Want to Build an Enterprise UCC Experience at Home? Try These 5 Devices

They say that once you let the genie out of the bottle, there is no putting it back in. This is exactly the case with remote working in 2021 and beyond. ResearchOpens a new window suggests that even after lockdown restrictions end, 25-30% of the global workforce will be working from home on a multiple-days-a-week basis. Indeed, 80% of employees wanted the option of working from home even before the pandemic. The last few quarters have only normalized it, setting a trend that is here to stay. 

One of the prerequisites of effective WFH is having a robust remote working setup in place. You need the same level of connectivity, convenience, and ability to focus as you had in an in-person office. For senior executives who cannot undertake any business travel for the foreseeable future, a fully functional WFH environment is mission-critical. 

That’s why the global remote connectivity solutions market is growing at an incredible pace. By 2027, it will be a $71.85Opens a new window billion market globally. This gives you plenty of devices to choose from and put together a WFH setup that not only matches enterprise-quality unified communication & collaboration (UCC) experiences but also adapts it to the unique needs of home-working. 

Here are our top recommendations for 2021. 

Learn More: Why Unified Communications Has Become a Must-Have in 2021 

1. A versatile pair of headphones – Logitech Zone Wireless PlusOpens a new window

Let’s start with the basics. A solid pair of headphones is essential for productivity, whether you are trying to cancel out ambient noise during solo work, regularly collaborating with remote teams, or speaking with customers. In a WFH environment, there is a good chance your work headphones will double up for music and entertainment. You also need to be able to move around freely – feeding the dog, watering your plants, and attending to a child – without repeatedly pulling your headphones on or off. 

Logitech Zone Wireless Plus answers these requirements perfectly. It gives you 14 hours of battery life and comes with Qi wireless charging, letting you charge the device whenever you put it down on your desk. It has active noise cancellation, hardware controls for pro-users (e.g., customer service executives), and even an equalizer app to satisfy your music listening needs. The microphone rotates up to 270 degrees, suitable for every facial size and structure. 

USP: Connects with up to 8-paired devices so you can switch from phone to laptop to tablet, etc.

Pricing: $229 on Amazon. 

2. A dedicated collaboration display – Lenovo ThinkSmart for Microsoft Teams Opens a new window

Collaboration displays are a brand new hardware category that shot up into prominence during the pandemic. Essentially, they are a dedicated networked monitor that you use for video conferencing calls. Given the current market scenario, you would need to purchase a collaboration display that’s purpose-built for your favorite collaboration software – for example, Zoom Room Touch Displays, Cisco Webex Desk Pro, or, our recommendation, the Lenovo ThinkSmart View for Microsoft Teams. 

Microsoft Teams recently crossed the 115 daily active user mark, making it one of the world’s most popular collaboration platforms. Last year, it announced that it would soon launch a line of first-party certified collaboration displays, and Lenovo ThinkSmart View is among the first out of the gate. The device is a mini-computer that runs on a Qualcomm® Snapdragonâ„¢ 624 processor, with a 2GB/8GB memory configuration, a 5MP camera, and an 8-inch HD display. 

USP: Handles chats, calls, video conferencing, scheduling, etc., freeing up primary computer resources. 

Pricing: $349.99 on the Lenovo website. 

3. A cutting-edge digital whiteboard – Cisco Webex Board 55 Opens a new window

A whiteboard is a staple in any in-person collaboration space, one of the first things you will miss when working from home. Today, there are several digital alternatives out there, letting you brainstorm on a touchscreen device, conduct wireless presentations, and use the same display for audio and video conferencing. While digital whiteboards are definitely an investment, we would say they are definitely worth it, given that WFH is here to stay. 

Our recommendation in this category is the Cisco Webex Board 55 – a 55-inch smart TV-like device that you can mount in your home office. You can conduct wireless presentations via your laptop, you can use it for whiteboarding either with your finger or the Cisco Webex pen, and screen sharing is fully annotatable. There is a 4K camera and a 12-mic-array built into the device for video calls, and everything is stored on the cloud. 

USP: An industry-leading digital whiteboard; compatible with Zoom Calls as well as Microsoft Teams. 

Pricing: Approximately $5,200 or thereabouts, depending on your location and seller. 

Learn More: 5 Non-Negotiable Features to Expect From Any UCC/CCaaS Solution 

4. A powerful AI-enabled webcam – Huddly IQ Opens a new window

Laptop cameras are notoriously bad when it comes to image quality. The problem is only getting worse as manufacturers aim for extremely thin form factors with very little real estate to fit in webcam hardware. That was fine as long as we used our laptops only for the occasional WFH standup meeting. The in-office meeting room was primarily used for more extensive collaboration or client interfacing. Now, our home computing cameras must double up for every use case, and it’s clear that you need to upgrade your video call imaging capabilities. 

One of the most sophisticated devices available in this category is the AI-powered Huddly IQ. 

Huddly IQ is no ordinary webcam. It uses artificial intelligence to locate meeting participants inside a room and focus on whoever is speaking – a feature called Genius Framing. It has a built-in 5-mic array, ideal for small spaces. For ultra-portability, it includes a custom bracket so you can mount the Huddly IQ camera on your desktop or laptop. You can also connect it with a desktop application to keep an eye on meeting analytics. 

USP – 150-degree wide-angle video for a much more flattering frame than typical webcams. 

Pricing – Between $700-$1100 depending on your location and seller. 

5. A multi-purpose bluetooth speaker – Beosound A1 2nd GenOpens a new window

The speakerphone is one more staple in an in-office working environment. But during WFH, the chances are that you won’t have to take too many speakerphone calls and your headset-mic setup is better suited for audio calling, given the distractions and ambient sounds of an average home. That’s why it is important to reinvent the speakerphone for WFH, from a multi-purpose, pro-consumer perspective. 

The Beosound A1 2nd Gen from Bang & Olufsen perfectly fits the bill. This Denmark-based audio peripherals company is known for its sleek aesthetic and ergonomic design, making products that are functional as well as a pleasure to have around in your home office. The Beosound A1 2nd Gen is one of its flagship waterproof Bluetooth speakers, ultra-portable yet packed with three internal microphones for hands-free calling. The speaker also integrates with Alexa Voice Assistant to look up information during the workday without switching applications. 

USP – 18 hours of battery life; omnidirectional sound; connect with two devices; five color options. 

Pricing – $250 on Amazon. 

Learn More: Why 5G and SD-WAN Is the Next Big Thing in UCaaS 

Pro Tip 

Consider using an all-in-one managed room solution. Apart from standalone devices like the ones we listed, there are end-to-end, vendor-managed room systems available like GoToRoom by LogMeIn. These include a full video room solution for your home office, including a conferencing system, a webcam, microphones, headsets, and collaboration displays. A vendor-managed solution means that you only rent the products and services on a monthly/annual subscription basis. 

In today’s WFH hardware marketplace, there is no dearth of options at every segment of requirement and pricing considerations. We have listed five of the most compelling and differentiated options in key UCC categories, which are must-haves on your journey towards building long-term, enterprise-quality collaboration infrastructure at home. 

What are your thoughts on the continued prevalence of WFH in 2021? Comment below or let us know on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We would love to hear from you!