustrating, they can be dangerous. When a message does not get through or a worker cannot reach help quickly, the consequences can be serious. That reality is what pushed Relay to rethink how frontline communication should work.

Designing for the Frontline First

One of the strongest themes in the episode is intentional design. Relay was built specifically for frontline workers, not adapted from consumer devices or legacy radios.

The device is small, rugged, and built to handle drops, water, and daily wear. It supports push-to-talk communication using both Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, helping teams stay connected across large or complex facilities. It also includes features like emergency alerts, location awareness, and real-time translation to support diverse teams working side by side.

Chris also shares why Relay builds its own hardware rather than relying on third-party devices. Owning the design process allows the team to focus on reliability and usability instead of forcing industrial workers to adapt to tools that were never meant for them.

Using AI to Support, Not Replace, People

The conversation also touches on how AI fits into the future of frontline communication. Chris is clear that the goal is not to replace human decision-making. Instead, AI can help surface important signals, identify potential safety risks, and provide insights that teams might otherwise miss.

When used thoughtfully, these tools can help supervisors respond faster, spot trends, and support workers more effectively. The focus stays on making people safer and more informed, not adding complexity for the sake of technology.

Keeping the Human Element Intact

Despite all the technology involved, one thing remains constant. Trust, clarity, and human connection still matter most. Chris emphasizes that communication tools should strengthen these relationships, not get in the way of them.

In high-pressure environments, workers need tools that feel simple and dependable. When communication works the way it should, teams can focus on the job instead of worrying about whether their message will get through.

What Comes Next

Relay has spent years building a strong foundation around reliable connectivity. With that in place, the company is continuing to expand how data and AI can support safer and more efficient operations. The long-term vision is clear: give frontline teams tools that work in real conditions and help organizations make better decisions without losing sight of the people doing the work.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Industrial Talk highlights an important shift happening across industrial operations. Communication is no longer just an operational tool. It is a core part of safety strategy and workforce support.

For leaders responsible for frontline teams, the takeaway is simple. When communication works reliably, everything else works better too.

The post How Reliable Communication Improves Safety on the Frontline appeared first on Relay.

Today, the market has spoken.

We are incredibly proud to announce that Relay has secured the No. 175 spot on the 2025 Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ and ranked No. 920 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America. Fueled by a staggering 461% three-year revenue growth rate, these rankings are more than just accolades. They are a mandate. They are proof that the frontline does not just need new radios. They want an Intelligent System of Action.

Read the full press release here.

Validating the Human Signal

Our rapid ascent is fueled by a critical shift in how the frontline operates. The Relay SOAR™ Platform has officially replaced the analog past, transforming ephemeral voice conversations into a structured, searchable data asset.

This shift has created one of the world’s largest datasets of industrial ground truth. We are now creating over 1 billion new data points each week. This is the Human Signal™ that legacy radios ignore, and it is driving meaningful outcomes. In fact, over 78% of all new industrial customers are now adopting AI features such as Channel Scanning and award-winning TeamTranslate^TM.

A Fortress of Innovation: 100 Patents and Counting

We are not just innovating at the software layer. We are redefining the hardware foundation of the physical economy. In 2025, Relay expanded its intellectual property portfolio significantly, securing our 100th patent.

With 11 new patents awarded in 2025 alone, our portfolio is the engine behind breakthrough capabilities like Steady Link™. By leveraging patented seamless connectivity switching, Steady Link eliminates the communication dead zones that plague industrial facilities, creating an unbreakable bond across Wi-Fi and multiple cellular networks. 

Alongside AI-driven noise suppression and language translation, these are the technical moats that render the static, single-network hardware of “Big Radio” obsolete in a cloud-first world.

Enterprise Scale and Reliability

The operational intelligence fueling our platform has led to massive market adoption. We are proud to serve over 40 of the Fortune 500 and a dozen of the Fortune 100.

Our customers are not just joining; they are growing with us. Relay continues to demonstrate immense value with a Net Revenue Retention (NRR) of over 135% among enterprise customers. 

This trust is built on reliability. Programs like Fleet Shield™ have ended the era of “disposable frontline tech” by guaranteeing the operational uptime large enterprises need. 

Furthermore, the launch of RelayM has accelerated our expansion into luxury and healthcare sectors, proving that industrial-grade durability can exist in a discreet, 35% smaller form factor.

Scaling from Startup to Enterprise Standard

To support this explosive trajectory and prepare for our next phase of scale, we are thrilled to welcome two seasoned leaders to the Relay C-Suite:

• Matthew Welch, Chief Marketing Officer: Matthew joins us with a track record of driving rapid adoption for hardware-enabled software platforms. His previous leadership roles as COO of Lighthouse AI, CBO at Eargo, and GM at Rakuten Kobo have seen him scale businesses to millions of customers and grow companies to multiple acquisitions and a NASDAQ IPO.
• Shiv Hira, Chief Financial Officer: Shiv brings over two decades of financial leadership, most recently as EVP of Finance at Bandwidth. His experience in raising capital, managing global expansion, and navigating the public markets will be instrumental as we engineer our transition from a high-growth startup to IPO-ready scale.

