PIC Uses Technology to Increase Business Services

The Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC) has always embraced the use of technology to help support its mission. Some examples include Smartboards and Touch TVs to provide interactive learning for early childhood students, tablet computers with educational activities that monitor learning progress and VPN technology that allows linking our offices in Westmoreland, Fayette and Beaver Counties for network resource sharing.

One of the most recent technologies adopted by PIC is a video conferencing solution called Zoom. Zoom is a cloud-based technology similar to SKYPE that offers a variety of tools that can help increase productivity, increase participation and lower travel costs for the organization. Zoom allows staff and customers from different locations to participate in meetings, one-on-one counseling and training opportunities without having to be physically present.

Utilizing this technology, PIC has offered the following workforce trainings:  Child Development Associate [CDA] credentialing course, National Family Development Credential, Behavioral workshops, Bridging Life with Work, training for the Gas and Oil Industry, OSHA job safety training, Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response Training and informational workshops dealing with opioid awareness.

PIC currently has meeting rooms setup with dedicated equipment for Zoom at several of its locations: Corporate Headquarters in Greensburg, PA; PIC Lemont Furnace, PA; and PIC Beaver Valley Mall Monaca, PA. There are also portable systems containing everything needed to setup a meeting at any location that does not have dedicated equipment. We have just begun to scratch the surface of how Zoom will benefit PIC and its programs. We see the future use of Zoom continuing to grow and become more useful as a tool that will help PIC in its mission.

For more information about Zoom visit their website at https://zoom.us/