Hybrid working, introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, not only brought about a societal change, but ushered in a new business reality.
A study from 2023 Omdia Technology Analysis: Group Collaboration Solutions found that 73 per cent of employees want hybrid work flexibility. The same study, however, found that 67 per cent of the respondents desired more in-person collaboration.
Far from being a desire to return to the office more often, the findings reveal that this is because opportunities for in-person collaboration amongst hybrid teams are often unable to accurately fulfil that need.
The Multi-Pronged Challenge
Hybrid setups have created a particularly thorny challenge for organizations: multi-platform and multi-device deployments have created an absence of a unified meeting experience across these disparate systems.
Such is the challenge, that 93 per cent of meeting rooms are poorly equipped – frustrating employees and hindering in-person collaboration efforts.
In fact, 63 per cent surveyed said they would use video conferencing more if huddle rooms were better equipped.
Recognizing this critical pain point in today’s hybrid work environment, Tata Communications therefore developed a comprehensive solution: GlobalRapide Collaboration endpoint and device solution.
Examining Tata Communications GlobalRapide
GlobalRapide is a managed unified communications as a service (UCaaS) solution provided by Tata Communications, designed to help businesses simplify their communication needs across their global operations.
The solution addresses the fragmented “island-based visibility and control” of today’s distributed workplace technology landscape.
It can manage devices from multiple Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), eliminating the need for separate management systems for different brands of meeting room equipment.
This allows organizations to standardize their hybrid spaces while still leveraging existing investments in technology and reducing the complexity that comes with supporting various hardware systems.
Equally, being able to use one system allows them to monitor devices across all locations, breaking down data silos.
They can also keep track of global workspace equipment via always-on health checks, telemetry, and data-driven insights.
For distributed workforces, this visibility is crucial. IT teams working with a spread-out workforce can identify and resolve issues proactively for all locations, being able to take remediation action when an issue is flagged on the platform rather than when it’s reported by a member of staff.
This proactive approach enables organizations to maintain high standards across different office locations, ensuring that employees have consistent experiences whether they’re working from headquarters or a satellite office.
Equally, Tata Communications support infrastructure covers all aspects of endpoint devices, AV requirements, and UC platforms, allowing internal IT resources to focus on strategic initiatives rather than day-to-day troubleshooting.
Real-World Impact
Tata Communications has reported how the solution is already yielding results.
One global financial services provider that implemented this solution across more than 1,000 meeting rooms in over 180 global locations has reported a 25 per cent reduction in internal resource needs, demonstrating the significant operational impact of comprehensive support.
The same organization also reported a 30 per cent reduction in security risk, highlighting how centralized management improves not just operational efficiency but also security posture.
By consolidating service requests and field support under a single vendor relationship, organizations can eliminate expensive downtime while streamlining their technology expenses across UC applications, devices, and telecommunications.
“In the evolving landscape of hybrid work, ensuring seamless in-person collaboration is more critical than ever. We recognize the challenges posed by multi-platform and multi-device deployments. Tata Communications GlobalRapide collaboration and endpoint devices solution is designed to modernize and standardize hybrid workspaces.
“By standardizing hybrid spaces and leveraging existing technology investments, transforming them into effective meeting rooms of various sizes. We ensure that employees have consistent and high-quality collaboration experiences.
By leveraging Tata Communications expertise, you can ensure seamless integration, enhanced employee productivity, and simplified management of the meeting room experience. This proactive approach enhances operational efficiency and optimizes costs. Our solution provides a single point of contact for managing multi-OEM offerings, ensuring a streamlined and efficient collaboration environment. With GlobalRapide, we are committed to delivering smarter collaboration and seamless control, empowering businesses to thrive in the evolving digital landscape.”
– Rahul Sawardekar, Director of Product Management, Tata Communications.
The Future of Workplace Collaboration
As workplaces continue to evolve, the ability to provide consistent, high-quality collaboration experiences across locations will emerge as a critical factor for cross-company success.
For organizations looking to optimize their hybrid workplace strategy, the GlobalRapide approach offers a compelling path forward: instead of forcing employees to adapt to IT constraints, it builds solutions around the new working reality.
Through centralized management, global deployment capabilities, and comprehensive support, GlobalRapide can ensure benefits of hybrid work remain equitable to employers and employees alike.
Find out more at: tatacommunications.com
This post originally appeared on Service Management - Enterprise - Channel News - UC Today.