The Future is Defiantly Human

As our CEO Chris Chuang noted, “We aren’t just selling radios; we are building the Intelligent System of Action for the physical economy.”

To our customers, partners, and the Relay team, thank you. This recognition belongs to you. We are just getting started on our mission to prove that in the age of AI, the most powerful innovation is one that empowers the human workforce to remain defiantly human.

See the full announcement and our latest industry coverage in the Relay Newsroom.

The post 461% Growth and New C-Suite Leaders: Inside Relay’s Landmark Year appeared first on Relay.

LINEAGE WESTFIELD

Lineage Westfield Improves ROI and Slashes Turn Times up to 80%

Slowed Down by Communication Gaps in the Freezer

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.”

A Recommendation for Any Warehouse

For Lineage’s Westfield team, switching to Relay was more than just a communication upgrade; it was a fundamental improvement to their entire operation. By connecting their team, they unlocked new levels of efficiency, improved safety, and created a more positive work environment.

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.”

• 24/7 cold storage facility in Westfield, Massachusetts

• Large freezer warehouse with 20 aisles, managing 50-60 trucks daily

• Specializing in the preservation, protection, and distribution of food for global brands

INDUSTRY

MANUFACTURING

OBJECTIVE

Replace an unreliable radio system that was prone to dead spots, hindering team safety and creating costly operational delays. The objective was to find a modern communication solution that could penetrate freezer walls, provide real-time team visibility, and ultimately increase the number of trucks the facility could service daily.

RESULT

After replacing traditional radios with Relay, Lineage’s Westfield, MA facility’s connectivity rate jumped from 40% to 98.7% within the freezer walls. This upgrade helped slash truck turn times from hours to 45 minutes, increased daily truck capacity, and improved both safety and team member experience through reliable, real-time communication and location tracking.

GET A DEMO

The post Lineage Westfield appeared first on Relay.

At G2E in Las Vegas this year, Robin Villareal, the first Native American female Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Gila River Resorts and Casinos, delivered her session, “From the Floor to the C-Suite: A CIO’s Perspective on Technology That Truly Empowers.” 

Interviewed by Relay CEO and co-founder Chris Chuang, Villareal offered a powerful, perspective-shifting look at how her journey from a frontline associate to a C-level executive shapes her current technology strategy, providing a clear roadmap for operators seeking to balance high-tech solutions with high-touch service. Backed by a career supporting the opening of seven casinos and three major hotel resort expansions since 1995, her insights are grounded in unparalleled operational scale, which she deliberately uses to reinforce the frontline foundation of every decision.

The View from the Floor: Strategy Built from the Ground Up

Robin Villareal’s career trajectory is anything but traditional. Starting 30 years ago as a beverage server, when a promised buffet hostess role didn’t yet exist, she learned the rhythm of the casino floor firsthand. This frontline foundation is the bedrock of her C-level strategy today.

Villareal notes that a common misconception among floor staff is that the C-suite spends money blindly or doesn’t care about their daily struggles. Her mission has been to dismantle this myth by ensuring every technology decision is informed by the user. She stresses that a successful technology rollout isn’t complete after implementation; it’s done when the frontline confirms it works. This means prioritizing immersion and direct feedback.

When rolling out their new AI-enabled communication solution, she personally stopped housekeepers and slot techs on the floor to ask, “How do you like that cool radio?” Through these direct conversations, she confirmed the system’s immediate value: features like language translation instantly improved communication between co-workers who spoke Spanish, English, or Cambodian, eliminating a daily operational barrier. This boots-on-the-ground approach ensures that the frontline’s needs are met and emphasizes that IT must communicate the “why” behind any investment to gain crucial buy-in.

Empowerment: The Core of Gila River’s Culture

For Villareal, technology is only as strong as the people wielding it. This belief is rooted in her Native American heritage, specifically the Hopi teachings “Numi’nangwa,” which translates to “coming together and taking care of each other” and “Sumi’nangwa,” which translates to “coming together to collaborate.” She fosters a culture of trust and collaboration that has resulted in an impressive 98% retention rate on her team, a rarity in the modern tech landscape. In fact, Villareal proudly notes that she has team members with a tenure of over 17 years, demonstrating the long-term commitment that her people-first philosophy inspires.

Her retention strategy begins with recruitment and training. Villareal often brings people in from guest service and front-of-house roles, prioritizing their service skills and customer-facing foundation. She then backs them with an aggressive 90-day training program, allowing new hires a full year to grow into the technical role. As she notes, her goal is to move beyond the traditional “IT hero/villain” dynamic, where the department only hears from others when things go wrong. Her simple, yet effective, tactic for making IT feel recognized and valued? “Stop and bring them food.” This small gesture ensures her team is seen, appreciated, and integrated.

Future-Proofing Safety with AI and Data

When the conversation turned to managing chaotic security incidents, the discussion centered on the reality that such events are fundamentally data problems requiring a clear signal, not noise, for fast response. Villareal champions this insight, framing her partnership expectations around tools that provide this clarity.

