As more people begin to return to the office, organisations are preparing for a significant increase in hybrid collaboration. The big question is: how can we make hybrid collaboration an enjoyable and productive experience for all involved?
Just as technology has allowed us to work remotely during the pandemic, it’s technology that will allow us to flourish in this new hybrid mode of work.
As Robin Seiler, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft Devices points out:
“Now more than ever businesses are looking for technology that helps recreate the energy and connection we feel when we’re in a room together.”
So, how can we bridge the gap between workers in the office and workers joining from home or a third space? What technologies out there are helping to improve the hybrid collaboration experience for everyone?
“For a better hybrid collaboration experience, think like a director — lights, camera…audio, content.”
Steelcase research pinpoints the hardware and software features to consider when designing for hybrid collaboration:
“Since 2017, Microsoft and Steelcase have teamed up to give people the tools they need to collaborate, create and innovate by bringing together people, technology and place.
Now, the two companies are introducing Steelcase Roam for Microsoft Surface Hub 2S 85″ and expanding the Steelcase Roam Collection to amplify large-scale collaboration in person and at a distance.”
Large scale devices such as the Microsoft Surface Hub 2S 85” help bring remote participants to life so they can more easily be seen and heard during meetings. Part of the screen can also be used as an interactive whiteboard or to view a document, while reserving the rest for remote participants.
The Steelcase Roam collection has been designed to support the Microsoft Hub 2S family of devices, allowing any space to become a collaborative space. Mobile stands and a floating wall mount allow for the device to be easily integrated into any room or open collaborative space within the office.
Microsoft has also been developing Microsoft Teams to improve the collaboration experience for users. Innovations include those that improve eye contact and the sense of presence among all participants. As well as tools that capture body language and allow remote participants to collaborate and annotate virtual whiteboards and PowerPoint presentations.
In addition, Microsoft has introduced elaborate conference rooms with curved tables and projection equipment that make everyone feel like they’re in the same room.
Image source: Microsoft
Meanwhile, Google has pioneered a new meeting room called Campfire, where in-person participants sit in a circle interspersed with large displays of people dialling in remotely so all participants are on the same footing.
Steelcase has also partnered with Zoom to design a range of Zoom Rooms that braid the digital and physical — integrating video conferencing technology kits into collaboration spaces. Features include the Smart Gallery, which leverages AI to pick up individual faces in a conference room and give them their own frame, improving the face-to-face experience and interaction for remote participants.
The image below shows the 'Huddle Room', utilising the Orangebox Air27 pod and Poly Conference G7500 Zoom Room kit.
EPOS has used advanced audio and collaboration technologies to create a range of products that are reliable and easy to use. EXPAND Vision 3T is an all-in-one video solution for use with Microsoft Teams. Users can join meetings with just one touch, offering full HD video, exceptional voice pickup and noise cancellation.
And with 69% of leaders planning to rely on user devices, technology must be able to support a variety of hardware and software solutions so people can connect in the easiest and most productive ways for them.
Microsoft recently rolled out Coordinated Meetings, which lets you configure cameras, speakers and microphones on multiple Teams Rooms devices or Microsoft Surface Hubs in one space. So when joining a meeting on one device, the other devices in the room can also be joined to the same meeting.
Hybrid collaboration is hard. To create the best possible experience, organisations will need to offer a range of technology solutions - and spaces - to support different types of collaboration. The challenge is not just bringing remote people into the space, but also giving those in the office a better presence through the use of design elements like cameras, acoustics and lighting.