Collaboration technology has been seeing some significant growth in recent years. Pushed forward by the rise of remote working and Cloud technology, collaborative tools are quickly becoming an integral part of how we organise and engage in work.
Through 2017, software for team workflow matured as an option for enterprise innovators with the launch of Slack's enterprise system, and Microsoft's "Teams" service among others. Numerous other vendors have also moved into the space, such as Facebook, Cisco, and even Amazon. Now that collaboration is showing its potential, these tools will continue to generate even more attention.
Team Apps Take the Lead
One of the most significant trends to emerge over the last year or so has been the need for team apps that allow companies to communicate instantly through messages, audio, and even video. For instance, Microsoft is phasing out Skype for Business with Teams to take collaboration beyond the realm of voice, just as RingCentral acquired Glip to develop a new client for team communications.
In the past, team collaboration apps were simply an add-on to voice, but now, we're seeing companies attempt to connect all aspects of the communication strategy into a truly "unified" solution. This means that colleagues can chat, share documents, and even work on projects together at the same time - turning digital spaces into the new workplace office.
The Growth of Huddle Rooms
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Huddle Room[/caption]
As the state of work continues to change, we've seen some significant differences in the modern office environment. People are avoiding the traditional 9-to-5 office schedule and embracing the freedom of remote working, open-plan offices, and flexible schedules. In turn, this demand for a different standard of work has changed the way we conduct our meetings, transforming the big conference room into the small, flexible huddle room environment.
The huddle room takes the focus away from the large conference room and starts to deliver the benefits that come with a smaller, more cost-effective, connected space. According to Wainhouse research, 55% of younger workers are pushing their conference managers for more high-tech solutions in the workplace. The huddle room could be the key to accessing these tools in a budget-friendly manner.