Villareal’s operational philosophy demands that technology must constantly innovate to eliminate friction and enhance efficiency. This is reflected in her demand for vendor innovation to solve problems, such as a 90-minute manual process required for setting up a single user, which prevents her team from performing more high-value work.

This commitment to innovation is a core criterion in her technology partnerships. When Chris Chuang introduced the potential for AI Channel Scanning, an innovation designed to manage simultaneous communications and separate the signal from the noise, Villareal immediately recognized its strategic importance. For a high-stakes environment where security teams must process real-time data to make rapid decisions, the continuous evolution of tools using AI is a necessity for maintaining operational integrity and protecting the brand.

Leveraging Efficiency for the Human Touch

In the complex casino environment, technology’s highest purpose is to enable the human touch, not replace it. Every investment must contribute to greater efficiency, which frees up staff to deliver superior service.

Villareal envisions a future of “smart hospitality,” where AI and data can help move toward a virtual concierge that extends the feeling of being a “high roller VIP” to every single guest. Technology handles the mundane, automating administrative tasks like user setup (which can take an hour and a half manually), so that floor staff have the mental bandwidth to focus on core guest service.

This drive for efficiency and perfect execution extends to the guest experience in subtle but important ways. Villareal views cybersecurity as a matter of brand integrity. She champions due diligence in all technology purchases, recognizing that security is a data problem best tackled by ensuring security teams have the right tools and training. Her on-the-floor immersion even extends to the perceived quality of the facility: when she sat next to a guest in the sportsbook and heard a complaint about screen pixelation, it drove home how even small audio-visual flaws can impact the overall guest experience.

Leadership Advice: Challenge and Confidence

Villareal’s journey is a lesson in confidence. She advises leaders to overcome the fear and self-doubt that often accompany high-level roles: “Don’t be scared.” The imposter syndrome fades when you realize you have earned your seat at the table.

Her final advice for current and emerging leaders is straightforward and powerful: 

“If you get an opportunity to be at the table, take that opportunity. If you’re not going to say anything while you’re at that table, get up and leave so someone else can have an opportunity.” 

Villareal actively encourages her smart, experienced team to challenge her, knowing that a leader is not always right. For the casino industry, this willingness to listen, empower, and challenge the status quo is the foundation of the lasting success and proud culture being built at Gila River Resorts and Casinos.

The post From the Floor Up: Why Gila River CIO Robin Villareal Builds Tech Strategy on Frontline Empowerment appeared first on Relay.

At its core, two-way radio communication allows users to both send and receive messages instantly and directly. Unlike one-way broadcasting systems (like traditional radio or public address systems), two-way radios create a two-sided channel where information can flow both ways. It’s real-time, voice-based communication at the push of a button.

But the question isn’t just, “what is a two-way radio;” it’s how this technology has evolved. What started as bulky walkie-talkies used by emergency responders and security teams has become something smarter, sleeker, and more powerful.

Devices like Relay bring together the simplicity of push-to-talk with advanced capabilities like GPS tracking, smart group comms, and even real-time translation, all in a compact, wearable format.

In this guide, we’ll break down what two-way radio communication means, how two-way radios work, and why modern teams are moving toward next-gen solutions built for the realities of today’s workplaces.

What Is a Two-Way Radio?

A two-way radio is a communication device that can both transmit and receive audio messages over radio waves. Unlike traditional radios that only receive broadcasts (like FM/AM stations), two-way radios let users engage in a back-and-forth conversation, usually at the press of a single button.

What Does “Two-Way Radio” Mean?

The term “two-way radio” refers to its ability to perform two functions: sending and receiving signals. This makes it ideal for fast, voice-based communication in environments where every second counts, such as construction, healthcare, emergency services, and hospitality. 

Some common characteristics of two-way radio communication systems include:

• Push-to-talk (PTT) functionality
  
• Operation on dedicated frequencies (licensed or license-free)
  
• Use in short- or long-range team settings

How Do Two-Way Radios Work?

Two-way radios operate using radio frequencies to transmit voice messages from one device to another. Here’s the simplified breakdown:

When you press the push-to-talk (PTT) button, your device switches to transmit mode. It sends your voice as a radio signal across a specific frequency. Other radios tuned to that same frequency receive the signal and play it aloud almost instantly.

Frequency Types: UHF vs. VHF

Two-way radios typically use:

• UHF (Ultra High Frequency): Better for indoor use or urban environments with lots of obstructions
  
• VHF (Very High Frequency): Ideal for outdoor use with minimal barriers

Modern Advancements

Newer two-way systems like Relay’s smart radios use LTE and cloud-based infrastructure to go even further, all while maintaining instant responsiveness:

• Nationwide coverage
  
• Group messaging and talk channels
  
• Location tracking and safety alerts
  
• Real-time language translation

Types of Two-Way Radios

Not all two-way radios are created equal, and as technology evolves, so do the options. Depending on your team’s needs and environment, one type may work better than another.

Analog Two-Way Radios

Analog two-way radios use continuous radio waves and are great for simple, real-time voice communication.

