Research by Frost & Sullivan reports there is greater adoption of meeting insights and analytics tools to gain a better understanding of space utilization, performance, and engagement, with 76% of the decision-makers indicating this is a key capability. Companies are looking into implementing emerging technologies that provide insights on the workspace and meeting room utilization.

Today’s workforce has become accustomed to the Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) or Bring your own Device (BYOD) concept in meeting rooms. The Barco ClickShare solution enables users to host calls from their own laptop with their preferred videoconferencing platform, using the audio and video equipment in the meeting room. According to Barco, ClickShare has been leading the market with its wireless BYOM approach, as market research company Futuresource Consulting has previously estimated that ClickShare’s portfolio makes up over 50% of the global wireless conferencing market.

Clickshare & Microsoft Integration

With more than 240,000 ClickShare Conference devices in the field, ClickShare will be a significant data source for Microsoft Teams Rooms management capabilities and will feed into future initiatives. This first step provides valuable insights for IT decision makers without changing the user experience. When initiating a Teams call, the user’s Teams desktop client identifies the connected microphone, speaker, and camera via the ClickShare Base Unit and Button, passing the data into the Teams Pro Portal. Once multiple users have connected to the same ClickShare Base Unit, the information is populated for IT managers as a potential shared space within the Pro Management portal, enabling registration and management of the meeting space.

“ClickShare has always put the user at the heart of the experience, while guaranteeing IT managers have the necessary insights to equip meeting rooms in the most optimal way,” says Jan van Houtte, head of product at Barco. “Through this integration, Microsoft and Barco will work together to build easy management systems at scale for their customers. The joint forces in the Shared Spaces initiative are a first yet crucial step to explore market opportunities and establish a future portfolio.”

“Barco shares a clear focus with Microsoft on creating the best meeting experience. This focus drives our decision making, strategy, and partnerships, which has led us to take this step,” says Dan Root, head of global strategic alliances at Barco. “We are very pleased to be a part of the Microsoft Teams Devices ecosystem, and to bring Microsoft into our partnership program. Through this collaboration we will work together to build industry-leading solutions that take collaboration to the next level.”

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on February 22, 2024. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Barco Streamlines IT Management with Microsoft Integration appeared first on My TechDecisions.

Automate VX technology, a multi-camera solution, enables high-quality meeting experience with production-style cuts for Microsoft Teams meetings. Inclusive meetings, especially for larger collaboration spaces and boardrooms, pose a unique set of challenges to capture and frame in-room participants in a way that is easy to follow for remote attendees. To drive more equitable experiences, intelligent video technologies are vital to supporting a critical and dynamic collaboration experience.

Crestron Automate VX Main Features

With Automate VX, multiple cameras around the room work together to track active speakers while removing distractions that are typically visible when a camera pans, tilts or zooms. While an active speaker is being captured on the first camera, the second camera moves into position to capture the next speaker before the system switches the camera feed, reducing any disruptive camera movements and enabling participants to focus on their meeting.

“After a few years under our belts of hybrid meeting and learning, our expectations for these experiences have grown, meaning our customers expect more from the technology that supports them. With permanent hybrid and remote workers, meeting room technologies that provide a reliable experience captured by multiple cameras have become critical for collaboration spaces to drive a more personable experience,” says Brad Hintze, EVP of global marketing, Crestron. “Automate VX is the only product on the market that can deliver this level of video quality, production switching, and customization ease.”

Ideal for high-impact spaces, the Automate VX solution can also support up to 12 cameras and ensure remote attendees always have a crisp and clear shot of in-person participants. Those inside of the room no longer have to worry about where to look or any switching controls as the cameras seamlessly leverage voice-activated switching to capture the perfect shot.

Per a statement, Intelligent Video Room Designer Tool means that organizations can implement Automate VX with no code design or configurations, so users have the flexibility to adapt to any room or platform and customize the views of the meeting.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on October 11, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post Microsoft Grants Teams Room Device Certification to Crestron’s Automate VX appeared first on My TechDecisions.

AVI-SPL, a Microsoft Managed Partner, developed the bundle in partnership with Crestron, Jupiter and Salamander Designs. The outcome, the company says, is an elegant solution that seamlessly transforms the popular Microsoft Teams Front Row setup into a personalized experience for each attendee, in-person and remote. In response to customer requests across the globe, the bundle also responds to increasing mandates for accessible, sustainable solutions, says the company. As a complete solution, it also satisfies market demand for simple, quick, and scalable deployment.

