Smart collaboration devices for a seamless hybrid Microsoft Teams work experience

Hybrid work is a person-centered approach that encourages higher productivity and supports a combination of office, remote and on-the-go employees. Under a hybrid work model, collaborative devices and advanced technologies have incredible potential. Finding a communication device that supports employee well-being and sustainability is an essential part of hybrid work, as background noise, poor sound and video quality are common factors that can lead to fatigue and loss of focus during meetings. Which begs us to consider, how can we solve uncontrollable variables in work environments?

Challenges companies face during hybrid meetings

Hybrid meetings are much more complex than face-to-face or virtual meetings. As the workplace expands and employees are no longer confined between the four walls of headquarters, companies need to find communications solutions to support a combination of in-office and remote meetings. One thing to consider is how to ensure that employees don’t lose that sense of equality as meetings move from office to hybrid.

Meeting equality is all about ensuring that remote and in-person participants have a similar experience and feel that they have an equal opportunity to contribute to a meeting. Traditional office meeting rooms are equipped with standard equipment, such as screens and projectors, and typically have a capacity of 6-15 chairs, limiting the number of people who can productively participate in the meeting to those physically in the meeting room. But as the hybrid workplace becomes the new normal, the number of personal participants has declined. A meeting room once equipped for 10 or more people now accommodates only an average of five, meaning revised equipment is now needed to fill the newly created gap. This setup, mixed with outside employees, is not personal and can lead to poor communication.

Enhancing intuitive hybrid collaboration with premium office technology creates the right mix between hybrid working and small and/or medium sized meeting rooms while maintaining meeting parity. Hybrid-friendly devices provide a truly equal experience for hybrid employees and participants in the room, which is essential for an inclusive, equal and engaging hybrid meeting.

Benefits of hybrid made devices

Using the right equipment helps companies improve their hybrid capabilities without making major changes to their rooms. Microsoft recently presented the ideal layout for a small meeting room, featuring a semi-circular table so that all physical participants look at the screen, that way physical participants and remote participants have the optimal meeting experience.

Collaboration bars also contribute to huddle rooms and small to medium-sized meeting rooms in terms of an integrated sound system to prevent speech interference from outside meeting participants, in addition to a high-quality camera with an adequate field of view to cover the entire room and participants. In addition, Collaboration bar features such as clicks to join, the ability to see who has participated in the meeting and content sharing are an essential component in creating a level playing field for meetings.

AudioCodes RXV81 collaboration bar

AudioCodes’ new RXV81 collaboration bar uses plug-and-play simplicity to deliver a familiar and exceptionally productive Microsoft Teams hybrid meeting experience. It is an excellent and immediate solution for small and medium-sized meeting rooms, as well as for the personal offices of managers and executives in today’s busy hybrid workplace. The RXV81 collaboration bar is easy to install and implement, and usually takes less than 10 minutes to commission. With this affordable solution, companies can easily migrate their meeting rooms to an advanced hybrid workspace, providing better connectivity and productivity to support their hybrid workforce.

AudioCodes RXV81’s remarkable capabilities make it the perfect solution for a meeting room for 5-6 people, making physically present participants feel more connected to remote participants. Sharply priced, the RXV81 improves hybrid work. Highlights of the RXV81 collaboration bar include:

• A wide-angle camera with ePTZ performance (x5 zoom) to capture every seat at the table.
• High quality audio with full in-room recording and no need for additional external USB audio devices.
• MTR feature set, including intuitive one-touch meeting experiences to participate and view meeting content with remote video and content sharing.
• Compact and aesthetic design.
• Integrated BT 5.0 (for RCU, proximity join) with smart and managed Bluetooth remote control.
• Cast the RXV81 directly via Microsoft’s cast feature without the need for an HDMI connection.
• Easy to install, implement and manage.
• Cost-effective.

Interested in upgrading your meeting space?

Source: audio codes