All in one – Unified Communication and Collaboration
Unified Communication combines different communication channels on one platform and simplifies communication processes. In workplaces, creating environments that enable digital and hybrid collaboration between different locations is an essential tool. Gone are the days when individual applications were used that had to be hosted internally or where premises had to be tediously connected together and then dialed in via numbers or addresses. Unified communication solutions such as Teams, Zoom or Webex have replaced the classic phone call, video communication or chat environments of the past.
But they can do more than just communicate. For digital collaboration, more and more interactive features and functions such as whiteboards and the integration of third-party apps such as Mural or Miro are bringing collaboration to the fore.
Teams is leading the way
Teams has established itself as the leading platform. In developing the successor to Skype for Business, Microsoft recognised the most popular trends and functions with users early on and incorporated the best features and ideas into the design of its own platform.
In addition to its high-quality implementation and great functionality, Teams benefits from two aspects in particular:
The platform is linked to the Microsoft Office environment. Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365 package) includes Teams as standard and this is a huge user base as the de facto standard in businesses across the globe
In addition, Teams has been strategically positioning itself in the market, by making its software available for free, enabling companies to continue working remotely during the pandemic. In the long run, this retained customers as Teams offers an attractive and cost-effective total licensing model for businesses.
The connection to IT and hardware ecosystems is excellent. Here, lessons have been learned from the past with Skype, ensuring market success. With the Surface Hubs, Microsoft not only provides its own devices, but also has a large network of certified hardware partners that support Microsoft’s specifications and create a user interface which is intuitive with Teams.
In comparison, Cisco’s Webex devices, for example, were exclusively linked to the company’s own Webex platform and optimized for it. Cisco made the move in 2023 to offer its own hardware for use in Team Rooms and is thus following the trend itself. In this way, Cisco can independently place its own products on the market, even if Teams dominates as a platform.
Implementing optimal Microsoft Teams Rooms – macom helps
If you want to roll out Microsoft Teams Rooms in your meeting environments, there are a few things to consider. macom helps you step-by-step to match the systems to the spatial conditions. Depending on the room size, number of users and application scenarios, we consider your options together with you. We create custom-fit technology concepts that map the requirements and general conditions, both in terms of architecture and the necessary IT infrastructure.
We take care of optimising the technology selection for the room, including the number and size of displays, microphone and camera setups and lighting, range of functions and operating system. We also look at whether native or BYOD solutions best suit your approach, enabling personal devices such as the laptops to serve as the interface to the room. Depending on your individual needs, we design your ideal setup, tailored to your space and user behavior.
With our trend scouting, our experts are always informed about the latest technologies and products. We are in constant exchange with Microsoft and hardware suppliers in order to offer our customers the best possible solutions and to anticipate the latest developments. Get in touch with us.