Chris Chuang, Co-Founder and CEO of Relay tells Security Journal Americas about how the company embraces innovation and empathy to solve real-world problems.

Can you tell me about yourself, your journey in the security industry and your role at Relay?

I’m Chris Chuang, the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Relay, a North Carolina-based high growth technology company serving frontline teams and I have over 25 years of expertise in the technology and communication sectors.

Before co-founding Relay, I was CEO of Republic Wireless, a WiFi-first mobile carrier that Consumer Reports recognized multiple times as the top prepaid carrier.

Prior to Republic, I served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Bandwidth, a prominent communications platform that is now publicly traded.

My leadership journey has also included roles at Motricity, an early innovator in mobile content platforms and experience as a venture capital investor at Technology Crossover Ventures.

I began my career at McKinsey & Company after graduating from Stanford University.

To this day, my most important role is being a father to four amazing kids and a husband to my wife of over 20 years.

Highly reliable and efficient communication solutions are critical for security professionals.

I’ve learned this over my decades of experience serving the security industry with communication services.

At Relay, we’ve really tried to transform the most common device security professionals already use to communicate (radios) into a superior modern tool that unlocks the power of the cloud and AI for them, allowing them to work more effectively and safely.

What are the kinds of customers you serve at Relay and how do you ensure quality service?

Since early on in our company, we’ve designed our products with security professionals in mind across diverse industries such as hospitality, industrial, manufacturing and more.

We have many clients that are 100% security-focused, including private security firms and in-house security teams across various sectors like hospitality, casinos and industrial environments.

The cornerstone of our approach lies in our dedicated focus and commitment to understanding our customers’ unique challenges.

Our goal is always to be a long-term partner, not a transaction vendor.

As such, we strive greatly to maintain close relationships with our clients, through which we gain valuable insights into their operational needs and everyday experiences.

These partnership relationships ultimately enable us to tailor our solutions effectively, ensuring we solve as many problems as possible for them.

What makes Relay a unique place to work?

There is so much I’d love to share about Relay, from our deep technology roots to our vibrant culture.

However, there’s one specific aspect of our culture that I think truly captures what makes us unique: our commitment to empowering our team members – whom we affectionately call Relayers – to do their Best Work In My Life, or BWIML (pronounced bee-wimmel).

This ethos not only fuels professional development but also inspires our employees to consistently deliver outstanding results, all while riding our impressive growth trajectory that offers exciting opportunities for career advancement.

What inspires you in your job role?

I’m inspired by solving real-world problems with our products, delivering real tangible value and ultimately enabling hundreds of thousands of frontline teams to do their best work.

Inside our Relay walls, we foster a positive, customer-focused and growth-oriented culture, which plays a crucial role in inspiring my work.

Being part of an environment where innovation meets empathy not only energizes me but also reinforces our collective mission to enhance the way frontline teams operate.

This culture empowers us to develop solutions that make a tangible difference in our customers’ lives, driving me to continue pushing the boundaries of our space.

How does Relay’s leadership reflect the core values of the company?

To me, core company values are empty if leadership is not setting an example.

For aspects like our customer commitment and the effort to create an environment where people can do the best work of their careers, it starts at the top.

That’s what I and the entire Relay executive team strive to do.

By embodying these principles, we aim to create a culture of excellence, integrity and servant leadership that flows through every level of the organization.

This commitment ensures that our actions align with our values, offering inspiration and guidance for all team members to follow and replicate in their roles.

How do you see the communications market evolving in the future?

The communications market is witnessing a significant shift away from traditional radios towards more advanced devices that are connected to the cloud.

This evolution is driven by the integration of cutting-edge technologies, particularly AI, which transforms what was once unimaginable for radios.

Devices like Relay are now capable of performing tasks such as real-time translation or automatically alerting users if a team member has missed a specific area during their patrol.

These innovations enhance operational efficiency and provide insights that were previously unattainable, setting new standards for communication in security and beyond.

Overall, I believe we are just at the tip of the innovation iceberg and I can’t wait to see and play a part in modernizing and unlocking the power of the communications cloud for frontline teams.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?

Many security professionals are familiar with our Relay+ devices, known for their reliability and effectiveness in demanding environments.

Building on this trust, we recently introduced RelayX, a next-generation device designed specifically with security in mind.

RelayX stands out with its enhanced durability and exceptionally clear audio, even in high-decibel environments, thanks to advanced noise cancellation features.

With RelayX, security professionals gain more communication control, visibility and automation, making their lives easier than ever.

Key features include a built-in panic button, indoor and location tracking, allowing for quick responses in safety situations and the ability to send assistance to the nearest personnel.

Additionally, Relay has an easy-to-use web-based dashboard that provides unprecedented insight from your security operations center, along with automatic recording and transcription for after-action reports, ensuring accountability.

We’ve also streamlined workflows to minimize manual paperwork for rounds or guard patrols, enabling more efficient communication during security incidents.

Overall, RelayX equips security personnel with the essential tools for effective communication and rapid response.

This article was originally published in the December edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.