• Pros: Affordable, easy to use
  
• Cons: Limited range and clarity, no extra features
  

Digital Two-Way Radios

Digital radios convert voice into data packets, allowing for more precise sound and less radio interference.

• Pros: Better range, improved audio quality, encryption possible
  
• Cons: More expensive, may require infrastructure like repeaters
  

LTE or Smart Two-Way Radios (Like Relay)

Modern solutions like Relay combine the instant talk of two-way radios or walkie-talkies with the reach and intelligence of smartphones.

• Pros:
  
  • Works over cellular networks (for nationwide range)
    
  • Real-time location tracking
    
  • Panic button + safety alerts
    
  • Real-time multilingual translator technology
    

When and Where Are Two-Way Radios Used?

Two-way radio communication remains the backbone of critical operations across industries where speed, clarity, and reliability matter most. Unlike phone calls or texts, these systems are designed for instant coordination, especially in high-pressure, fast-paced environments.

Here’s what two-way radios are used for: 

Hospitality

Hotel staff from housekeeping to front desk use two-way radios to quickly respond to guest needs, report issues, and manage housekeeping logistics without delay.

Healthcare

In hospitals and care facilities, staff rely on two-way radios to ensure smooth coordination between departments, respond to patient needs faster, and maintain security protocols.

Security & Events

At concerts, festivals, and large venues, security personnel depend on two-way radios to manage crowd control, report incidents, and stay in sync, especially in high-pressure situations. 

Logistics & Warehousing

Forklift drivers, managers, and floor staff use radios to communicate across extensive facilities, keeping operations moving efficiently without needing to stop and text or call.

Construction

Noisy sites and large teams make radios essential. Clear, hands-free communication helps coordinate equipment usage, manage safety alerts, and reduce downtime.

Schools & Campuses

Educators and admin teams use radios for daily logistics, emergencies, or lockdown coordination, making sure everyone stays informed in real time.

Smarter Communication Starts with Smarter Tools

Two-way radio communication has long been the lifeline of teams working on the move, offering instant, voice-based communication when speed is critical. But in today’s fast-moving industries, traditional radios just aren’t enough.

Legacy systems often fall short on range, clarity, and functionality. They lack essential modern features like language translation, GPS tracking, team visibility, and real-time safety alerts. Worse, they can’t scale or adapt to the complex needs of distributed, multilingual, or compliance-heavy teams. For frontline workers, this creates gaps in both communication and safety.

That’s where Relay steps in.

Relay isn’t just a two-way radio, it’s a next-gen wearable communication device that’s LTE-based, sleek, and built specifically for the way modern teams work. With push-to-talk simplicity, better connectivity than radios, and a suite of powerful features, Relay bridges the gap between old-school radios and smart tech.

Key features include:

• TeamTranslate™: Real-time language translation that eliminates communication barriers on multilingual teams.
  
• GPS tracking: Know exactly where your people are in real time—critical for safety and coordination.
  
• Smart groups & channels: Seamlessly manage communication across departments or locations.
  
• Emergency alerts & panic button: Empower team members to get help fast when it matters most.

Relay helps businesses stay compliant, responsive, and connected without the clunky hardware or patchy reception. Book a demo today and discover how more innovative tools can unlock smarter, safer communication.

The post What Is Two-Way Radio Communication? A Complete Guide for Businesses appeared first on Relay.

In high-stakes gaming environments like casinos, one of the greatest vulnerabilities is the critical message or alert that goes unnoticed. Industry best practices emphasize that exceeding the Mean Time to Acknowledge (MTTA)—often measured in just minutes—can allow a manageable incident to escalate into a serious liability or regulatory event. For too long, your radios have made it hard to see the big picture, forcing you to solve the puzzle by listening to one piece at a time.

You can’t defend what you don’t hear. Until today, your biggest security blind spot has actually been your radio, hiding urgent threats in the noise and burying them on different channels.

Your responsibility is to protect everything. Your technology should empower you to hear everything.

That changes today. We’re excited to announce the launch of RelayI with channel scanning. This new capability, powered by proprietary AI voice recognition, transforms your team’s frontline talk into actionable intelligence, ensuring you can hear everything and finally giving you the operational omniscience you deserve.

The guessing stops now. RelayI with channel scanning is not just scanning channels, it’s intelligently listening for context and topics you’ve defined. This isn’t just a better radio. This is the arrival of true security clarity.

Turn Passive Observation into Proactive Action

Channel scanning is an intelligence layer that unifies your communications. For large resorts and casinos with a dispatch center, this means gaining more awareness and control. When paired with real-time alerts, channel scanning transforms passive observation into proactive incident management, allowing your team to act faster and have more peace of mind. It’s about achieving real-time situational awareness.

Here’s how it works:

• Define Your Focus: You identify and set up topics for high-urgency situations like “Past Posting,” “Theft,” or “Fight.” Our intelligent system does the rest, immediately identifying what truly matters.
• Continuous Monitoring: Our system seamlessly and continuously monitors all communications (spoken or typed by your team members over Relay), operating silently in the background.
• Instant Alerts: When one of your designated keywords or topics is a match, you receive an immediate notification, flagging the message for review. This capability can increase your speed to response, especially during multi-channel incidents, alerting you before the problem grows.