AVI-SPL’s Accessible, Sustainable Microsoft Teams Meeting Room Bundles

The new ADA-compliant and ENERGY STAR-certified bundle for Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms includes the Crestron Flex Conference System with Jabra PanaCast 50 video bar certified for native Microsoft Teams Rooms integrations, Jupiter 21:9 format 5K LCD display, and Salamander Designs credenza and Arc Table. AVI-SPL provides all design renderings, installation, and system integration. The bundle is globally available and able to be easily procured as a single unit.

“Today’s companies are focused on sustainable business practices that create long-term benefits,” says Dale Bottcher, AVI-SPL executive vice president of global sales and marketing. “From elevating employee experience, to honoring inclusivity with accessible and equitable designs, to caring for our planet with products that reduce carbon footprint, we think this Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms bundle sets a new bar for purpose-driven innovation.”

As hybrid work takes hold worldwide, companies are rapidly reconfiguring offices with more video-enabled meeting and gathering spaces. To reenergize these modern workplaces, forward-thinking organizations have renewed their focus on employee experience, meeting equity, and environmental sustainability. Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms are purposefully designed to optimize meeting equity.

In addition, Salamander furniture is built for accessibility. Their facilities are 100% solar-powered and their processes are RoHS and CARB compliant. Jupiter Pana LCD displays are ENERGY STAR certified, reducing energy consumption over comparable large format displays.

As a Microsoft Modern Work Partner with the Advanced Specialization for Microsoft Teams Meetings and Meeting Rooms, part of AVI-SPL’s mission is to design and deploy room designs that enhance human connections in hybrid workspaces on a global scale. AVI-SPL’s collaboration with Crestron, Jupiter, and Salamander Designs helps the company do that, says Bottcher.

“This partnership between Crestron, AVI-SPL, Jupiter Systems, and Salamander Designs provides our mutual end-user clients with a complete Microsoft Teams Room bundle and an exceptional meeting environment. The simplified buying process makes this solution especially easy to procure, enable, and scale,” adds Bob Bavolacco, director of technology partnerships at Crestron.

AVI-SPL at InfoComm 2023

The new AVI-SPL bundle for Signature Microsoft Teams Rooms, designed for quick delivery and installation, is available now. Interested parties can see the new solution at InfoComm 2023 June 14-16 in Orlando, Fla. AVI-SPL (booth #2561) will feature a virtual reality experience of the configured room. Additionally, Crestron (booth #2501), Jupiter Systems (booth # 2231), and Salamander Designs (booth #3613) will each have the complete bundle installed in their booths.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on June 6, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post AVI-SPL Releases Signature Microsoft Teams Room Bundle appeared first on My TechDecisions.

AVI Systems Velocity Signature

AVI Systems Velocity Signature systems are designed to meet Microsoft Teams Rooms hybrid optimization specifications. The systems feature 21:9-aspect-ratio high-definition displays, a click-to-join touchpanel control system, and options including Surface Hub and whiteboard cameras to simplify collaboration. Velocity Signature systems are available for small, medium and large meeting rooms, and customers can subscribe to the technology on a monthly basis or purchase the technology.

“Hybrid optimized solutions improve remote participant experiences. These designs are ideal for scenarios where the quality of the collaboration experience is paramount,” says Keith Yandell, director of the audiovisual practice at AVI Systems. “We have expanded our popular Velocity meeting room systems to incorporate these hybrid optimized tools. Widescreen displays, for example, are a necessity in these environments. Customers can pay a monthly subscription to get a Velocity Signature System – and easily migrate to these new technologies without huge capital expense.”

Optimizing Rapid Microsoft Teams Room Deployments

Creating a more inclusive experience for everyone in a hybrid meeting led to the development of AVI’s Velocity Signature System for Teams Rooms.

AVI has partnered with industry leader Legrand to combine optimal furniture (work surfaces in a variety of shapes as well as seating options) with the audiovisual technology needed to support hybrid optimization in a meeting space. Velocity Signature features 81-inch and 105-inch widescreen displays as well as a 130-inch projection system for large meeting rooms. In addition, a 50-inch Surface Hub collaboration display, whiteboard camera, scheduling panels and customer care are available as options.

By combining the technology and meeting room furniture needs into a single order, organizations obtain a fully functional meeting room installed by AVI Systems available for use immediately when installation is complete.

