From Traditional to Hybrid: Adapting Workspaces with Microsoft Teams Rooms Technology
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses large and small have set return-to-work dates only to have to reconsider and postpone them. The evolving nature of the pandemic makes it practically impossible to predict. Now, more companies are choosing not to set return-to-office dates, instead simply stating, “we’ll get back to you.” The futility of waiting out the pandemic is becoming increasingly apparent, pushing more executives to embrace the hybrid workplace.
And if recent statistics are anything to go by, hybrid work is now inevitable; 73% of employees want flexible remote options. On the other hand, managers are already making the necessary adjustments, with 80% expecting to implement flexible work from home setups for their staff post-pandemic. On LinkedIn, remote job postings have increased fivefold since the pandemic.
As the workplace adjusts to the realities of remote work, companies are looking into how to keep productivity high, even in hybrid work setups. Plans to buy, install, and deploy video conferencing devices are well underway; by 2025, the number of video conferencing devices will have increased six times from what they are now. At the center of this shift are Microsoft Teams Rooms.
Reimagining the Meeting Room
A team room is simply a group of tiles representing devices such as Windows 10 PCs, mobile phones, or Surface Hubs connected in an ad hoc or permanent conference room where they can share information among themselves (for example, calendars and apps) and with other people (including Skype for Business users). It also enables these devices to connect directly with services in the cloud (such as Skype for Business Online).
Microsoft Teams Rooms are bridging the gap between remote meeting attendees and those at the office, making inclusive, high-quality experiences possible. They’re fast becoming the go-to solution for natural and immersive experiences necessary to maintain high productivity in the hybrid workplace.
Today’s Teams Rooms have reimagined the meeting room to bring people at the office face to face with their remote colleagues and create an environment for better collaboration. Powered by Microsoft Teams devices, Microsoft Teams Rooms deliver the best Teams Meeting experience across many spaces, such as at home, on the go, or in the office.
The Microsoft Teams Rooms Advantage
With more meetings than ever and an apparent willingness by workers to use video conferencing more if huddle rooms can be better equipped, Microsoft Teams Rooms have a clear advantage:
- Their high-quality video and audio ensure that everyone is seen and heard
- Features like raising hands and automatic live captions increase engagement
- Intelligent content capture and Microsoft Whiteboard improve real-time collaboration
- Intelligent speakers make attributed transcription possible to ensure that you know who’s talking
Users can select their preferred system, video, and audio peripherals from Microsoft partners, including Logitech, Yealink, Crestron, HP, Lenovo, and Polycom. From large conference rooms to small huddle areas, Microsoft Teams Rooms devices are designed to transform meeting spaces with collaborative, rich experiences that are easy to use and manage. They are deployed in such a way that the technology fades into the background while creating more authentic connections with everyone in the meeting:
- Premium microphones are hidden in the ceiling;
- Spatial audio creates a virtual seat for remote participants for a more established presence;
- Intelligent camera technology creates individual video streams for all in-room participants, making them more visible.
With a wide array of certified video and audio devices, Microsoft Teams Rooms accommodate the needs of any room size. They support multiple screen configurations and are designed for simplified deployment. Mobile collaboration is made possible by Surface Hub and APC Charge Mobile Battery. The devices are built for both Windows and Android platforms.