Ironclad Records: Every communication and corresponding notification is automatically logged, time-stamped, and archived. This provides an instant, verifiable record for investigations and compliance, moving you from guesswork to ground truth.

Stop Missing the Critical Signal

Relay helps your team filter out the noise and focus on what’s important. While your team handles the everyday chatter—such as “Trash pickup” or “Broken chair at the bar”—Relay is on alert, helping you find the signal in the noise. When a message like “Past Posting at Table 4. Suspect moving west,” is spoken, you’re immediately alerted.

Chaos never picks just one radio channel. We believe the one who stands in the center of the storm should be the one who sees it all. Who hears it all. Who connects it all.

As Joe Paniccia, Assistant Director of Security at The Plaza Casino Las Vegas, notes about the overall Relay platform, “It’s a versatile tool that should be implemented in a lot more security departments.”

Don’t let your biggest security blindspot be your radio.

RelayI with channel scanning. Meet the new House Advantage.

The post You Can’t Defend What You Don’t Hear: Announcing Relay’s AI-Powered Channel Scanning appeared first on Relay.

While squelch is one of the most common methods for eliminating and filtering unwanted background noise in radio communication, it can cause many other problems — and we have a solution for clear communication that doesn’t involve radio squelch at all.

Relay communication devices leverage cellular and WiFi connectivity, eliminating the need for interference solutions. If you’re currently experiencing issues with radio squelch on your communication device and are looking for a better way to connect with your team, keep reading to find out about the problems with radio squelch and how Relay provides the solutions you need.

What Is Squelch?

Radio interference is a common issue with two-way radios. There are a lot of possible causes, but it often comes down to crowded networks or multiple devices using the same radio frequency. One of the solutions to radio interference is a radio squelch system — but does this really solve the problem?

Squelch is a type of function that aims to suppress weak radio signals, eliminating unwanted noise and static. Some of the most common types of squelch include carrier squelch, noise squelch, tone squelch, and digital squelch.

The benefits of using a squelch system, such as Continuous Tone-Coded Squelch System (CTCSS), or Digital-Coded Squelch (DCS), are that it can reduce the amount of unwanted noise coming through your radios. However, the problem with squelch systems is that they don’t actually eliminate the sound — they simply filter it out. After filtering, the noise is still in the background.

What this means for communication is that sometimes, static or background noise can still come through if the function isn’t set properly. There are also inconsistencies in communication because this system could prevent necessary signals from getting through.

The Dangers of Improper Communication

For frontline workers and other teams that use two-way radios or walkie-talkies, there’s a lot of awareness around the need for clear communication. Background noise and other radio interference aren’t just an inconvenience — they can also put employees at risk when emergency signals are missed.

The way a squelch system works is by muting the radio until there’s a valid signal coming through the channel. Unfortunately, this can lead to the system muting the wrong signal if it’s set incorrectly. 

When important signals can’t get through, this can be costly, especially in the event of an emergency. Effective communication is the key to having a safe workplace and an environment where employees feel safe.

According to surveys, 86% of employees state a lack of effective collaboration and communication as the main cause of workplace failures. 55% of workers also said that effective communication increased their confidence on the job. Clear communication is the key to helping employees feel safe — no matter the industry, employees want to know that they can reach someone immediately if they need assistance.

Your Radio Squelch Solution

While radio squelch systems can eliminate unnecessary communication when they’re used properly, there are still ways for unwanted noise to get through. There are also ways that these systems can unintentionally mute the signals you’re trying to send to your team.

The way to avoid the issues that come with radio squelch is to eliminate the need for it. Whether you’re managing a team in healthcare, hospitality or beyond, Relay is your all-in-one radio solution. As a communication device without the typical radio static and interference, there’s no need for squelch systems to eliminate unwanted noise.

Relay devices combine hardware, cloud software, and mobile connectivity to provide you with a simple way to communicate with your team. By connecting with a nationwide range, Relay offers seamless communication on any connected device without any interference.

Two-Way Radios vs Smart Radios

When it comes to radio squelch and interference issues, it’s important to understand the distinctions between two-way radios and smart radios. While traditional two-way radios or walkie-talkies use radio frequencies for short-range communication, smart radios integrate WiFi, cellular networks, and cloud-based tools to provide clear communication without any interruption or delays.

Smart radios eliminate the need for functions such as radio squelch because they switch between different networks when the signal is unclear or the WiFi is spotty. This type of radio works effectively in loud environments due to the audio quality and ability to cancel background noise. 

How Relay Works Differently

When you’re dealing with the inconvenience and frustration of background noise, static, and radio interference, it can be challenging to communicate effectively with your team. RelayX’s three advanced digital microphones with noise canceling technology and dual 2.0W loudspeakers with a peak loudness of 110dB SPL make every conversation crisp and uninterrupted.

