Attracting and retaining top talent has become one of the most pressing challenges for today’s employers. While flexible work options are no longer a perk, but an expectation, many companies are also trying to bring employees back to the office, at least a few days a week, to foster collaboration, innovation, and a strong culture. In fact, CBRE’s 2024-2025 Global Workplace & Occupancy Insights survey reported that 92 percent of companies responding said they now require employees to spend some time on site.

The Balancing Act

It appears that employers want teams to return to the office, while employees are reluctant to relinquish the flexibility of working from anywhere. The result? The compromise of the new modern workplace. Hybrid models enable individuals to split their time between home and the office, often tailoring their schedules to accommodate family obligations, personal well-being, and productivity peaks. This added control over how and where they work leads to significant improvements in work-life balance.

Flexibility also empowers employees to work when and where they’re most focused and efficient. Many professionals find they are more productive at home during heads-down tasks and more energized by face-to-face collaboration in the office. Hybrid work enables a rhythm that balances deep focus with social interaction, leading to improved performance and a more sustainable work pace.

For employers, offering hybrid schedules isn’t just about employee perks. It’s a strategic move to attract and retain top talent. Workers who experience better balance are more engaged, loyal, and motivated. Conversely, you risk losing valued team members if you don’t offer remote work options. A recent Pew Research survey of people who can work remotely stated, “Nearly half of workers in this group (46%) say that if their employer no longer allowed them to work from home, they would be unlikely to stay at their current job.”

How IT leaders help solve talent challenges

This delicate balance of flexibility and in-person engagement puts pressure on IT leaders to create a smart workplace that employees actually want to return to. And the key to making that happen? Delivering seamless, frustration-free experiences through intelligent meeting room technology and unified communications platforms like Microsoft Teams.

Unified communications platforms tie everything together. When chat, calls, file sharing, and meetings happen in one integrated space like Microsoft Teams, employees stay connected and productive no matter where they work. Add AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, and tasks like meeting recaps, follow-ups, and data retrieval become faster and easier. This automation helps your teams spend less time managing technology and more time doing meaningful work.

For IT leaders, these tools not only improve the employee experience but also reduce support tickets, simplify device management, and increase adoption of Microsoft 365 tools. The result is a more agile, smart workplace that supports business goals and enhances job satisfaction. If your organization is looking to boost its talent strategy and make the office a destination, now’s the time to invest in technology that makes your employees’ lives easier.

Microsoft solutions work together to create a smart, seamless workplace

Discover how Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Microsoft Places work together to deliver an end-to-end smart workplace solution that empowers both employees and IT teams. Download the AVI-SPL eBook, “Microsoft and the Evolution of the Smart Workplace,” to get started.

The post Solving the Talent Challenge: Why Smart Workplace Experiences Matter appeared first on AVI-SPL Digital Enablement Services Provider.

As how and where we work continues to evolve, Microsoft has transformed the Surface Hub experience to keep up with the latest hybrid work demands. Surface Hub 3 with 50” and 85” screens are available and will start shipping in December 2023.

Users enjoy a unified Teams experience

The Surface Hub 3 is now a part of the Microsoft Teams Rooms family, offering an all-in-one Teams Rooms solution that runs Teams Rooms on Windows. Now, your team can seamlessly move from one meeting space to another, enjoying a consistent experience whether it’s the touch-centric interface of the Surface Hub 3 or the traditional console-based Teams Rooms setup.

Moreover, the Surface Hub 3 now incorporates highly requested features, including persistent chat and the visually appealing Front Row layout, which is stunning on its 85″ screen. Looking ahead, customers can anticipate that newly released Teams Rooms features will also be available on the Surface Hub from Day 1, ensuring that your collaborative experience remains cutting-edge and efficient.

What if I have a Surface Hub 2S?

If you own a Surface Hub 2S device, you can upgrade to the full Surface Hub 3 experience with the Surface Hub 3 Pack. Starting next year, software migration will also be available for Surface Hub 2S devices to move to Microsoft Teams Rooms on Windows. For those customers continuing to run Windows 10 Team edition on their Surface Hub 2S devices, support for that OS will continue until October 14, 2025.

