Beyond a Return to Work: Creating Modern Spaces to Collaborate (Part 3 of 3)

Beyond a Return to Work: Creating Modern Spaces to Collaborate (Part 3 of 3)

RENEW Your Network & Reimagine What it Means to Collaborate

As a result of being forced to work from home during the pandemic, most, if not all, employees are comfortable — even savvy — in the digital environment where they now consider themselves Zoom Wizards or Teams Gurus. But as employees return to a physical workplace and face the new reality of  hybrid schedules — where some people attend meetings in person while others are present virtually — their expectations are clouded by uncertainty: What will collaboration in this new, disparate world feel like?

To ease those fears, organizations can choose to reimagine collaboration in a way that’s transformative and rewarding for everyone. For example, one simple, but effective way to promote engagement of virtual attendees to is to solicit their input first. This helps to keep them engaged and promotes teamwork.

Another potent solution is to incorporate technology into huddle rooms that makes virtual employees feel as if they’re physically on site. For example, upgrading to a virtual white board allows remote attendees to see and share ideas as if they were standing in front of the board themselves.

An Inclusive Environment is as Easy as 1-2-3

Companies that strive to create inclusive meeting rooms that support hybrid work should consider the following three-step approach:

1. In House: Approach configuration options with consistency as the driver. To flatten the learning curve, employees should only have to master one type of collaborative hardware/software solution. One option is to use room kits. These kits are available in multiple configurations based on room scale, independent of location. No matter which meeting room an attendee uses, the interaction is the same. The kits also offer on-premise or cloud-based solution integration.
   
   
2. In Cloud: Companies should carefully consider the pros and cons of integrated cloud-based solutions in regard to end user, IT management, security, and cost. In many cases, cloud solutions may provide benefits across multiple pillars. In some cases, they may free up space for collaboration rooms by eliminating on-site servers — which reduces costs and accelerates ROI.
   
   
3. In Control: Incorporate technology that enhances the user experience and contributes to a sense of equality and inclusion regardless of location. Integrating IoT devices, 3D modeling tools, digital projections at the meeting room table, and many other forms of technology can make everyone feel comfortable and productive in the hybrid work environment.

If you’re ready to get your workspaces prepared for the return of the workforce, download our Return to The Workplace Checklist. Or, contact us at 855-324-9909 or email us at contact@blackbox.com. 

ABOUT BLACK BOX

Black Box® is a trusted IT solutions provider delivering cutting-edge technology products and world-class consulting services to businesses across the globe in every industry. The breadth of our global reach and depth of our expertise accelerate customer success by bringing people, ideas, and technology together to solve real-world business problems.

Footnotes

1. Embracing the Hybrid Workplace. Cisco.
   https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en/us/solutions/collateral/collaboration/embracing-the-hybrid-workplace.pdf