Relay also eliminates the need for radio squelch by using a layered, redundant connectivity framework designed to make communication clear even in loud environments with spotty WiFi. With simultaneous cell and WiFi coverage, Relay devices offer the most reliable connectivity, creating a higher quality voice stream than what standard two-way radios offer.

Get Rid of the Need for Squelch With Relay

When you switch to Relay, you can get rid of the need for radio squelch for good. While many issues and interruptions can happen with the use of two-way radios, Relay communication devices eliminate the need for features such as squelch or shielding to prevent radio interference.

Smart radios like Relay are a simple way to upgrade your communication system. These devices have stronger connectivity and more available channels, so you never have to deal with radio interference, static, or other background noise again.

Relay is the all-in-one solution you need for radio noise and interference. No more complicated squelch systems, no more unreliable networks. Simply a network and connection you can trust for all your team communications.

If you’re ready to see how Relay devices can eliminate the need for costly features and additions to your two-way radios, book a one-on-one demo with our team today!

The post The All-in-One Solution to Radio Noise: Eliminating the Need for Radio Squelch appeared first on Relay.

By combining the reliability of two-way radios with the reach of LTE and cloud infrastructure, modern walkie-talkie​​ solutions are redefining what radio communication means for businesses of every size.

What Is a Nationwide Walkie Talkie?

A nationwide walkie-talkie is a two-way radio that stands out from traditional handheld radios. It leverages LTE, WiFi, and cloud infrastructure to enable real-time communication across the country. Unlike its counterparts, these smart devices offer nationwide radio coverage without the need for towers or repeaters, ensuring seamless connectivity regardless of signal range or terrain.

They still feature push-to-talk simplicity but operate more like a cross between a business radio and a smartphone, without any distractions or additional noise to detract from the message. The result is instant voice communication coast-to-coast, with minimal worry about dropped calls and dead zones.

How Does a Nationwide Walkie Talkie Work?

It’s important to take a step back to understand how nationwide walkie-talkies operate. Traditional two-way radios rely on radio frequencies (UHF/VHF) to transmit signals. Depending on terrain, buildings, and interference, this limits their walkie-talkie range, often just a few miles.

Unlike traditional two-way radios that rely on radio frequencies (UHF/VHF) and are limited by terrain and interference, nationwide walkie-talkies connect via LTE and WiFi networks. This means they’re not confined to line-of-sight or local infrastructure. Instead of bouncing signals between radios or relying on repeaters, the message travels securely through the cloud, ensuring reliable and uninterrupted communication.

Smart radio communication devices use this system to offer seamless nationwide radio service, even if teams are in different states. Nationwide walkie-talkies allow for easy management, dispatch, and coordination across the country, all on the same channel to streamline communication. 

Key Features Businesses Should Look For in a Nationwide Walkie Talkie

Functionality is everything when choosing the best walkie-talkies for business, especially ones that need to work across cities or states. It’s an investment in a solution that provides reliability, safety, and coordination.

Several key features make radio communication devices like nationwide walkie-talkies a go-to choice for teams in industries such as security, healthcare, construction, transportation, and event management. 

Here are the top features that set modern nationwide walkie-talkies apart:

• Long-range communication: With cloud-based coverage, your team can communicate across thousands of miles—ideal for logistics, delivery fleets, and multi-site teams.
  
• The push-to-talk simplicity of modern nationwide walkie-talkies ensures instant voice transmission, eliminating delays and confusion, and keeping fast-paced teams in sync during high-pressure moments, making the technology easy and comfortable to use.
  
• GPS tracking: Location sharing is necessary for emergency response, remote team monitoring, or knowing where everyone is during a job.
  
• Waterproof durability: Look for waterproof walkie-talkies with IP67+ ratings to withstand unpredictable weather and harsh environments, such as construction or industrial zones.
  
• Secure channels: Unlike basic license-free walkie-talkies, cloud-based systems provide encryption and access control, crucial for teams handling sensitive information or emergency operations.

Costs and Licensing: What to Expect

When considering a nationwide walkie-talkie, one of the most significant factors to weigh is the potential need for a license and the associated costs. There are several considerations to keep in mind when evaluating radio communication devices, including the type of walkie-talkie, the features it offers, and the extent of coverage required. 

License-Free vs. Licensed Walkie Talkies

Many traditional two-way radios (especially long-range or industrial walkie-talkies) require an FCC license to operate legally, especially on higher-powered frequencies. That can mean:

• Time-consuming applications
  
• Recurring fees
  
• Legal headaches if misused
  

On the other hand, license-free walkie-talkies use pre-approved frequencies like FRS or GMRS for simpler use. However, these often have limited range and shared channels, increasing the risk of interference, especially in urban or event-heavy areas.

Innovative walkie-talkie​​ solutions simplify​​ all of this. Because this type of push-to-talk radio operates on LTE and WiFi, you get nationwide radio service without the paperwork and can easily expand your reach. 

How Much Does a Nationwide Walkie Talkie Service Cost?

