Technology company Cisco unveiled the latest upgrades to Webex Suite, a purpose-built solution designed to drive hybrid work.

“Hybrid work is both different and harder than how we worked before,” said Jeetu Patel, EVP and GM, Cisco Security and Collaboration. “Regardless of job function, people expect and deserve an amazing experience no matter where or how they work. This requires a holistic solution that only Cisco can deliver with its integrated platform across collaboration software, devices, networking, and security.”

With the work-from-anywhere setup, 98% of meetings will have remote video attendees, according to Cisco. Both home offices and office spaces require video devices to help people collaborate.

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“And with a 2022 survey of customers finding that 85% use more than one meeting platform, it’s critical those video devices provide seamless interoperability with the platforms colleagues and customers use,” Cisco said.

Microsoft

To address this, Cisco expanded its partnerships so employees can use different video applications in its platform. The latest collaboration is with Cisco wherein participants using Microsoft Teams Rooms can join the meetings with those on Webex.

The new Cisco Room Kit EQ is powered by the Cisco Codec EQ, an AI-based computing appliance, the Room Kit EQ enables true-to-life meeting experiences, bringing seamless integration to video-enable and transform large spaces for inclusive hybrid work.

Also, Cisco is offering a repeatable Hybrid Workspace Design Guide, based on its NYC office deployment, to help customers design next-generation hybrid workspaces. It encompasses Cisco’s Smart Building Solutions, collaboration, networking, security technology and more. It supports triple-screens, offers embedded camera and audio intelligence, including automatic noise cancelation, and the option to switch to bring your own device (BYOD) collaboration, so customers can unlock the true potential of hybrid work.

Flexible workstyles

Webex’s new features aimed at strengthening hybrid work include the new Whiteboard App in the Webex Suite which will enable anyone to start or join a whiteboard and work together from a browser, the Webex App, or a Cisco device. Whiteboards can be combined with Slido polls, saved, and shared in a Webex space for asynchronous ideation.

To give people time back and free them from endless meetings, Cisco introduced its asynchronous video offering Vidcast, part of the Webex Suite, last year. Vidcast, now generally available, has since saved 47 million meeting minutes and over 40 new innovations make the experience even more powerful. Among the new features will be a new AI-powered editing capability that drastically reduces the time it takes to create polished content, and Slido integration to incorporate polling and audience engagement into shared video content.

iPhone and iPad users can now share content from the rear-facing or front-facing camera via the Webex Meetings app and annotate over what they’re seeing with Mobile Camera Share. For the first time customers benefit from effective collaboration by leveraging the high-quality video capture capabilities of Apple devices. For example, an architect or frontline worker can share job site progress with clients in real-time instead of sending static images or screenshots.

Webex Events and Webinars provide the most comprehensive portfolio of hybrid event solutions, all from a single platform. Now users will have access to a new lobby experience for virtual events that will support a variety of customizations, such as agendas, speaker bios, sponsors, and more. New content widgets make it easy to embed any of those elements into external event websites. With new production tools in Webex Webinars, hosts can easily add custom branding and personalization to every event with the new Stage Manager. Integration into Network Device Interface (NDI) gives event production teams a new tool for professional broadcasts.