A growing disconnect exists between employee willingness to return to the office and the perceived ability of workplaces to support effective collaboration. While research indicates a rise in employee openness to in-person work, the majority of employers and employees believe current office technology hinders large-scale, meaningful collaboration.
This gap highlights several potential issues. One possibility is that office environments simply haven't kept pace with technological advancements in remote communication tools. Video conferencing platforms and project management software have fostered seamless collaboration for geographically dispersed teams, potentially raising expectations for similar functionality within physical workspaces.
The concern could also stem from outdated infrastructure. Legacy equipment or poorly integrated systems might limit information sharing and real-time brainstorming sessions. Additionally, a lack of training on collaboration technologies could hinder their effective use within the office.
Here to bridge the aforementioned gap is Cisco.
Cisco announced two new devices designed to enhance collaboration in today's hybrid work environments: the Cisco Board Pro G2 and the Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series.
The Board Pro G2 is an AI-powered, touch-enabled collaboration device built for small and medium-sized meeting spaces. It features a 96-megapixel dual-lens camera system with AI virtual zoom for clear views of in-person participants, along with multi-stream layouts for remote attendees. The device leverages an NVIDIA chipset for improved video quality, performance and web application support.
Customers can use the Board Pro G2 for video conferencing, interactive annotation and digital whiteboarding with various platforms like Microsoft Teams, Miro, Mural and Webex by Cisco. Unlike other solutions, the Board Pro G2 is an all-in-one system that simplifies deployment and allows organizations to choose their preferred platform, such as Cisco Rooms or Microsoft Teams Rooms.
The 9800 Series desk phones provide seamless collaboration experiences in on-premises and cloud calling environments. The phones offer features like premium audio, AI-based noise removal and desk reservation capabilities through Cisco Spaces. Additionally, they boast industry-first hardware encryption for secure calls and meetings.
Cisco's PhoneOS software ensures a consistent user experience across desks and RoomOS-powered meeting spaces. The 9800 Series simplifies management for IT staff by combining desk reservation and enterprise calling functionalities into a single device. It also features zero-touch provisioning and utilizes ThousandEyes for issue identification and troubleshooting.
The 9800 Series is Cisco's most sustainable desk phone line to date, incorporating over 74% post-consumer recycled plastics and featuring energy-saving modes.
"Cisco is expanding our portfolio of collaboration devices to deliver modern experiences to every corner of the office — from individual workspaces, to meeting rooms of all sizes and configurations," said Jeetu Patel, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Cisco Security and Collaboration. "With AI built in from the ground up, our voice and video devices are changing what's possible for hybrid workers, delivering tangible outcomes that matter."
The Board Pro G2 and the 9800 Series integrate with Cisco Spaces and Control Hub, offering valuable insights for IT and real estate teams to optimize workplace technology investments.
Edited by
Alex Passett