Costs vary based on features, hardware, and coverage. Some business radios require upfront device purchases plus subscription plans. Others come with limited coverage or require separate GPS or emergency tools hardware.

Relay offers a simple pricing structure that scales with your business needs. Whether you’re coordinating walkie-talkies for events, construction, or remote teams, you can learn more on our Relay pricing page.

Setting Up Nationwide Walkie-Talkies

In the past, setting up walkie-talkies may have typically required bulky equipment and complex installations. However, this is not true for smart push-to-talk radios such as cloud-based nationwide walkie-talkie systems. The setup is refreshingly fast and straightforward, with limited IT resources needed to get up and running.

Modern radio communication devices are built for business users. No additional IT infrastructure is needed, and users can typically be onboarded in minutes via an online dashboard.

Deployment is fast and scalable, so cloud-based nationwide walkie-talkies can be easily rolled out across locations. Teams in different cities or states can connect instantly without needing to fiddle with frequency assignments or manual syncs.

Even though the set-up is straightforward, nationwide walkie-talkies come with powerful features that allow you to further tailor the experience for teams. You can enable GPS tracking and emergency alerts, centralize device management, and remotely create custom groups or channels. 

Many of these features can be accessed and managed through streamlined tools such as apps, making it easier for teams to customize as and when needed. This makes cloud-native two-way radios ideal for growing teams who need fast, scalable communication. 

Relay: The Modern Business Radio

As more organizations shift toward dynamic, mobile-first operations, Relay offers modern solutions to traditional business and two-way radio needs.

Relay offers nationwide radio coverage by combining LTE + WiFi, enabling coast-to-coast reliability without relying on outdated towers or limited range. This makes it a top contender for businesses that operate across states and industries requiring fast and effective communication tools. 

Relay is an all-in-one radio communication solution built for speed, clarity, and control. 

Key features include:

• Live language translation for multilingual teams
  
• GPS location tracking for field visibility and dispatch
  
• Group channel management via a cloud dashboard
  
• Hands-free voice commands and secure encrypted channels
  
• Durable, waterproof walkie-talkies with long battery life
  

Relay delivers reliable, secure, and innovative communication solutions, including nationwide walkie-talkies built for purpose. To learn more, schedule time with one of our product experts here.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is a nationwide walkie-talkie?

A nationwide walkie-talkie is a modern two-way radio that uses cloud-based networks like LTE and WiFi instead of traditional radio frequencies. This allows teams to communicate in real time across different cities or states. 

2. How does a nationwide walkie-talkie work?

It works by leveraging internet-based infrastructure. Instead of relying on limited radio towers, these devices connect via cellular data and WiFi. That means you can get nationwide radio coverage without worrying about distance limitations or dead zones.

3. What is the range of a nationwide walkie-talkie?

With cloud-based tech, the “range” is essentially unlimited, as long as your device is connected to LTE or WiFi. Unlike traditional long-range walkie-talkies, which max out at 30–35 miles, these can connect users across thousands of miles.

4. Do nationwide walkie-talkies require a license?

In most cases, no. Cloud-based devices like Relay operate as license-free walkie-talkies, so there’s no need to go through Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing. That makes setup and deployment faster for businesses.

5. What are the pros and cons of using a nationwide walkie-talkie compared to a cell phone?

The pros of a nationwide walkie-talkie compared to a cell phone include instant push-to-talk, group coordination, better battery life, fewer distractions, and secure channels. However, the cons of these devices are that they are not ideal for personal calls or apps, which may hinder some businesses. 

6. How much does a nationwide walkie-talkie service cost?

Pricing varies by provider and features. Some plans are subscription-based and include hardware. Check out Relay’s pricing page for up-to-date costs to see what’s best for your business size and communication needs.

7. Are nationwide walkie-talkies secure?

Yes. Modern devices use encrypted channels, reducing the risk of eavesdropping or interference. That’s especially useful for teams handling sensitive data or operating in regulated industries.

8. Where can I buy a nationwide walkie-talkie?

You can purchase directly from providers like Relay. Look for trusted walkie-talkie brands that offer cloud coverage, business support, and compatibility with your team’s workflow.

9. How do I troubleshoot my nationwide walkie-talkie if it’s not working?

Start by checking your LTE/WiFi connection, ensuring the device is charged, and verifying that the correct channel or user group is selected. Smart walkie talkie solutions such as Relay also offer a dashboard where admins can monitor and manage devices in real time.

10. Can I use a nationwide walkie-talkie for emergency communication?

Yes, a nationwide walkie-talkie can be used for emergency communication. Many handheld radios are built with emergency alerts, priority channels, and rugged designs. Whether it’s a construction zone, an event, or a logistics team, these devices offer fast, clear, and reliable emergency communication when it matters most.

The post Nationwide Walkie Talkies: What Are They and How Do They Work? appeared first on Relay.

