Hybrid Conferencing Technology: Buy New or Retrofit?
If you want to invest in new conferencing technology to meet the moment, there are lots of options out there.
Companies including Cisco are working on conference room technology smart enough to set up a connection as soon as a meeting begins, limiting the headaches of getting started. Meanwhile, Microsoft has tested a layout in Teams that puts remote participants at eye level in a conference room.
Of course, not every small business is going to be in a position to invest heavily in a new system. Customers may be looking for ways to stretch their dollars by seeing what they can reuse, while upgrading necessary elements.
When we look at the potential for cost savings through retrofitting, we look for aspects of the technology used (is the gear USB-based?) as well as the quality of the equipment. It may be possible to reuse cameras or microphones while still bringing in an updated screen, for example.
The goal in a retrofitting approach should be to ensure that older or more proprietary technology is replaced with technology that can work across settings and use cases.
RELATED: Find out what challenges IT leaders face in enabling hybrid work environments.
Make Sure the Upgrade Meets Your Needs
Whether you do a full upgrade or make incremental changes, a little outside help in the form of CDW Digital Workspace Solutions can help you determine how to make the most of your hybrid calls.
While it isn’t clear what exactly the future holds for collaboration — maybe the metaverse? — the technology you have should meet the needs of the present.
After all, if you have the best technology in the world but you can’t make out the voices on the call, that’s a way bigger problem than bells and whistles.
This article is part of BizTech's AgilITy blog series. Please join the discussion on Twitter by using the #SmallBizIT hashtag.