Surface Hub 3 unleashes a host of innovative features to enhance hybrid work

• Smart Rotation and Portrait Mode: Surface Hub 3, available in a 50″ display, offers the flexibility to physically rotate between Portrait and Landscape orientations at any time. This adaptability allows you to tailor the screen layout to your specific needs, whether it’s for a natural whiteboarding session or a more personalized one-on-one call.
• Mobility and Versatility: The Surface Hub 3 50″ can be fully mobile when placed on a Steelcase Roam Stand, providing deployment flexibility. Choose from an array of stands and wall-mounting solutions offered by Steelcase and our Designed for Surface partners. Additionally, with the APCTM Charge Mobile Battery, you can take the Surface Hub 3 50″ virtually anywhere within your building, ensuring that collaboration isn’t confined to a single space.
• Premium Design for Inclusive Meetings: Surface Hub 3 prioritizes inclusive meetings by delivering clear audio and visuals. The high-resolution 4K PixelSense display, equipped with an anti-glare coating, ensures that content remains visible under various lighting conditions, enhancing the overall meeting experience.
• Intelligent Audio Enhancements: The Surface Hub 3 50″ incorporates two microphone arrays and speaker pairings. Smart AV technology optimizes audio based on the device’s orientation, ensuring the best stereo experience, whether in Portrait or Landscape mode. This intelligent audio system guarantees that all participants can engage effectively in the meeting, regardless of the screen orientation.
• AI-powered team collaboration: The Surface Hub 3 represents a significant leap forward in leveraging AI for enhanced hybrid meetings and collaborative sessions. One standout example is the introduction of Cloud IntelliFrame, which is available with a separate software license. It offers a smart video feed that separates in-person Surface Hub users into individual boxes, making them more visible and removing distracting elements.

Microsoft designed the Surface Hub 3 to seamlessly blend the capabilities of a collaborative digital canvas with effortless video conferencing and intuitive touch and pen functionality. These integrated features create an environment that fosters dynamic teamwork, accommodating employees no matter where they work.

Moreover, the Surface Hub 3 now incorporates highly requested features, including persistent chat and the visually appealing Front Row layout, which is stunning on its 85″ screen. Looking ahead, customers can anticipate that newly released Teams Rooms features will also be available on the Surface Hub from Day 1, ensuring that your collaborative experience remains cutting-edge and efficient.

Empower workforce productivity through real-time collaboration and seamless information sharing. Contact AVI-SPL for more information or pre-order Surface Hub 3 now.

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When we move between the office and remote locations, there can be differences in how well our teams connect and collaborate. Technology can help bring everyone together. The challenge is to choose tools that deliver meeting equity and ensure a positive employee experience.

The pros and cons of reporting to the office

Working in the office means teams did the commute and spent less time with family. On the plus side, on-site employees can access amenities like meeting rooms and social gathering areas like kitchens and lounges. They can also use meeting technology that is (hopefully) routinely serviced and updated. There’s a stronger chance of making more human connections that support company culture, too.

Remote work perks and challenges

Working remotely has its pros and cons as well. We save on gas, have more time at home and easily flex individual working hours. But when we don’t show up in person, we miss social interactions like chats at the water cooler and spontaneous collaboration. And there could be a fear of missing out on visibility with senior management and being considered for high-level projects and promotions.

So, when it comes to employee engagement, which group should we worry about, in-office teams or those working remotely?

Turns out it’s both.

A Forrest Consulting study commissioned by AVI-SPL indicated that hybrid workplace leaders are concerned about all employees, no matter where they work.

• 65% of leaders said they’re afraid remote or anywhere-work employees will feel like second-class citizens compared to those in the office.
• 59% of leaders said they’re afraid that in-office employees will feel like second-class citizens when in the office. 

Discover ways Microsoft Surface Hub 2S and Teams help you enhance the hybrid meeting experience from on-site and remote teams.
Download the eBook “Avoid the Bowling Alley Effect Plus Seven More Ways to Enhance the human hybrid work experience.”

Request the eBook

Fostering a better hybrid work experience with technology

How do you make everyone feel welcome in meetings and collaboration sessions? The solution is to emphasize both remote and on-site team needs when choosing hybrid work technology.

Delivering meeting equity

A better hybrid meeting experience delivers meeting equity for all. Team members should be on equal footing and see and hear each other clearly, whether they are on-site or joining online. Also, everyone should have access to the same collaboration tools to chat, share files, and annotate shared content.

Empower hybrid collaboration with Microsoft Surface Hub 2S

Clear audio supports team collaboration

Audio is essential for every meeting, too. No one will wonder if they are heard during the meeting, and everyone can connect and collaborate. Surface Hub’s integrated far-field mics and crystal-clear speakers ensure that every idea is heard.

