The RoomReady Review – September-October 2021

The RoomReady Review - September 2020

Vol 19 • September-October 2021

IN THIS ISSUE

What is BYOD and is it Right For You?

RoomReady Promotes New President

Complete New Product Breakdown

LETTER FROM CEO AARON MCARDLE

Bring your own device meetings are something we’ve been working on a lot recently, and rightly so. Since the pandemic, every company now has some type of video conferencing platform, but the truth is that these different solutions often don’t talk to each other. And because we’re always up for a challenge, we wanted to figure out a way to make sure they did.

The answer is BYOD…or Bring Your Own Device. Basically using your same computer you’re already comfortable with, but trading your computer’s webcam and microphone for powerful, state-of-the-art meeting room tech. It’s basically your normal set-up on steroids.

Of course, we’re really excited about BYOD…and the benefits it can bring to all organizations. As you look at your meeting room set ups, now may be the time to consider if this solution is right for you and your customers.

Sincerely,

Aaron McArdle

CEO, RoomReady

FEATURED

What is BYOD and is it Right for You?

The pandemic opened the floodgates for remote work. Remote work, in turn, led to hundreds of millions of active users tapping into multiple video conferencing platforms.

When people were 100% remote, it wasn’t (and still isn’t) unusual for an employee to use three or four platforms any given day. It depended on their needs and the platform of choice for the person on the other end of a conference call or conversation.

Now, though, as employees trickle back into the office, they’re challenged to make the most of their meeting rooms. The problem? Room-based hardware is great for one platform, but it just isn’t made to connect to multiple platforms. For companies facing this multi-platform problem, one option is Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD).

Rather than joining meetings from the meeting room technology itself, employees bring their own computer to connect to the meeting room. This allows employees join meetings on their computers while using the room’s displays, speakers and microphones. BYOD set ups often involve simply using one cable or wireless connector. There’s no need to completely relearn anything since the meeting is run from attendees’ computers – which they are already comfortable using.

The only thing to keep in mind is that employees will need to know how to select the correct devices in a meeting. For example, when they join a meeting, the built-in computer microphone and camera may be the default option. They will then need to switch to the room technology.

While BYOD is right for some companies, it’s not for others. Before jumping on the BYOD bandwagon, consider answering the following:

Do your employees carry their laptops from meeting to meeting?

BYOD meetings take place on each person’s computer, so their natural behavior should be bringing computers into the room. This means BYOD is only an option for companies that use laptops instead of desktops. Meeting leaders also should be comfortable running these different meetings from their own computers.

Does your company already have an interoperability solution? If so, BYOD may not be necessary. If your meeting room technology can already join various platforms, you don’t have to look to BYOD to solve this problem. Of course, it’s still a great option if your employees prefer the user interface of their computer.

Does your company need to connect to multiple meeting platforms? If so, BYOD is the perfect choice for interoperability because everything is run from a user’s computer. Joining different platforms is easy since employees are familiar using them from their own device. Even if you don’t use different platforms regularly, the option to do so makes your business more flexible.

Making BYOD Happen

After looking at how your employees use their devices and meeting rooms, perhaps you’ve decided BYOD could work for you.

If so, we have the experience and expertise finding the right AV hardware and software for your needs. We know the ins and outs of each solution and can point you toward the best ones for your meeting platform of choice.

Remember, too, our TechLab allows you to look at how different systems function. You can easily test various platforms on different Macs and PCs, trying out different hardware options.

Ready to learn more about BYOD or see it in action? Reach out now.

MEETING ROOM FACT OF THE MONTH

69%

of IT decision-makers believe Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies are a positive addition to any workplace

The BYOD culture can increase productivity and efficiency because employees are familiar with their own devices. (source)

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH ROOMREADY

Jamie Huff Promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer

Since joining in early 2019, Huff has led substantial growth at RoomReady. In his new role, he will continue driving growth strategy as RoomReady expands into new markets.

Read the Full Press Release

Case Study: Northeastern Banking Leader taps RoomReady

See how RoomReady helped its customer to have standardized and consistent room experiences. Planning and installation were simplified through RoomReady’s Room Menus.

Check Out the Full Case Study