Two years ago, as the COVID-19 pandemic was beginning to emerge in the United Kingdom, many would not have believed how commonplace remote working would soon become.
From March 2020, most employees had no choice but to adapt to home working and deal with its numerous complications - the blurring of work and personal lives, isolation, and lack of freedom, to name but a few.
The swift transition between in-office and remote working left employers and employees little time to prepare, and they faced one crucial hurdle: technology. Those who had potentially spent their entire working lives surrounded by equipment and IT technicians had to work from home for potentially the first time, relying on whatever equipment they took with them.
As you would expect, employees and employers quickly became well-versed with communication platforms like Microsoft Teams. Video conferencing offered a convenient alternative to in-person meetings, whilst chat functions allowed employees to speak throughout the day.
Years on, we have reached a point where hybrid working is accepted - even encouraged - by companies across the country. This mixed model allows many a more balanced life, offering people the convenience of home-working and the office community when either is required.
But the home working approach brings its inevitable complications, especially regarding virtual meetings. The hybrid nature of work means some employees may dial into a meeting from home rather than attend in person, and a power imbalance can occur when some participants are not physically present.
The employees present in the room feel involved, engaged, and able to contribute, whilst others feel alienated and distanced. Naturally, confident individuals in virtual meetings may find it easier to give their thoughts. Alternatively, those who struggle to speak up could find this even harder if they are not physically present.
What is more, office-based video conferencing systems often do not integrate cohesively with home-based ones, widening the disconnect between employees working from different locations.
Hybrid working is here to stay. Rather than forcing employees into the office, companies need a long-term, fully integrated video conferencing solution to simulate the in-person meeting experience as closely as possible and ensure remote employees feel seen and heard.
Video conferencing makes it easier for employees, customers, and partners to communicate - but only if the systems work together and provide a consistent, seamless experience for all end users, regardless of their location. Thankfully, Logitech has created a range of products that connect teams and encourage an inclusive experience for all staff, whether around the table in the office or their living room.
All of Logitech’s solutions fully integrate with video conferencing services such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, creating a unified experience for all workers.
The solutions are available in multiple configurations - for instance, Logitech Rally is a modular system that can be configured differently depending on the room size and requirements. It is simple to use, with a simple ‘plug in and play’ USB mechanism which instantly connects to a PC, Mac or Chromebox.
The camera offers exceptional visual accuracy, making pixelated screens, lag and blurriness a thing of the past. AI, human perception, and automated PTZ keep up with meeting dynamics, ensuring the camera stays on the action in the room.
One company that has benefitted from upgrading its video conferencing software with Logitech products is Maersk, an integrated container logistics company.
Maersk began using Microsoft Teams in 2019 and quickly realised that their existing software did not work alongside Teams as well as it could. Their meeting rooms had multiple solutions, which could confuse their employees - instead, they wanted a streamlined system that worked for all.
They sought high-quality, low-cost technology that is easy to deploy globally and straightforward for employees. Logitech’s room solutions met this brief perfectly.
First, they deployed the Logitech Tap, a one-touch controller to help navigate virtual meetings with ease, integrating with calendars and enabling content sharing for all participants.
Maersk also introduced the Logitech Rally Bar system - this has two cameras that allow people tracking and room framing, meaning no one gets left out of the image on the screen.
Maersk also deployed Scribe, an AI-powered content camera that turns an analogue whiteboard into a digital one for those not present in the room. This camera shifts the power balance and enables remote participants to be more involved and thus more engaged with the meeting.
Maersk’s end users have welcomed the solutions with open arms and enjoy collaborating in the spaces. As John Ashley, Head of Services, Governance and Delivery, puts it:
“Logitech’s solutions have facilitated the more modern, flexible working patterns we now need. They are providing one familiar, easy to use, and unified solution for our users, which also helps us drive user adoption.”
We offer Logitech’s full range of solutions at Ingram Micro. If you are a reseller looking to provide your clients with a unique and effective answer to the problems of hybrid working, we would love to help. Contact us via phone at 0371 973 3000 or through our website: uk.ingrammicro.eu/contact