In today’s evolving world of work, companies need the perfect combination of software and hardware solutions to empower and optimise their teams.
This means investing in the right collaborative hub for communications and internal productivity, as well as the endpoints required to help users leverage this technology. A full communication and collaboration stack will usually feature everything from UCaaS software to webcams for video conferencing, noise-cancelling headsets, and personal speakerphones.
Since searching for and purchasing a multitude of software and hardware solutions from different vendors can be a time-consuming and expensive process, some of the market leaders in the UCaaS space have begun creating all-in-one shopping solutions.
Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams both have their own certified and recommended selection of endpoints custom-made to help businesses get the most out of the software on offer. Let’s take a look at the options from Cisco and Microsoft in closer detail.
Cisco Webex Collaboration Endpoints
Cisco Webex is the all-in-one ecosystem for communication and productivity designed by the Cisco company. It empowers teams to work more effectively together from anywhere with file sharing, video conferencing, audio, and messaging. The Cisco Webex “Devices” environment takes communication strategies to the next level, with a range of dedicated endpoints.
Cisco Webex Devices are specially designed to optimise your experience within the Webex environment. Some of the Cisco Webex endpoints available today include:
- Cisco Webex Headsets: Headsets include the Cisco 700, 900, 500, and 300 series, all intended for different needs. You can choose from wired or wireless headsets, tools with built-in noise cancelling, and powerful AI-enhanced endpoints.
- Cisco Room Kits: Cisco Room kits are all-in-one plug and play devices that include video, audio, and microphone technology in one device. They’re excellent for when you want to turn any room into a meeting room. You can even get dedicated collaborative boards.
- Desk devices: Desk devices like the Cisco Webex Desk Pro empower remote and hybrid workers to perform at their best from anywhere with an intelligent all-in-one tool for video conferencing and teamwork.
Over the last few years, Cisco Webex devices have evolved to include a wide selection of different tools, from dedicated headsets with their own meeting connection buttons and noise cancelling features to Cisco “Rooms” with whiteboards, video conferencing and audio built into one tool.
The Benefits of Cisco Webex Endpoints
Cisco Webex Endpoints are all custom-made to work seamlessly with Webex Meetings and Webex Teams, to empower better conferencing experiences. Everything connects seamlessly together to make setting up your rooms and meetings as quick and easy as possible.
The latest software in the Cisco environment already comes built into your technology too. For instance, many of the leading boards and Room kits from Cisco come with AI technology and machine learning to improve the interactions between team members. There’s even proximity pairing to ensure your devices know when a user enters a conference room.
To qualify to be certified for Cisco Webex, the devices offered also need to provide an exceptional level of functionality, with high-definition video and audio. These basic features, combined with advanced capabilities like facial recognition for cognitive collaboration, allow for an excellent meeting experience for all users.
Microsoft Teams Endpoints
Microsoft takes a slightly different approach to its certified solutions for Microsoft Teams. Like the rest of the Teams ecosystem, Microsoft’s devices roadmap is designed to be as flexible as possible, so companies from any background can build the technology best suited to them.
While dedicated Microsoft devices are certified for Teams in the Microsoft Store, there are also countless solutions offered by partners. These partner solutions have been approved by Microsoft after stringent testing to ensure they adhere to Microsoft’s requirements for user experience, video, and audio quality. Options include:
- Microsoft Teams Room Kits: All-in-one kits designed to empower video conferencing and collaboration with easy plug-and-play functionality. These kits can be designed for any meeting room size and can come with screens and whiteboards.
- Cameras and headsets: Microsoft’s certified cameras and headsets are perfect for empowering users in the new age of hybrid work. They’re all equipped to work seamlessly with the Teams ecosystem and offer a range of great features, like HD and AI-powered video, as well as noise-cancellation capabilities.
- Desk phones and speaker phones: Intended to improve the audio quality in meetings, Microsoft’s certified desk phones and speaker phones range all the way from the EXPAND 40T speakerphone to the Poly Sync 40.
- Screens and accessories: Microsoft also offer a range of accessories certified for Microsoft Teams, like the Neat Board for managing your meetings and the Studio P21 monitor from Poly. There are even tools for managing meetings and calendar requirements.
The Benefits of Microsoft Teams Endpoints
The wide range of endpoints offered by Microsoft and certified for Teams gives business users a huge variety of options to choose from when selecting the ideal tools for their business. Microsoft’s partner network includes some major marketplace leaders like AudioCodes, Poly, Yealink, Jabra, Logitech, Crestron, and many others.
Not only are these devices custom-made to work perfectly with the Microsoft Teams environment, but they come with a range of features to make life more convenient for users. Some have dedicated buttons for launching team meetings or special status lights. The tools also integrate well with a wide range of other tools offered by Microsoft.
To make purchasing your certified devices even easier, Microsoft even has its own device management hub within the Microsoft Teams admin centre. Here, users can track the health and performance of devices, make crucial firmware updates, and provision products from a distance. The built-in Microsoft Devices store also means you can purchase a wide selection of tools from different vendors in the same space and automatically add them to your Teams tenant.
Which set of endpoints do you think is best for today’s business leaders?