Content sharing with Microsoft Surface Hub 2S and Teams

Microsoft Surface Hub 2S using Teams enables flexibility and helps employees collaborate and co-create with on-screen content sharing and Microsoft Whiteboard software. Users can digitally ink on the Surface Hub 2S or from their PC while working offsite.

Microsoft Surface Hub 2S to become a Teams Rooms device

For users to experience meeting equity, it also helps when on-site and remote team members are at eye level during online meetings. Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms with Front Row setup avoids the “bowling alley” effect you can see in traditional conference rooms with long tables.

People in the room view remote participants at eye level too, and remote attendees feel part of the same space. This view also makes content, gestures, reactions, and chat easier for all to see and respond to, increasing engagement and productivity.

Microsoft announced plans to add the collaboration power of Surface Hub 2S to Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms by making it a Teams Rooms device later this year. That will enable Hub to utilize the Front Row view to allow everyone to meet face-to-face in a video meeting.

Discover more ways Microsoft Surface Hub 2S can enhance the hybrid work experience in our eBook. Download “Surface Hub 2S in the Hybrid Workplace” now.

AVI-SPL helps you ensure a quality Microsoft Teams user experience

Ensure a better hybrid work experience for all with AVI-SPL

We’re ready to help you deliver a better hybrid work experience and choose technology that supports on-site and remote teams. Contact AVI-SPL to get started today.

Explore Microsoft solutions

The post Do remote or on-site employees enjoy a better hybrid work experience? appeared first on AVI-SPL Digital Enablement Services Provider.

To improve interoperability for hybrid work, start by reviewing your current devices and applications, as well as asking hybrid employees for their feedback, including:

• What do employees say could work better?
• Do your current collaboration tools’ capabilities meet user needs?
• Are there better tools that can save users time and frustration?
  

From there, you can see where you need to fill in the capability gaps for your hybrid employees. And beyond work capabilities, it’s more important than ever to create a better technology-supported human experience. In the modern workplace everyone sees less of each other in person. So connected tools can help make collaboration feel seamless, as if everyone is working in the same room.

Flexible tech is key to seamless connectivity

Flexibility is at the center of hybrid work initiatives. So it makes sense that hybrid work tools be flexible too. Connection between devices, platforms, and locations is what makes hybrid collaboration work. And workplace technology should be agile enough to support collaboration in any space since employees connect from home, the office, the road, and anywhere else they have an internet connection.

In the office, flexible hybrid collaboration requires wireless connectivity from users’ preferred devices. Wireless conferencing removes one element of difficulty from the hybrid work experience. Conferencing connectivity devices can help users connect with displays, cameras, microphones, loudspeakers, and video and sound bars. One example of a flexible collaboration solution is a display that can be used in different orientations and in various sizes. Once you’ve identified flexible solutions with the capabilities you need, ensure that they all work together for optimal interoperability.

Interoperability drives a better user experience

All hybrid collaboration participants should be able to hear everyone, see everyone, and share content to the meeting. Tools also need to be intuitive to use. Collaboration technology that is not easy to use creates a bad experience. Lack of interoperability means users may be less likely to collaborate because it’s too much trouble. If employees are avoiding collaboration because it seems like a hassle, quality of work might suffer.

Another way to ensure a better user experience is to train users to use solutions the right way. This step can make the difference between adoption and a wasted investment. With so much information being shared over platforms, technology training is also essential for keeping company data and meetings safe. Combining flexible technology with educated users will make your hybrid workplace run much more smooth

See which technology fits the bill

There are so many enterprise collaboration tools available now, it can be difficult to choose what’s best for your users. To learn more about which specific solutions can help, download our “6 Ways to Energize Your Hybrid Workplace” ebook.

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With 280 million monthly active users, Microsoft Teams is one of the most popular unified communications and collaboration (UCC) platforms in the world today.

Logitech and Microsoft work together to provide inclusive meeting experiences for people and teams wherever they are located.

If you are searching for new collaboration technologies to elevate your meetings, here are four ways Microsoft Teams-certified Logitech devices can enhance your Microsoft Teams meeting experience.

Scalable to fit any workspace

Logitech has solutions for personal offices to boardrooms ideal for Microsoft Teams.

With Logitech devices, you can create a solution that works for any collaboration space or layout.  For your meeting room start with the:

• Logitech Conferencecam
• Tap touch controller
• Tap Scheduler
• Scribe

Logitech solutions give you the flexibility to switch and scale as your needs evolve.

