MICROSOFT SURFACE HUB: AT THE HEART OF THE WORKSPACE REVOLUTION - AVMI
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MICROSOFT SURFACE HUB:
AT THE HEART OF THE
WORKSPACE REVOLUTION
AVMI’s Business Innovation Director, Jason Turner explains how the
Microsoft Surface Hub is helping to increase productivity and reduce
costs, and why this unified communication device is changing the way we
work and collaborate together in the evolving workplace.
The corporate AV market is currently experiencing “While there are a number of devices designed to
something of a revolutionary step-change, with improve our productivity as individuals, there has
significant developments in technology and the yet to be a device that is truly optimised for a group
way the new technology is deployed. Indeed, the of people to use together – designed not just for
sector is arguably leading the way with technology what we need to do, but how we want to work.
consumption, with tech giants such as Amazon, Until now,” Mike Angiulo, Corporate vice president,
Google and Microsoft committed to corporate AV Microsoft Devices, was quoted as saying ahead
solutions. of Hub’s launch. “Just as the PC revolutionised
productivity for individuals, Surface Hub will
First out of the blocks, Microsoft’s Surface Hub may transform the way groups of people work together.”
not have got off to the best of starts, with initial
shipping delays compounded by stock shortages, Bringing together applications such as Windows
price increases, and – it’s reported by some – 10, Office and Skype for Business, Surface Hub
technical glitches, but over two years on from its is designed around a highly responsive screen
unveiling (January 2015) Surface Hub is beginning
to fulfill its promise.
About AVMI
The 55” and 84” touch-screen solution has been
designed for the new breed of workspaces, and AVMI is a leading provider of audio visual,
combines essential conference room components video collaboration and digital media
into one collaborative device. According to technology solutions, helping organisations
Microsoft, it adds “the best group productivity to communicate and collaborate better
and collaboration device to the most productive across distributed environments and
personal devices in the world". geographies.
Microsoft Surface Hub opinion www.avmi.com/surfacehub
built for ink and touch. The two models are Users also reported improved results from client
integrated with optically bonded displays capable meetings held in Surface Hub-enabled rooms,
of detecting 100 points of multi-touch and up to leading to more and larger sales and improved
three simultaneous pen inputs. They also boast collaboration and business impact.
dual 1080p front-facing video cameras, and a four-
element microphone array that detects and follows But how is the Hub being received today? For me
voice to eliminate background noise during VC where the device stands out is the ability to get the
sessions. In addition, there’s built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth meeting started from the moment you walk in the
4.0, NFC and various ports for wired and wireless room. Typically, the time taken to set up meeting
connectivity options, allowing devices to easily rooms is between 8 and 15 minutes: the ‘normal
share content to the screen. user experience’ of a meeting space, but with
the Surface Hub you are up and running within
CORPORATE COLLABORATOR seconds of touching the screen. Microsoft calls it
‘Walk up and use’ and it is exactly that. This is one of
The corporate AV market is certainly hungry for the device's major plus points.
a solution that integrates seamlessly into today’s
modern workspaces, and Surface Hub is considered GAME-CHANGING TOOL
by many to tick all the right boxes. It provides great
value for businesses by combining key collaborative The Hub is only limited by what you want to do
scenarios, including general communications, with it or the applications you want to use on it.
visualisation brainstorming, remote collaboration Quite simply, it’s an essential deployment tool for
and data insights. today’s modern workspaces. I believe it to be a
game-changer.
The two 55” and 84” touch-screen solutions have
been specifically designed for today’s modern
workplace and combine essential conference room
components into one collaborative device.
Microsoft has developed the Surface Hub to fit
neatly into its Cloud strategy, but also to be able
to be used in conjunction with legacy solutions
until such time as clients migration to Cloud in the
future. It natively works with Microsoft Skype and
Office 365. But it really is the simplicity of use that is
the true benefit.
Most of us usually resort to a flip chart or a notepad
to keep record or share ideas when in a meeting.
What Surface Hub allows is the ability to simply
record the outcome of these sessions and save
this for sharing to all parties or for future use. So
A Microsoft research study, conducted by Forrester rather than having to stick the flip chart paper on
Consulting (‘The Total Economic Impact Of the wall or add a ‘post it’ to overlay some additional
Microsoft Surface Hub: Cost Savings and Business process or flow detail to what you are working on
Benefits Enabled by Surface Hub’), examined the – then capture this via your phone, then revisit the
“potential ROI businesses may realise by deploying following week and set out the room with these
Surface Hub in traditional and non-traditional wall hangings – the Hub allows you to simply email
spaces”. Released in February 2016, Forrester or store the work to a OneDrive folder.
interviewed several Surface Hub early adopters, to
report on the costs and benefits they experienced, As a digital whiteboard, Microsoft is leading the
“to better understand the benefits, costs, and risks way with its capacitive touch technology. The
associated with a Surface Hub implementation”. writing experience is smooth and responsive, with a
nice feature that allows you to texture your writing,
The report was favourable, even at this early stage similar to how a pen would react if you were to
in Surface Hub’s life cycle, with improved meeting press harder or softer. Capturing information from
productivity - especifically for initiating meetings the web or other software is a simple two stage
with remote participants and handling post- capture; press, then drag an area! With the infinite
meeting tasks - reduced meeting room equipment canvas and the lasso tool, the ability to re order and
costs and no printing costs. expand your activity is easily done.
