News in the Channel - issue #30

AUDIO-VISUAL EQUIPMENT FOR MEETING ROOMS

Sound and vision Meeting rooms are growing in popularity as businesses seek to tempt employees back to the office and ensure hybrid workers can collaborate effectively – and the audio-visual elements are crucial to ensuring these ambitions happen.

Hybrid working is a fixture in the UK workplace today, with 51% of employees working in a hybrid format, according to Owl Labs’ State of Hybrid Work 2024 report – up from 46% in 2023. But whether people are in the office or not they need to collaborate, which is driving demand from many businesses to install dedicated meeting rooms for physical and hybrid meetings. “Everyone is looking for flexibility, and the organisations that fail to offer this will struggle to be competitive,” says Frank Weishaupt, CEO of Owl Labs. “Therefore, many employees are looking to make sure that the time they spend in the office is genuinely collaborative and productive, often saving their time at home for deep focus tasks.” Pete Murphy, CSO at Nebula Global Services, adds that there is growing demand for investment in high-quality meeting room infrastructure. “The need for effective meeting spaces is on the rise as organisations aim to create environments that truly support hybrid collaboration, where in-person and remote users can connect and contribute on equal footing,” he says. “Since COVID, the role of the office has changed dramatically. It’s no longer just a place to sit at a desk, it needs to offer real value to bring people in. One of the biggest drivers is well-equipped meeting rooms that make collaboration easy, effective and even enjoyable.” Morten Boll, global UC director of Midwich Group, notes that many organisations are also entering an early refresh cycle for their existing meeting

room setups, particularly those outfitted during the pandemic. “Additionally, advancements in technology – especially the integration of AI into collaborative tools – have increased the need for meeting rooms equipped with the right hardware and software,” he says.

Getting it right Getting the right hardware and software is paramount for meeting rooms. “The right AV setup is essential,” Frank says. “Even minor tech issues, like poor sound or video, can seriously disrupt productivity and lead to frustration.” Frank cites Owl Labs’ recent Pulse Survey, which found that 83% of UK employees reported experiencing technical difficulties during hybrid meetings. That survey also found that the most disruptive challenges are unreliable connectivity (38%), audio issues (34%), and video lag (33%). “Overcoming these issues is especially important in a hybrid environment, where teams rely on technology to ensure that they stay connected regardless of where

Everyone is looking for flexibility, and the organisations that fail to offer this will struggle to be competitive. “ ”

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