Microsoft created its hybrid optimized room designs and AVI Systems has used its own expertise to bundle technology and furniture that meets the needs of small, medium and large rooms. Today, hybrid optimized rooms should be available in roughly 20% of all meeting spaces, but this number will shift based on workplace culture, says the company.

Hybrid optimized Microsoft Teams Rooms are designed to enhance the user experience for both remote and in-office work teams. These systems typically feature intelligent cameras to improve meeting equity, wider displays, collaboration tools like Surface Hub and uniquely shaped tables to enhance face-to-face experiences.

Standard AVI Velocity systems are also available that support both Microsoft Teams and Zoom environments. These systems feature 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch 16:9 displays, Chief Tempo mounting systems and a variety of options.

Magenium, AVI Systems’ Microsoft Consulting Practice Gets a New Look

AVI Systems also announced a new brand identity for its Microsoft Consulting Practice, Magenium. The new brand identity takes effect immediately and will be seen across the magenium.com website and other related properties.

“Our Microsoft consulting practice at Magenium has grown significantly in recent years,” says Jeff Stoebner, CEO at AVI Systems. “As the leader in Microsoft Teams Room deployments, we want to ensure that clients get premiere services from Magenium as well as the technology and support they expect from AVI Systems. This new brand solidified our approach in working together to deliver the services and technologies every modern workplace requires.”

Throughout its 16-year history as a Microsoft consulting firm, Magenium has built and maintained its brand as the business organizations choose when they need to modernize their technology. Magenium has enabled the marketplace to adopt the latest solutions from Microsoft, such as their Modern Workplace suite of applications that include Teams, Viva, SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, and much more.

“At Magenium, we pride ourselves on being able to deliver the best Microsoft solutions to our customers. By aligning ourselves more closely with our parent company, we believe the market will understand that our reach has evolved to deliver solutions to our customers globally,” says Tom Egan, chief technology officer. “This next evolution of our business is an exciting time for everyone involved, and we can’t wait to share this excitement with our customers.”

This rebranding is the first in the company’s history and reflects both organizations’ desires to bring the brands into harmony and eliminate any confusion in the marketplace.

Magenium Experience Center

In addition to the new brand identity, Magenium will relocate to a new office and Experience Center in the Highland Landmark II building at 3025 Highland Parkway, in Downers Grove. Magenium’s new office will feature the latest in Microsoft Teams Room solutions and incorporates audiovisual technologies from leading manufacturers. The Experience Center serves as a destination where information technology professionals can see and test the latest in Teams Room, audiovisual, and unified collaboration solutions designed for hybrid work. Magenium will occupy the facility this summer.

AVI Vision, Global Program Management Suite Updates

The company also announced it has expanded its program management offering, AVI Vision. AVI Vision gives clients visibility into their unique programs and projects via an enhanced, real-time program management dashboard and suite of program management tools. The enhanced tools serve customers with consistency, efficiency and transparency, says the global AV/UC systems integrator.

“Our enterprise customers – those with multiple locations in the United States and around the world – expect their partners to provide the best, real-time insights into the projects we manage on their behalf,” says Roger Patrick COO at AVI Systems. “AVI Vision delivers a full dashboard into every audiovisual and unified collaboration initiative they have – from all corners of the world. At-a-glance an AVI Vision client can see project status, collaborate efficiently, and access the knowledge of their deliveries that are needed to understand exactly what’s happening in their audiovisual estate.”

AVI Vision will continue to provide clients with thorough, customized information, says AVI Systems. Through Program Management and AVI Vision, dashboards help guide customers toward achieving their goals and objectives with their audiovisual deliveries anywhere in the world.

“As organizations’ needs grow, we’re finding the complexity and demand on their AV teams increases. We’ve seen this create many disparate systems as our customers try to navigate these complexities internally and externally, project-by-project,” says Zach Valigura, director of program management at AVI Systems. “We’ve assembled a single portal managed by our program managers that can be customized to client needs. And it can scale with that client as their program initiatives grow and their need for real-time insights increase.”

These program management dashboards have been tested and effectively used by some of AVI’s largest customers including those who are deploying hundreds of meeting space technology systems simultaneously across multiple locations, regionally, nationally and globally.

Several pricing models are available to meet AVI client program management needs.

Another version of this article originally appeared on our sister-site Commercial Integrator on April 19, 2023. It has since been updated for My TechDecisions’ audience.

The post AVI Systems’ Velocity Signature Launches, Unveils New Brand Identity for Magenium, Offerings Expand appeared first on My TechDecisions.