Smart Offices MARKET REPORT
the space without distortion or
delay.
ROOM’s prefabricated
solutions allow any company to
add a space-ecient, ready-touse,
video-conference room to
their workplace in a single day.
Meanwhile, digital workplace
solutions provider Spica helps
corporate real estate (occupiers,
owners and managers) respond
to the changing needs of the
workplace through connected
digital technologies. is
benets the health, wellbeing
and productivity of building
users as well as driving down
operational costs.
e data collected by
Spica-managed sensors and
other building management
information systems make
it simple to reserve a desk in
an optimal position in an
oce. at might be based on
personal preferences for current
lighting or heating situations,
for example.
The office of the future
Smart technology is expected
to play a signicant role in
building the oce of the
future. Comms365’s Sacke
highlighted what this might
look like. He said, “Real-time
collaboration has become
an essential technology for
oces, and IoT denes it.
Fixed, portable and wearable
devices are integrated into the
design and interact with each
other through a cloud-based
network to deliver data and
insight. e scalable and robust
solutions that IoT oers can
enhance business eciency, and
most importantly, employee
productivity.
“By implementing the correct
technology solutions, business
resilience can be rapidly
assured. Not just for now, but
also as we adapt to the ‘new
normal’ of the future oce
environment.”
IoT is already playing a large
role in facilities management,
according to Jabra’s Dunn.
“Technology that has builtin
people detection provides
the possibility of systemwide
business intelligence
by capturing accurate usage
and occupancy information.
Software will monitor busy
oce locations to check usage,
where there might be a need
to disperse sta or limit the
number of sta in any given
area. It could also be used to
notify housekeeping of a used
room that needs cleaning before
“Work is now the job you do rather than a place you go.”
Nigel Dunn, managing director, Jabra EMEA North
Je May, UK sales director at Konftel
the next meeting. As AV and
IoT become more integrated,
the need for accurate data and
metrics increases.”
Waters, from Arrow,
pointed out: “Traditionally,
IoT technologies focused on
back of house functionality
with an emphasis on building,
infrastructure and utilities. As
much as these capabilities are
important, the role that IoT
can play in terms of the human
element has become critical,
particularly given the current
circumstances.”
Andrew Dickinson, MD of
Jola revealed signicant IoT
deals are currently being won.
“We have been impressed by
the exibility and versatility of
the channel. Activity on Mobile
Manager has doubled in three
months as resellers pivot into
mobile data and IoT. Initially
it was mobile broadband for
homeworkers and SIMs for
NHS testing stations. However
recently we have seen partners,
with no previous experience,
winning huge and sustainable
IoT deals.
“Resellers want simple but
dierentiated products that
produce good margins and are
easy to bill and support. SIMonly
and particularly eSIM
exactly t the bill and can be
activated in hours rather than
the weeks or months required
for xed-line services. Just like
working from home, selling
mobile data is something that
people have suspected is a good
idea, but it has taken being
forced into it to permanently
change behaviours.”
The bigger picture
e impact of high-quality
video and audio conferencing
isn’t lost on Je May, UK
sales director at Konftel. For
the rst time in its 32-year
history, Konftel is selling more
video-oriented equipment than
audio solutions in the UK and
beyond, with the former now
accounting for 65% of demand.
High performance video
kits such as the C20Ego and
new all-in-one Konftel CC200
collaboration camera are
helping dispersed workforces
collaborate. May explained,
“e world of work has
changed and it will never
go back. Technology has
undoubtedly inspired a shift in
culture but it’s not a universal
sea change. Some people are
now working in the oce
again, others want to remain
at home and there’s also a
growing number who prefer
to do both. Every company
will have their own views and
policies too.
“In the past many businesses
felt they needed to have all sta
together to feed o each other.
Some doubted the eciency of
remote working. But now most
are more exible. Technology
has fuelled this transition.
“We’ve all got to realise that
remote working does bring
its own challenges, especially
around mental well-being and
isolation. ere’s now a viable
choice between your oce
at home or being surrounded
by colleagues in the oce.
Whatever the requirements,
high quality video and
audio conferencing provide
a compelling platform to do
both.”
Above: Cameras maintain social distancing >
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