Hybrid meetings have become the norm, making hybrid technology that fosters engaging and productive collaboration vital for any business. Yet, according to the 2023 State of Hybrid Work report, only 37% of employers upgraded their video meeting technology in 2023. For enterprise businesses navigating the modern workplace, finding the right hybrid collaboration solutions is key to unlocking seamless communication and productivity.
Moving beyond traditional AV
Traditional audio-visual (AV) equipment often falls short in capturing the nuances of hybrid meetings. Imagine in-office and remote participants struggling to hear a colleague or having difficulty focusing on a presentation due to a poorly positioned camera. These hurdles can lead to disengagement and hinder collaboration.
According to the 2023 State of Hybrid Work report, 80% of workers experience lost time due to technical difficulties during online/hybrid meetings. This is just another reason why businesses need to reevaluate their current meeting room tech.
So when setting up or evaluating what is needed for a business’s conference rooms, where do you start? Here are three things to consider:
1. Strategic camera placement
A key aspect of successful hybrid meetings is ensuring all participants feel seen and heard. This can be achieved through thoughtful camera placement. Most traditional boardroom technology setups include a front-of-room camera - but this only shows one, outside angle of the room to remote participants.
However, 360-degree cameras—like the Meeting Owl—can capture the entire room, allowing remote attendees to feel like they're right at the table. The Meeting Owl's Owl Intelligence System automatically adapts to the meeting participants, not the other way around, making virtual meetings feel more like in-person conversations.
To take your conference room technology setup to the next level, you could also pair the Meeting Owl with the Owl Bar - a front-of-room camera - to allow remote participants to truly see the best angle of the room and conversation.
2. Enhancing audio
Equally important is high-quality audio. Look for solutions with features like smart microphones that pick up voices from all corners of the room and advanced noise-cancellation to ensure everyone's contributions are heard clearly. According to the 2023 State of Hybrid Work report, 80% report audio issues in hybrid meetings.
The Meeting Owl is designed with omnidirectional microphones that capture sound from every direction, combined with noise-canceling technology that minimizes background noise, providing a seamless audio experience. For larger spaces, you can add an Expansion Mic to extend the audio pick-up range by 8 feet, ensuring everyone seated at longer tables can be heard clearly.
3. Tailoring tech to your space
Depending on the size of your space, you may need different hybrid technology. The best way to combat the need for different solutions for various room sizes is to pick solutions that work wirelessly together. Our suite of powerful devices does just that and can help you quickly add or subtract devices for any size meeting room.
Here’s our recommendations by room size:
Small/Huddle Rooms
For smaller huddle rooms, the Meeting Owl 3 is our essential do-it-all conference device that works hard for your team. For more dynamic brainstorms, wirelessly pair a Meeting Owl with a Whiteboard Owl so team members can easily view your in-room whiteboard.
Medium Rooms
For medium-sized rooms, combining a Meeting Owl 4+ with an Owl Bar ensures all angles are covered. This setup enhances eye contact and face-to-face discussions, creating greater meeting equity and engagement.
Large Rooms
Larger boardrooms can benefit from wirelessly pairing two Meeting Owl 4+s together. This extends the audio and video pickup range, leveraging the Owl Intelligence System and enterprise-focused features. Adding an Expansion Mic can further extend the audio pickup by 8 feet to ensure everyone's voice is heard clearly.
Unifying the experience
Investing in the right technology for your boardroom setup can significantly enhance the quality and productivity of hybrid meetings. Creating an inclusive, engaging, and efficient meeting environment is crucial to meet the needs of both in-person and remote participants.
For enterprise businesses, the right tools offer the flexibility, scalability, and support necessary for success in today’s hybrid work environment. Technologies that seamlessly integrate video, audio, and collaborative features ensure that all participants feel equally involved, regardless of their location.
Embrace the hybrid revolution by choosing advanced collaboration tools that unify the meeting experience. These innovations not only foster better communication and collaboration but also drive productivity and engagement across your organization.
