Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023 - 46

FUTURE VISION
C llab rati n
TODAY and TOMORROW
Flipping from a " me " to a " we " mindset: Moving from a
70:30 split to a 30:70 split between individual and collaborative
workspaces.
Spaces that are 100% unassigned: Touch-downs and
shared spaces are the standard, which means we are supporting
roughly 20% more users with 50% less real estate.
AI-powered, open video enablement: Approximately 90%
of our spaces are video enabled, so users can always collaborate
with in-person and/or remote stakeholders.
Harnessing real-time data from our devices: This provides
Today, the collaboration experience must be inclusive,
easy, flexible and secure.
gent active speaker-tracking system; replacing the scattered
audio pickup and propagation system with one that supported
spatial audio; and replacing the multi-bezel LCD videowall
with a beautiful, seamless and brighter LED videowall. All this
was done to provide an enhanced and elevated experience
for the executive end users, and to be the " magnet " effect
for higher in-person attendance. Feedback from C-suite
participants has been tremendous. The following are a few of
the comments:
○ " Feels more natural. "
○ " Now, I can clearly see and hear everyone. "
○ " I feel like I'm right there in Atlanta while in Alaska. "
After decades in this space, our firm has never been more
excited about what's possible with new control, visual, audio
and collaboration technologies. And with only a fraction of
meeting rooms currently video enabled (according to industry
analysts), we're going to bear witness to tremendous innovation
and growth in this category for many years to come.
Tom Richards
IMCCA member Cisco Systems Inc.
In today's era of hybrid work, the office is the place to meet
and collaborate, while the home is now a fundamental part
of the working environment. In addition, digital collaboration
is a requirement. Companies of all sizes and in all industries
understand that their hybrid-work investments are essential
to building company culture and enhancing productivity, and
that they can be a crucial tool in the war for the best talent.
At the same time, organizations are balancing the need to
reduce surplus real estate and to ensure remaining facilities
are compelling places to come together. The coordination
of IT, HR and facilities is essential; each must be part of the
strategy, planning, implementation and ongoing review of
workspaces. We see with our customers, and we experience
in our own environment, that the technology is ready to
deliver on hybrid-work objectives. Our approach is focused
on the following key principles:
a real-time view for well-being, hot-desking and wayfinding.
These needs are addressable with a portfolio of simple-touse,
high-quality and reliable collaboration tools - and those
are available - but it's also about more than just tools.
What we must do is ask organizations to consider what the
office is truly for. Do they really need that meeting room to be
booked on a recurring basis when it often goes unused if the
meeting is cancelled? If one is only occasionally in the office,
is a dedicated desk needed? We believe that, unless a specific
function requires fixed seating with high occupancy rates, it's
better to move to 100% unallocated workspaces, and we provide
the technology and the tools to support this today.
We also must address experience equity for participants.
This requires providing the latest, AI-powered innovations for
inclusive, productive and stress-free meetings. This means
camera and layout technology that presents everyone as equitably
as possible, regardless of location. And it means audio
solutions that deal with everything from coffeemakers to barking
dogs without needing users to jump on the mute buttons.
We must also make the environment, and our solutions,
open and interoperable. An independent survey of customers
across industries and globally showed that 85% of respondents
find themselves using at least two meeting platforms
from different vendors. More than 55% use at least three
meeting platforms. People must be able to join meetings as
well as share their work easily, using the method they prefer.
If the office environment is not set up to support this, the
users will not return. Additionally, digitization means that the
office environment must support a multitude of different applications
integrated into meetings. The office must enable
users to connect their digital content into whatever meetings
they are joining, from any room they happen to occupy.
And, of course, all this must be secure, manageable at
scale and done with sustainability in mind. Whether you're
making investments in technology for a retrofit of existing
spaces or for a new build project, you must know that the
technology you're deploying is designed for both immediate
needs and evolving hybrid-work environments.
David J. Danto is director of emerging technology at IMCCA.
He is also director of UC strategy and research at HP.
46 Commercial Integrator+Security Sales & Integration | Sept/Oct 2023
Commercial Integrator + Security Sales Sept/Oct 2023

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