There’s a hidden tax on your business. You pay it every day. You pay it in lost minutes when a battery dies. You pay it in stalled projects when a radio goes down. You pay it in safety risks when a call for help is lost in static. This is the hidden tax of legacy technology. A tax on your productivity. A tax on your budget. A tax on your people. The industry that sold you these tools is counting on you to keep paying it. So, to the industry, to Big Radio, we say, enough already. It’s time for a revolution. And the revolution has one word: Uptime. You see, we believe the tool should honor the work. That’s our line in the sand. So we built a new model. Not a warranty, but a shield. A shield against the fine print. A shield against battery failure. A shield against the business model that profits from your problems. This is our promise: our job is to keep you operational. Period. A promise that a dead battery is our problem, not your fault. A promise that if a device breaks, another is on its way. A promise that your team is always connected and your budget is predictable. So stop accepting a model that leaves you exposed. Stop accepting excuses. Stop budgeting for failure. And stop paying the hidden tax of downtime. Join the Uptime Revolution. Your work deserves more than a compromise. It deserves a shield.

Today, we’re introducing the Relay Fleet Shield Program, our radical new approach to ending the era of disposable frontline tech for good. It’s not a warranty. It’s an entirely new way of managing your hardware that eliminates downtime, kills budget surprises, and treats you like a partner, not a sales target.

The Vicious Cycle of Bad Tech

If that daily device struggle feels all too real, you’re not alone. We recently surveyed hundreds of frontline managers and workers, and the results confirmed what we suspected: legacy communication tools are a hidden tax on your morale, your time, and your bottom line.

• A Daily Disruption: More than a third of frontline teams have a communication device fail every single day. The top culprits? Dead batteries and physical damage.
• The Financial Drain: All that troubleshooting adds up. One in four organizations loses more than an entire day of productivity every month just dealing with broken tech, contributing to those six-figure annual losses.
• Innovation, Interrupted: Nearly half (48.2%) of all companies have been forced to delay or cancel important projects, like new safety protocols, because their communication hardware just wasn’t reliable enough to support them.

As our President, Jim Mulcahy, says, “For too long, the industry has accepted a broken model: buy an expensive, single-purpose device, watch it fail, and then pay again. That cycle of operational disruption and budget surprises ends now.”

Our Unbreakable Guarantees

Fleet Shield transforms your hardware from a headache into a reliable, always-on foundation for your team’s success. It’s all backed by our four unbreakable guarantees.

1. A New Device Before You Ship the Old One. Downtime is now a thing of the past. We intelligently monitor the health of your devices. If one is about to fail for any covered reason (including the industry’s #1 issue, a worn-out battery), we ship a replacement for next-day delivery before you even send the old one back.

2. A Full Fleet Refresh for Just $75 Per Device. Tired of watching your fleet get worn down by wear and tear? When you renew your service plan, you can replace every single device with a new, same-generation model for only $75 each. Keep your team operating at peak performance, always.

3. An Upgrade Path to the Latest Tech. Technology moves fast. Your team should too. Our Fleet Shield Upgrade Guarantee gives you the right to upgrade your entire fleet to the newest Relay models at 50% off MSRP. It’s a clear, cost-effective path to the future.

4. Accidents Happen. You Shouldn’t Be Punished for Them. Dropped it? Lost it? No problem. We replace lost or broken devices for a 50% discount. We’re your partner, which means we don’t profit from the realities of a tough job.

“Industrial companies are racing toward AI and automation, but they’re still handing out disconnected radios that are a technological dead end. This data is a wake-up call: legacy communication tools are a hidden tax on productivity and a drain on morale.”

– Chris Chuang, CEO of Relay

From Firefighting to Future-Proofing: A New Reality for Your Team

So, what do these guarantees actually mean for you, your team, and your business? It means shifting from a reactive state of constant firefighting to a proactive state of operational excellence.

• For Managers: Budget Predictability and Peace of Mind. Imagine turning budget chaos into clockwork predictability. Fleet Shield converts a volatile capital expense into a stable, managed service. This frees up your resources, and your mental energy, to focus on strategic initiatives that move the business forward, not just keep the lights on.
• For Frontline Staff: Tools They Can Trust. When you give your team reliable tools, you’re sending a clear message: you value them and the work they do. Fleet Shield removes a major daily frustration, allowing employees to focus on their jobs with the confidence that their equipment will work when they need it most. Our research shows this matters, with 43% of workers saying they’d be less likely to quit if guaranteed access to modern, automatically upgraded devices.
• For Your Business: Unlocking True Innovation. A reliable hardware foundation is the launchpad for digital transformation. With operational certainty, you can finally implement those data-driven workflows, new safety protocols, and efficiency projects that were impossible with yesterday’s technology.

Building the Future of Frontline Work, Together

Your team is the engine of your business, and they deserve tools that empower them, not hold them back. Fleet Shield is more than a program; it’s our commitment to providing the operational certainty you need to build a safer, more productive, and more connected frontline.

By moving past the broken hardware model, you can finally focus on what matters most: leading your team and driving your business forward.

Ready to leave the cycle behind? Discover how Fleet Shield can become the foundation for your team’s success at relaypro.com/fleet-shield.

The post The ‘Buy, Break, Replace’ Cycle is Officially Broken. Introducing Fleet Shield appeared first on Relay.