Collaboration displays are quickly becoming a critical part of the modern meeting room. These interactive screens offer companies a way to bridge the gaps between remote and in-office employees, enhance creative work, and streamline interactions.
While collaborative displays’ features can vary, they’re all designed to enhance and optimize how teams share content and knowledge in the modern workplace. Analysts predict that by 2026, the market for collaboration displays will be worth an impressive $957 million, driven by the growing focus on hybrid and remote work.
The challenge for business leaders is determining which displays they should install in their meeting rooms and focus spaces. Based on our reviews of interactive screens and AV technology, we’re sharing our top tips on comparing collaboration display vendors in 2024.
Step 1: Determine Your Use Cases and Goals
When you compare collaboration display vendors, the first step is to determine what you want to achieve with these innovative devices. Start by looking at the types of meeting rooms in your workplace. If you’re creating large conference rooms where teams can host all-hands meetings and training sessions, you may want larger displays with which multiple people can interact simultaneously.
For smaller meeting spaces and focus rooms, you may want compact displays that support BYOM (Bring Your Own Meeting) initiatives. This will ensure team members can connect to the display from any device, such as smartphones and tablets, to share content without cables and wires.
Once you’ve considered the size of your meeting room, look at how teams are likely to use your collaboration displays. Will they simply be sharing content with other employees and remote workers, or do they need to be able to use the screen like an interactive whiteboard?
Should the display be portable, with a built-in stand that you can move into different meeting spaces as needed, or will you keep the solution in one specific space?
Step 2: Look at Your Existing Technology
The next step in choosing the right collaboration display for your meeting space is to consider your existing technology. You may already have hardware in your meeting room you want to connect with your new display, such as a video bar or a set of speakers and microphones.
Most leading market vendors will ensure that their displays can integrate with all of the endpoints you’re already using. If you don’t have any existing tech to consider, on the other hand, you may consider choosing a display with built-in cameras and microphones, minimizing the amount of hardware your teams need to configure when setting up meetings.
Another point to think about is the software your teams use for collaboration. For instance, if your employees already rely on Microsoft Teams for meetings, you may want to consider a screen or display designed explicitly for that solution. You could purchase a display from Microsoft or a partner vendor with Microsoft Teams Rooms already built-in.
Ensure your solution also supports “bring your own meeting” or device connectivity so your staff members can easily share their screens and connect their devices to the display for quick and convenient collaboration.
Step 3: Compare Collaboration Display Features
Now, you’re ready to compare collaboration display vendors based on their solutions’ features. Most of these interactive screens will include similar capabilities. Many vendors now offer displays with exceptional resolution (4K or above), and many screens will have touchscreen capabilities so teams can annotate documents, draw pictures, and quickly brainstorm ideas.
If you’re choosing a touchscreen display, it’s worth looking for a solution with features like “palm rejection” to help ensure the device registers only the right input.
Some vendors also offer screens with built-in cameras and sensors that can track gestures and motions, allowing for a touch-free experience. There are also solutions that come with built-in collaborative features, such as toolkits that users can easily access to create shapes, virtual sticky notes, and graphs.
If you don’t already have cameras and microphones for your meeting room, you can also consider looking at displays with built-in hardware for video conferencing. For instance, the Cisco Board Pro G2 has a 96-megapixel dual-lens camera.
Step 4: Explore Innovative Features
Alongside the essential features needed for creative collaboration, some vendors are beginning to experiment with intuitive and innovative capabilities that enhance team interactions. For example, some vendors, like ViewSonic, offer modular screens that can be easily disassembled and transported into different rooms instantly.
Other companies are experimenting with building artificial intelligence into displays. An AI assistant in a collaboration display can use natural language processing capabilities to respond to spoken requests from team members. An employee can ask the display to load a specific app or platform without having to interact with the display or a connected device.
These assistants can rapidly transcribe and translate conversations, pinpoint specific action items in a discussion, and even automatically share meeting summaries with other employees. This can save teams a lot of time when wrapping up a meeting.
Step 5: Look at Customer Support Options
Finally, when you compare collaboration display vendors, it’s essential to examine the level of support each company offers its end users. Most of the displays provided today are designed with a focus on ease of use, so setting up your solution should be simple enough. However, even with a plug-and-play solution, having the right level of assistance is crucial.
Some companies offer comprehensive service packages, which include technical support for setting up and configuring displays. These packages can also include replacements and repairs when your device goes wrong.
Some companies can even offer users training and documentation to help onboard new staff members and teach them how to use all the innovative features included in a display. They can even help you integrate your displays with meeting room management software, collaboration platforms, and endpoint or device monitoring tools.
Compare Collaboration Displays in 2024
There are various points to consider when you compare collaboration display vendors in 2024. It’s not just your budget or the size of your meeting rooms you must keep in mind, but also how your employees will use the technology.
By considering the key features you need, the customer support options offered by your vendor, and even the innovative capabilities that could transform your meeting rooms, you’ll boost your chances of making the right decision for your teams.
