Recently, we have seen more organizations transition back to the office. A recent example of this is the White House demanding executive departments to remove remote work arrangements.
With that said, many organizations are not at that extreme yet. They likely have some employees come into the office Mondays and Wednesdays, and others come in Tuesdays and Thursdays (or something along those lines), with a mixture of those that come in every day of the work week.
Therefore, there is a demand for efficient small meeting space solutions. Why? Because businesses recognize the need for technology-equipped spaces that facilitate easy collaboration between in-office and remote employees. Small meeting rooms, often referred to as huddle rooms, provide a convenient setting for quick discussions, brainstorming sessions and virtual meetings.
However, despite their potential to enhance productivity, the vast majority of these spaces remain underutilized due to a lack of proper video conferencing capabilities. Without the right technology, employees struggle to connect with remote colleagues, which then leads to inefficiencies and missed opportunities for collaboration.
Enter Jabra.
Jabra is a well-known brand in audio, video and collaboration solutions. Part of GN Group, their M.O. is to bring people closer to one another and to what is important to them. Jabra is also a Platinum sponsor of Future of Work Expo and Future of CX Expo, both taking place February 11-13 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. There are also various opportunities to hear from a member of Jabra’s team during a few panel sessions:
- Michelle Ritz, Product Marketing Manager at Jabra will be featured during “Great Expect AI tions – Welcome to Work in the Age of AI,” taking place from 12:00-12:30 PM on Tuesday, February 11.
- Vern Fernandez, Senior Business Development and Strategic Alliances Manager at Jabra will feature in two sessions. The first is “AI That’s On Your Side: Real-Time Solutions for Customer Satisfaction,” taking place from 1:30-1:55 PM on Tuesday, February 11. The second is “Evolving Workspaces and Adapting to New Ways of Working,” taking place from 12:00-12:45 PM on Wednesday, February 12.
As for what’s new with Jabra, the company recently announced the launch of the PanaCast 40 VBS, an Android-powered video bar designed specifically for small meeting rooms that captures the entire room with 180-degree field-of-view (FoV).
The PanaCast 40 VBS is designed to enhance small meeting spaces with cutting-edge technology and user-friendly features. One of its capabilities is its full-room coverage, offering a 180-degree field-of-view with dual cameras and 4x digital zoom. With this, everyone in the room is visible. Superior audio performance is another key highlight, with a built-in speaker and six microphones, supported by intelligent audio algorithms that deliver crystal-clear sound and precise voice pickup for a seamless meeting experience.
Designed for efficiency, the PanaCast 40 VBS features a setup that allows provisioning without removing the device from its packaging. It also shares a touch controller and stand with the PanaCast 50 VBS medium room solution to ensure a consistent user experience across different meeting spaces. Installation is effortless, thanks to simplified cable routing and protection, which makes it easy to achieve a clean, professional setup without clutter.
Flexibility is a core advantage of the PanaCast 40 VBS, as it easilyintegrates with Microsoft Teams, Zoom and BYOD setups. As an MDEP-based solution (Microsoft Device Ecosystem Platform), it offers enhanced security and meeting experiences tailored for hybrid work environments. Additionally, the Intelligent Meeting Space feature allows users to personalize virtual boundaries.
Lastly, to ensure longevity and reliability, the PanaCast 40 VBS is managed via Jabra+, which will provide regular updates with the latest features and functionality. It also comes with Jabra Warranty+, offering added peace of mind. Designed with modern workspaces in mind, the device boasts a sleek, professional aesthetic, along with practical features like an easy-clean cover and ADA compliance, making it a future-ready solution for any business.
The PanaCast 40 VBS has the potential to make a big impact on the hybrid workplace by addressing some of the biggest collaboration challenges that come with blending in-office and remote teams. One of the biggest pain points in hybrid work is ensuring seamless communication and engagement, and this device’s 180-degree field of view, high-end audio quality and intelligent meeting space features directly tackle that issue. Because it makes small meeting spaces fully video-enabled, it removes the common frustration of people feeling disconnected or sidelined during virtual meetings.
Jabra PanaCast 40 VBS will be available from Mid-2025. MSRP is $1,499.
Jabra is a Platinum sponsor of Future of Work Expo and Future of CX Expo, taking place February 11-13 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company will be in Booth #1656 in the exhibit hall. Also, don’t forget to hear more from Ritz and Fernandez at the event. Ritz will discuss AI adoption across the workforce. Fernandez will discuss how to adapt to evolving workspaces as well as real-time tools to help agents in contact centers.
Edited by
Alex Passett
