NFS is proud to announce that First Interstate Bank has just signed a contract to install their Rendezvous management scheduling software in two of its newest buildings. The web-based booking solution will be used to manage internal meetings at both sites, and external reservations at the Billings, Montana location, which also has a conference center.

Natalie Solarez, US Head of Operations, says one key aspect to ensuring the successful utilization of the Rendezvous facility scheduling solution at these two new locations is making sure that the set-up and configuration meet First Interstate’s needs. Rendezvous will be managing the two sites simultaneously; each with some varying requirements. Each facility will be managing their own bookings as well as the need to schedule across both facilities for events such as teleconference and video conference meetings.

In addition to managing the bookings in Rendezvous, First Interstate has a select set of users that will be using the Outlook interface to enter their requests for meeting space and resources, as well as seamlessly inviting attendees, taking into account the individual’s availability.

“The Outlook interface within Rendezvous will allow these users to have all components of a meeting, including room, resource – such as A/V, catering and IT – and attendees, direct from their native Outlook calendar. The Outlook interface supports the use of Rendezvous since it is a familiar and intuitive booking screen,” says Natalie.

First Interstate Bank operates 55 offices across Montana and Wyoming, and in September opened a 64,000 sq ft Operations Center in Billings. The new, two-storey building provides office space for approximately 300 employees. Chairman of the Board of Directors for First Interstate, Tom Scott, says the bank’s Operations Department had outgrown its current space. “The new building will accommodate all of our current Operations employees as well as some administrative bank departments currently located at the First Interstate Tower downtown. If needed, the site also offers us future expansion capabilities, so that we have room to grow.”

In October, First Interstate opened a new office and business center in downtown Missoula, Montana. The Group is currently seeking LEED (Leadership for Energy and Developmental Design) certification for both facilities, and Mike Hickey, President of First Interstate’s Missoula market, says the entire Missoula project, from demolition to the finished bank and business center, illustrates First Interstate’s commitment to environmentally-friendly building and business practices. “We believe that a building that is environmentally friendly is important, and is one more way we can make our community a better place to live and work,” he says.

The ability of Rendezvous to facilitate effective remote meetings will be a major component within First Interstate’s environmentally friendly strategy. NFS believe significant reductions in carbon footprint can be achieved through adoption of technologies such as video conferencing and telepresence, which enable sustainable business meetings.

Rendezvous will allow First Interstate to operate sustainable meetings by offering effective utilization of facilities, solutions for multi-location meetings, integrated scheduling of rooms and resources with all other business processes, and by providing the tools needed to deal with the dynamic nature of corporate meetings. Rendezvous’ powerful features will ensure changes to meeting times, locations and attendees can be communicated effectively to all participants.

“First Interstate is looking to NFS’ expertise and best practices to get the most out of the Rendezvous system and to maximize efficiency,” says Natalie Solarez.