Innovation and shifting paradigms have catalyzed the introduction and adoption of advanced audiovisual (AV) and AI technologies. That’s transforming the world, including how we all work.
Hybrid has solidified as the most common style of work for remote-capable employees, as Gallup notes, following the massive change in work that we experienced in recent years. And Microsoft's Work Trend Index 2023 revealed that well more than half (55%) of hybrid employees said they would consider changing jobs if their hybrid work options were reduced. 
This new hybrid work world has made the need for seamless experiences even more urgent.
But with the plethora of available tools and platforms, ensuring universal compatibility and seamless communication has become a Herculean task. Integration challenges such as compatibility issues and the lack of synergistic ecosystems can disrupt the flow of communication. That can have dire effects, decreasing efficiency and leading to business losses.
However, the challenge is bigger than making different technologies work together. It also involves creating an ecosystem in which technologies enhance each other’s performance to deliver flawless, repeatable, impactful experiences that are more than the sum of their parts, amp up creativity and productivity, and address both current requirements and future needs.
Traditional AV solutions that focus solely on delivering clear audio and video simply won’t cut it. Forward-thinking businesses need integrated technology that empowers them to deliver immersive, equitable experiences that foster genuine connection and collaboration.
Integrated technology is key to making that happen, but what truly matters is the experience.
The ideal is when technology is so smart and organic that it simply fades into the background.
The Microsoft Surface Hub is a perfect example of this concept at work. A multi-touch, multi-functional device, Surface Hub combines the finest display technology with an elegant interface. With Surface Hub, it’s fast and easy to find the right documents, share ideas on a digital whiteboard and actively participate in video conferences. That equips Surface Hub users to focus on collaborating, making a great impression and delivering optimal business results.
AI turbocharges AV systems, shifting work from reactive to proactive through personalization and automation and giving every user added power and a big advantage right from the start.
Copilot, a collaboration between Microsoft and OpenAI, is leading the way in this rapidly advancing movement. Microsoft combined its software acumen with OpenAI’s AI mastery to
unleash this transformative tool that maximizes untapped potential and helps users achieve so much more.
For example, Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 compiles Teams messages on specific topics, providing users with new clarity; delivers beginner- and expert-level explanations of topics, enabling users to grow their knowledge quickly; organizes inboxes, helping users to prioritize their email; examines and identifies common themes, expediting users’ ability to bring together relevant resources; summarizes recent meetings and drafts emails to share the highlights with the appropriate people, allowing users to update their teams faster; and suggests compelling taglines based on marketing documents and first drafts, expanding users’ ability to generate new ideas.
These are just a few ways Copilot allows people and organizations to gain energy, save time, ease digital overload, take on any task, supercharge productivity and amplify creativity.
In the process, Copilot increases employee engagement, enhances the ability to attract talent and accelerates employee onboarding. Businesses that are already using Copilot report that:
-
57% of users enjoy their work more using Copilot for Microsoft 365
-
54% of early-in-career employees say Copilot influences their choice of employer
-
30% of employers and employees benefit from a reduction in new-hire onboarding times
Copilot’s brilliance lies not just in its ability to offer guidance but its capacity for dynamic learning and continuous improvement by drawing on ongoing user interactions and a vast reservoir of data. Beyond personal assistance, AI has the power to deliver team dynamics insights, meeting pattern analysis, optimal scheduling and real-time language translation.
Clearly, the potential for AI-powered collaboration tools to transform the workplace is immense, and these tools will continue to become more intuitive, predictive and integrated into all aspects of project development, blurring the lines between ideation and implementation.
That’s exciting – and stands to be incredibly rewarding. But organizations and their enterprise technology leaders need the right strategies and partners to reap the benefits of AV and AI.
To get the greatest value from these innovations and surge ahead of your competition:
Understand that seamless integration is non-negotiable
Enterprise leaders must prioritize solutions that offer universal compatibility and enhance overall system performance. To meet this requirement, consider partnering with solution providers that offer comprehensive ecosystem solutions rather than just piecemeal products.
Focus on and invest in delivering exceptional experiences
Users expect seamless experiences, and patience for glitches is at an all-time low. Embrace AV solutions that prioritize user experience and are so intuitive that they essentially disappear.
Make a commitment to AI – the future of workplace optimization
AI is happening now, and it will only become more powerful and widely adopted in the future. If you haven’t already begun exploring and adopting AI, get started now. Seek out AI-powered solutions that can learn and adapt to your organization's unique needs and make you stronger with proactive workflow optimization, enhanced collaboration and actionable insights.
Adopt holistic solutions so everybody and everything can work together
The best solutions are those that were built to work seamlessly with other technology. Synergy between hardware and software is critical. Just consider how Microsoft Teams and Hub work together to deliver reliable and seamless experiences for remote and office users every time. Identify and collaborate with companies that deliver complete, valuable, easy-to-use solutions.
Chart a course for continuous evolution and seek partners to help you navigate that journey
The world doesn’t stand still, and neither can we. To succeed and grow, people and organizations must continue to evolve. Cultivate a culture of agility, adaptability and continuous learning within your organization, and leverage advanced AV and AI to support and accelerate it.
Looking to the future, the lines between physical and virtual workspaces will continue to blur. Augmented and virtual reality will be used in collaboration to create more immersive experiences for in-person and remote workers, deepening connections between the two. AI will play a more expansive role. Augmented intelligence systems will work with humans as true collaborators, enhancing our cognitive abilities and pushing the boundaries of innovation. And the importance of harnessing AV and AI will grow. The organizations that thrive will be those that view technology not as a mere tool, but as a strategy to shape the future of work.
Diversified, a designated Microsoft solutions provider, is the ideal partner in the hybrid world of work in which rapid change is the norm and the need for innovative solutions is paramount.
A global leader in AV innovation, Diversified has earned the trust of global enterprises by designing and building environments that bring people together and drive business results. Our Microsoft designation and experience in design, integration and global management services equip clients with the innovative solutions they need today and position them for what’s next.