Better anywhere work meeting experiences

Logitech Brio

For remote or end users choosing to communicate from a personal workspace, Brio, Logitech’s premium 4K webcam, autofocuses to perfectly frame the user. The camera’s presets allow the user to adjust the field of view from 65 to 78 and a 90-degree field of view, letting the user decide how much of their surroundings they want to share.

Meet, stream, and record with Brio in any light and always look your best. From low light to bright backlit sunshine, RightLight 3 and high dynamic range (HDR) technology automatically adjusts to always highlight the most important subject – you.

Logitech Zone True Wireless

Zone True Wireless Bluetooth earbuds provide outstanding audio quality. Hybrid ANC blocks distracting noise and helps you focus, while Transparency mode is handy for chatting and hearing people over traffic noise without removing your earbuds.  Connect Zone True Wireless Bluetooth earbuds to your computer and smartphone simultaneously.

Use native Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone seamlessly with the included USB receiver plugging into your computer for extra-reliable wireless connectivity.

Advanced multipoint technology makes it easy to seamlessly switch between the two active audio sources and never miss a call. Zone True Wireless Bluetooth earbuds work seamlessly with common calling applications across almost all platforms and operating systems; certifications include Microsoft Teams.

Logitech Rally Bar

Rally Bar is Logitech’s Premier all-in-one video bar for medium to large rooms. Level the playing field for remote participants by providing a clear view of who’s speaking and who’s in the room. With RightSight 2 Grid View, Rally Bar complements Teams Rooms dynamic view to provide the room context that matters.

Rally Bar’s advanced audio engineering delivers powerful, room-filling sound and makes sure every voice is clearly heard.  Easily accommodate larger spaces with Rally Mic Pods. Out of the box, Rally Bar has a pickup range up to 23 ft (7 m), which you can significantly extend by adding up to four Mic Pods.  Rally Bar is certified for Microsoft Teams on Windows and Microsoft Teams on Android.

Logitech Rally Bar Mini

Rally Bar Mini is Logitech’s premier all-in-one video bar for small rooms and huddle spaces.  Remarkably simple to use, manage, and deploy at scale, Rally Bar Mini delivers all the capabilities of Rally Bar in a compact form factor for smaller spaces. With studio-quality audio and video, motorized pan and tilt, and AI-powered performance, Rally Bar Mini sets new standards for video collaboration.

Easily accommodate larger spaces with Rally Mic Pods. Out of the box, Rally Bar Mini has a pickup range of up to 23 ft (7 m), which you can significantly extend by adding up to three Mic Pods.  Rally Bar Mini is certified for Microsoft Teams on Windows and Microsoft Teams on Android.

Simple Microsoft Teams Room connectivity and use

If your organization is planning a transition or has already transitioned to Microsoft Teams Rooms, you know these are flexible and hassle-free collaboration environments.

Logitech devices are designed to make your Microsoft Teams Rooms even easier to manage. With solutions like Logitech Tap, a user can join a meeting with one touch of the screen.

Device management and monitoring from a single pane of glass

Now more than ever, teams need to be able to work together regardless of location.

Whether employees are in the office, at home, or somewhere else, Sync helps everyone stay connected by letting you ensure their Logitech video collaboration devices are healthy and up to date.

And it allows you to quickly configure features in meeting rooms to best suit your organization’s needs.  Sync supports large-scale video deployments while minimizing site visits and trouble tickets—all from a simple browser-based user interface. Sync enables Real-time Room Updates and Monitoring, an Executive Dashboard, Firmware Updates (either on-demand or scheduled): Bulk Provisioning; RightSight Integration, and Scalability.

Already using Microsoft Teams® admin center? Sync complements Teams admin center to give you comprehensive device management, including meeting room and personal collaboration devices.

Sync also connects to AVI-SPL Symphony, providing flexibility for how you manage your Windows® and Mac® based video conferencing systems.

Which Microsoft Teams-certified Logitech devices meet your needs?

The Microsoft-certified devices featured above are just a few of what Logitech offers. Therefore, finding the right solutions for your business will take time and research. But these decisions don’t have to rest on your IT team’s shoulders.

AVI-SPL can help you design your Microsoft Teams Rooms with the right tools from Logitech

Your Microsoft Teams Rooms are a core component of your business. Ensuring each space has the right tools to support a quality meeting experience for your workforce is essential.

And AVI-SPL can help you find the right Logitech solutions to fit your needs. Our AV and UCC experts can help introduce and operationalize your Logitech solutions. And, if you get us involved early, we can prepare, and educate and train your staff to boost tech and platform adoption.

Contact us today to see which Logitech solutions best serve your anywhere workforce.

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