Meet Matthew Bean: The Account Manager Behind The Tekk Group

If you rent event technology from The Tekk Group’s UK office, there’s a good chance Matthew Bean is the first person you’ll talk to. As an account manager, he helps turn enquiries into quotes and stays on the case if anything changes between booking and event day.
We sat down with Matthew last week to ask what the job actually involves day to day, what happens when something goes wrong on-site, and why he doesn’t think of The Tekk Group as just another device rental company.

Let’s start with your role at The Tekk Group. What are your day-to-day activities at the office?

My name is Matt, I’m one of the account managers here at The Tekk Group, based in the UK. My day-to-day activity is dealing with enquiries. I’m probably the first point of contact for quite a lot of new business and existing business, so I look after clients and make sure everything’s right for them. I have to keep on top of the industry, be ahead of new trends, know what’s right for the customer, and be able to advise them on what’s going to work for them.

What do you think clients value most when working with an account manager like yourself?

I think firstly it’s going to be responsiveness. At The Tekk Group, from the point of contact, it should be 15 minutes between first contact and receiving the quote. But after that, obviously, transparency and honesty. You have to be honest with the client; maybe their budget isn’t going to work for what they want, maybe the timescale isn’t going to be adequate for what they want. So honesty and responsiveness are the two biggest things, I believe, but also being proactive: flagging issues before they become issues, and just making sure it’s as smooth as possible for the client.

Could you share a moment where the team had to go above and beyond for a client?

A client that comes to mind, this was for a TV show. Obviously I’m not going to name names, but they needed 450 phones within 48 hours. The team worked overtime; everyone worked overtime and put the effort in, and it was about 36 hours of hard work. We actually got the phones to them just in time. That was a lot of blood, sweat, and tears from everyone, but if something goes wrong, we’re there to support you for 24 hours.

How does the team support clients when something unexpected happens?

Thankfully, our team is based globally around the world, so we have 24/7 coverage, which is a big bonus for us. We do like to do a same-day replacement if something fails, and if that’s not possible, it’ll be as soon as possible, so possibly the next day. We have sent members of the team out on site, so if something is terribly wrong, we have staff that’ll happily come to you anytime, day or night. I don’t think I can say a bad word about the team.

How do you think technology helps create a more meaningful experience for attendees?

I think the best part about the tech for these events is that most of it is invisible, thankfully. The best tech shouldn’t be seen, but it’s obviously working in the background. In terms of what a customer or an attendee actually notices, interactivity is a massive one, whether that’s registration, interactive boards, interactive signage, that sort of thing. Just because you can see it doesn’t mean it’s necessarily going to be the best thing for the job.

There are plenty of other companies renting the same kind of technology. What makes The Tekk Group different?

I don’t think The Tekk Group is just a device warehouse. I think we’re specialists in the field; we can offer advice, and we’ve got very knowledgeable people on the team. I also believe that regardless of job size, everyone is treated the same. Even though we’re a global company, everyone gets that small company feel, and we’re very personalised within each and every job. Every detail, from start to finish, is the same whether it’s a thousand people or ten people. There’s nothing in between.

How would you describe the culture at The Tekk Group?

I think it’s very collaborative, very hands-on. In this job, especially at The Tekk Group, just because it’s not in your job title doesn’t mean you’re not going to get your hands dirty. Everyone does their bit; it’s a group effort. We know the reputation of the company rides on everyone, not just an individual. Putting the team first, ahead of the individual- that’s the culture of The Tekk Group.

What’s the most rewarding part of helping clients?

I think the best part is seeing a successful end product, whether that’s a sporting event, a music event, or something on TV or film. You see something like that and think, I was a part of that; the Tekk Group was a part of that. That’s really rewarding. But when a client returns and the client is happy, that’s the best feeling out of all of it.

If you’re planning an event and want an account manager who’ll tell you straight what will and won’t work, get in touch with The Tekk Group for a quote.