Microsoft Surface Hub opinion www.avmi.com/surfacehub
EASY INTEGRATION toolset to allow you to drop the Hub into a meeting
space and create an excellent meeting room
But it’s not just easy to use: it’s easy to integrate solution, and it has great built-in software provision
into existing systems too. The Hub is designed to too. But this is, let’s say, 50% of what can be
work with existing customer networks, but all you achieved with a Hub, The remaining 50% is all about
have to do is drop in an Office 365 license and hey- what applications people can add to it and they can
presto!, you’re up and running – super quick and benefit from them. The Surface Hub provides the
super flexible. If the end user has his own Office platform and foundation; we need to add the apps.
365 estate in place already, the Surface Hub is just
added as a device into that existing estate. SURPLUS SOLUTION
In September of last year, Microsoft resolved
So, Hub can be deployed onto existing estates –
those initial stock issues, fulfilling all outstanding
although latest versions of Lync 2013 or Skype for
orders and even going into a stock surplus for the
Business are required for full functionality. Some
first time. At AVMI we have taken the view that to
customers may decide not go down that route,
improve the speed of delivery to our customers
and may continue to run something like Link 2010,
we will also call forward stock from Microsoft; as
perhaps deciding to migrate straight over to Office
a result we currently have a healthy stock level of
365 going forward. Surface Hub is ready to go
both 55” and 84” Surface Hubs.
immediately, but additional benefits are available
in the future, should the user decide to use them. It’s important that Microsoft works with companies
Flexibility is key. such as AVMI because we apply a level of assurance
and governance in the way these devices are
It’s important to remember that the Hub is a delivered to the customer’s preference and then
unified communications or collaboration device installed. This isn’t the sort of task that can be done
and not a video conferencing device. Therefore if just off the page – for instance, it’s no small task to
you’re looking for a telepresence experience then install an 84” Hub on a wall!
this is not the right solution for you. But if you
want a solution that allows a group of people to
communicate over audio, or audio and video then
this is the right solution. The simple-to-use call
“
The Hub is only limited by what
feature for ad hoc needs, and the capability of one
button entry into a scheduled session means that it you want to do with it or the
is easy to get started each time.
applications you want to use on
One of the great things about the Surface Hub is it. Quite simply, it's an essential
that it allows for Windows 10 universal applications
to be run on it, allowing you to download workflow, deployment tool for today's
business use and collaboration/design apps from
the various stores. Customers may wish to develop
modern workplace. I believe it
their own apps, of course. to be a game-changer.
Microsoft has created a very good foundation and
Jason Turner, Business Innovation Director, AVMI
”
Microsoft Surface Hub opinion www.avmi.com/surfacehub
Microsoft are pushing all of their efforts into their to also. Those people will be the ones who bring
Cloud-based technologies, with Office 365 being together the IT and FM teams for Surface Hub
their cloud-based solution platform for Office, and integration.
it is very easy to consume Microsoft software. That’s
what Microsoft are guiding people to do; Hub is Every workspace is an investment. If companies
designed to work with existing customer networks. can reduce the amount of lost time in a meeting
All you have to do is drop in an O365 license and space, there’s a cost saving or an efficiency to be
you’re up and running – far quicker and far more made. How can they make those efficiencies and
flexible. If the customer has his own O365 estate in demonstrate what that ROI is going to be? Where
place already, the Hub is just added as a device into the Surface Hub comes into that is that it’s quick
that existing estate. start, always on; up and running within seconds.
The whole process is speeded up.
So, Hub has been designed by Microsoft so that it
can be deployed onto existing estates, although Often in meetings everyone takes individual notes
latest versions of Link 2013 or Skype for Business – notes that only apply to them rather than the
server are required for full functionality. Some group as a whole. Using the Surface Hub to create
customers may not go down that route, and may notes that apply to the whole group is a key thing –
still be on something like Link 2010 and decide reminiscent of the way we all used to use flip charts.
to migrate straight over to O365 going forward. Now, of course, here’s no need to take a photo of
So, Surface Hub gives users the opportunity to do the chart or type up its content and email it on: it
things immediately; but in the future there’s the can all be done seamlessly on the Hub.
benefit of additional feature sets as well.
Ultimately, Surface Hub is only limited by what you
INNOVATION IMPROVER want to do with it or the applications you want to
deploy on it. It’s quick and easy to integrate and
It’s very unlikely that there will be one single use, cost-effective and super-flexible. It’s the plug-
decision maker on Surface Hub integration in and-play UC and collaboration device we’ve all
any organisation. It could be IT or FM (it tends been waiting for: easy to use with huge scope for
not to be procurement), but it’s really about expanded usage.
who’s responsible for innovation. Because that’s
what Surface Hub is really all about: improving
innovation spaces for staff to collaborate and work
within. IT may be responsible for the technology in
a particular space; FM for the space itself and how
it looks visually. The two have to come together –
appropriately, collaborately – in order to deliver that
solution going forward.
There’s usually a person who’s in charge of
innovation nowadays. Most manufacturers have
these in place and a lot of end users are starting
Discover how the Microsoft Surface Hub can benefit your business and
help fast track your company's Digital Transormation.
Visit avmi.com/surfacehub to find out more or book a demo.
JASON TURNER, AVMI BUSINESS INNOVATION DIRECTOR
Jason has over 20 years' experience working in the AV industry; ten
of which at AVMI. As Business Innovation Director, Jason ensures
that AVMI stays at the forefront of the industry in offering its clients
the very latest in innovative technologies. Jason has worked for a
number of AV integrators after starting his career in the RAF.
Microsoft Surface Hub opinion www.avmi.com/surfacehubYou can also read
