Start the Year Strong with These Key Trends in Collaboration

Graham Fry, Managing Director of avsnet

Our customers look to us for guidance on how the collaboration industry is evolving – hence this list of 2017 collaboration trends… 

In early 2016, we outlined how huddle spaces, video workflows and hybrid cloud would play a major role – all turned out to be true. We believe 2017 will see the following trends rise in importance:

• Solution delivery and as-a-Service models
• Security
• Digital Readiness

2017 Collaboration Trends

This is the year ‘as-a-Service’ reaches new heights and becomes fully embedded in every aspect of a company’s collaboration estate.

We’ve seen it first-hand. Prohibitively expensive capital projects have been swapped for easier-to-justify OPEX billing models. Adoption of video, visual communications, unified communications and digital signage solutions have been turbocharged by the cloud.

Benefits now outnumber the concerns. Monthly payments lower your exposure to financial risk. CAPEX becomes a distant memory. Projects can be deployed, tested and scaled over time. Workers are more likely to use new solutions as they integrate with tools they’re familiar with – e.g. browser-based video, simpler dashboards, mobile integration.

As a result, the network is more important than ever. With so many end-points and pressure points, network availability is truly business-critical. 

Security

This links to trend two – security.

Day-after-day, news breaks about a fresh breach or cyber-security incident. Businesses large and small are targeted. What’s worse, much of the security landscape goes unreported – the risks simply aren’t worth taking anymore.

Expect to see security feature heavily in boardroom discussions. Businesses now recognise that every unsecured internet-connected end-point – collaboration and visual communications included – poses a risk.

Our advice to you: search for the support of an expert that has the necessary partnerships to strengthen your company’s security posture.

The Digital Ready Workplace

Finally, Digital Readiness. The digital revolution is transforming entire industries. Uber is a popular example. If your sector hasn’t experienced change yet, it will soon. Executives are prioritising projects that simplify processes, automate workflows and drive efficiency.

Digitisation requires you to rethink collaboration. After all, your business must adapt to the digital revolution if it’s to continue being successful and keep attracting talented people.

This means deploying new tools that enable people to work closer together. A fit-for-purpose network that can handle ‘as-a-service’ applications. A workplace that’s attuned with employee behaviour. Advocates internally for collaboration and digitisation.

Your pathway to digital readiness may have its challenges, however that’s why we are here. We’re experts at defining a comprehensive strategy that will help you succeed in your mission.

Our customers are testament to this. Emulate their success and lead the charge towards a more digital workplace. Contact Nicola to take advantage of these 2017 collaboration trends.