Managed.IT - issue56

MANAGED.IT 29 COLLABORATION www.managedITmag.co.uk secret of conferencing systems is that roughly 40-50% of meetings are actually local presentations that don’t have a remote participant. If you invest in a system that’s like a platform island, will it be versatile enough to support all the different types of meeting you do across your organisation?” he said. “SMART has created new software for SMART Board displays, SMART TeamWorks, that allows you to join more than nine different web conferencing platforms with one tap. At 9am you can do a Webex call, at 10am you can do a GoToMeeting call, at 11am you can do a Microsoft Teams call and so on.” Couzens claims that SMART TeamWorks functionality, notably its wireless present capability, means that you can also do more once you are in a conference, describing the extra functionality as a ‘massive step-change’. “With SMART TeamWorks we can do native Airplay, Google Cast and Miracast touch back. That means you can share all modern devices (four years old or newer); you can walk in the room and share wirelessly without the need for any software or app on your device. That’s a massive step-change. No dongles, no extra boxes – it’s just included in your solution. What’s even more powerful is it will actually share to the far end, so people who join the conference call remotely can also see what’s happening. “The third thing SMART TeamWorks gives you is a built-in multiway whiteboard – what we call a connected canvas. What this does is let all participants regardless of device join the whiteboard and have the same right to share, so they can contribute material to that canvas whether they are at home, on the go or in the room itself. Most digital whiteboards out there are only one-way – you can share it out but other participants can only watch Wireless present is now included in more than 80% of quotations for new rooms. The last piece is an interactive whiteboard that lets you write and mark up content.” Enhanced collaboration SMART’s new devices provide everything you might need for a state-of-the-art modern collaboration station, including innovative touch technology, an open conferencing architecture and environmental sensors for monitoring meeting room conditions, all neatly integrated to remove complexity from the procurement, management and support of devices deployed throughout an organisation. “For the first time, we have revamped our whole line-up,” explained Couzens. “We have all- new SMART Board displays in three different families. For business and government, we have the MX Pro series – this is our everyday solution; we have a new product called the 6000S Pro series for power users; and we have the 7000R Pro series, our aspiration product, offering precision and high performance for use cases like engineering, design, healthcare.” The new range includes important features and functions, including SMART TeamWorks software and SMART Remote Management, that, according to Couzens, can unlock true digital collaboration within and between organisations. “If you buy a Teams Room or a Zoom Room you have the benefit of tight integration with your web conferencing platform. The challenge is that it becomes a platform island that can only do calling within that category of product. If you have a Zoom Room it will do Zoom Room calls, but what if you have to make a conference call on an alternative platform? And what if it is not a conference call at all, but a local meeting? The dirty what you are doing. This product allows all participants to interact with that content. You could add comments, add material, add videos, even erase – it’s a true multi-way experience for all participants on the call.” SMART Remote Management Another important addition to the Pro series is SMART Remote Management software. “SMART Remote Management software gives you the ability to report on all our IoT sensors, so you get more intelligent context of what is happening in the room. Comparing data from proximity sensors with booked meetings lets you identify whether you have a problem with zombie meetings – where people book meetings and don’t show up – or squatting,” said Couzens. “Not only can we report on what’s happening, we can also give you a dashboard for proactive monitoring of the system. The ability to administer systems remotely means you can really deploy SMART Board displays at scale. Finally, if there is a problem, we also provide a full SMART Assure Warranty on everything that is included: you get spare parts and free, two-way shipping with one phone call.” To find out more about SMART Technologies’ new product range and how it can help enhance collaboration within and beyond your organisation, please visit www.smarttech.com .