We are living in an age where time is money and efficiency is king. One of the things the pandemic taught us was that we are not using technology to its full potential. More and more now, businesses are looking to technology to enhance their productivity.
One of the ways they are doing this is through the Smart Meeting Room.
In a nutshell, smart technology has grown since the start of the pandemic and has revolutionised the way we conduct business, in particular, meetings. As such the conference room that we know and love (or don’t! No judgement here) is fast becoming a thing of the past, with Smart Meeting Rooms taking over.
Not only are Smart Meeting Rooms a great way of bringing your team together more efficiently, but it allows you to cast your net wider for staff that are top of their field or clients/partners/consumers that you would not necessarily be able to reach.
The Smart Meeting Room is not only designed to do this but is also believed to bring about a better work-life balance, reduce workplace stress and streamline team meetings.
So, can you afford not to make the switch? We take a more in-depth look below.
What is a Smart Meeting Room?
A Smart Meeting Room is a room that is powered by the latest technology which allows the best collaborative experience for both remote and in-person attendees in every meeting, through high-quality video conferencing, with screen-sharing functionality.
They are invaluable for businesses who have adopted a remote/hybrid working policy but have also revolutionised business for those who have offices in multiple locations. The ability to attend the meeting from anywhere, anytime has also benefited those who work over multiple time zones.
Why should I make the switch to a Smart Meeting Room?
There are several benefits to switching to a Smart Meeting Room:
- You are more likely to keep ahead of the trends in new technology, which can often give you an edge over your competitors.
- Having the highest video quality makes it more likely that you will attract and retain employees that are at the top of their field which is important as flexibility at work is becoming an expectation for a lot of employees as it improves their work-life balance.
- Having the highest video quality makes it more likely that you will attract and retain the best consumers/partners/customers and also helps avoid embarrassment (let’s face it we have all had the camera freeze on a less-than-flattering still of ourselves).
- You are likely to save costs, particularly in terms of travel costs, especially if you work with people overseas or have multiple locations. Some people feel that the Smart Meeting Room is costly to set up but in these terms, it can have a speedy return on your investment.
- Speaking of travel, you’ll also spend less time travelling which free’s you up to get on with more important (or more fun) things.
- Your employees are more likely to feel included with the latest technology. At the beginning of the pandemic, we all felt a little isolated at one point or another. The Smart Meeting Room allows for collaborative working that mirrors what you could achieve in person, making employees feel more included and reducing the risk of you missing out on their great ideas.
What do I need to start my Smart Meeting Room?
Typically, for an effective Smart Meeting Room, you will need the following:
- Video Conferencing Platform.
- Camera(s).
- Microphones.
- Speakers.
- Acoustic Solutions (dependent on your meeting room).
Which Video Conferencing Platform is right for me?
There are many video conferencing platforms available, but we will take a look at the two most frequently used platforms below.
One of the leading platforms at the beginning of the pandemic was Zoom. With its simple set-up and simple usage, it has remained a favourite even today.
You can integrate Zoom with some other apps from whiteboards to room scheduling to automated transcription, all of which will enhance your collaborative experience and really mirror the in-person experience.
Microsoft Teams is slightly different from Zoom as it uses cloud-based technology and can be integrated into your business with ease where you use Microsoft. It is important to note that anyone can join a Teams meeting whether they are Microsoft subscribers or not.
There are also additional features with Teams which enhance collaboration, such as meeting note-taking, recording, instant messaging and file sharing.
Integrated with Office 365, Teams can be a great addition to your business.
Are you looking to invest in a Smart Meeting Room, or do you have any further questions regarding how your business can benefit? Contact us here today or see more information on how we can help in our business solutions section.
