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Polycom Reveals Top 5 Collaboration Predictions for 2017

Announcement posted by Polycom, a part of Plantronics 05 Jan 2017

Polycom’s top five collaboration predictions impacting business in 2017:
  • Access Anywhere Collaboration
  • Intelligent and Personal Customer Experiences
  • Digital Transformation Will Move up APAC Government Agendas
  • Evolving Workspaces and Workstyles
  • Startups and Entrepreneurs Need More Collaboration Capabilities

AUSTRALIA, 5 January, 2016 –- According to Polycom’s Workplace of Future(1) research, Australian employees spend 40 percent, and New Zealand employees spend 43 percent of their time collaborating with people who are not in their immediate vicinity. This is expected to increase exponentially in the next 12-18 months says Polycom with the release of their top five predictions that will drive business collaboration in 2017.
 
“Physical workplaces are transforming with technology as a driving force. Traditional conference room meetings, emails and handsets are making way for Skype Business video calls, mobile phone messaging and live content sharing and editing,” said Tony Simonsen, Polycom Managing Director, Polycom Australia & New Zealand of the 2017 predictions.
 
“Workspaces and workplaces have evolved. Witness the rise in popularity of the ‘huddle room’ (or small group meeting space) and other agile working environments. These encourage face-to-face communication and impromptu catch-ups, but through video connectivity deliver better sharing opportunities near and far,” added Simonsen.
 
“As we head towards 2017, the changing dynamic of workplace culture and collaboration will increasingly impact business at all levels, from C-Suite to intern.”
 
Outlined below are Polycom’s top collaboration predictions that it believes will impact business in 2017:
1.         Access Anywhere Collaboration
As more people get access to collaborative technologies at work(2), there is an increased end user expectation that tools should be as easy and intuitive to use as smartphones or tablets. People expect to be able work in the same way across any device, in any room and as they move from a desk to a meeting room – seamlessly and effortlessly. To continue to drive user adoption, collaboration tools will need to be designed for simplicity.
 
2. Creating Intelligent and Personal Customer Experiences
In an age where information is instantly available online, customers are more empowered than ever before. In 2017, interactive collaboration technologies like video are expected to be increasingly adopted as a way of personalising the customer experience. Face to face communication, in real time enables customers to be more closely connected, develop rapport and have open dialogue; which can lead to even greater innovation, loyalty and share of wallet.
 
3. Digital Transformation Moves Up APAC Government Agendas
Companies will continue their digital transformation journeys in 2017. According to research firm, IDC, worldwide spending on technologies is expected to exceed US $2.1 trillion by 2019(3). It’s also expected that digital transformation will become a higher priority for Government. The ambitious Digital Transformation Office(4) in Australia, is just one example of this in action. With more digital natives joining the workforce - harnessing the right technology to ensure connectivity to society will be essential to the success of public sector digital transformation initiatives.
 
4. Evolving Workspaces and Workstyles
Transformational technology is no longer a ‘nice to have’ in today’s globally connected marketplace. A mix of cloud, mobile and desktop collaboration apps is commonplace. However, tomorrow’s technology has to meet the demands of different workstyles and collaboration requirements ranging from group brainstorming to talent acquisition and training. The ability to collaborate seamlessly will be integral to the design of future workspaces. Expect more open meeting spaces, huddle rooms and personal workspaces; as well as home offices – and the ability to seamlessly switch between them.
 
5. Startups and Entrepreneurs, More Collaboration Needed
Co-working spaces, crowdfunding and the hiring of freelancers has become increasingly commonplace among this new breed of business owners. It’s expected that collaboration technology and platforms will continue to drive the spirit of innovation, keeping ideas and business concepts alive through the right connections and transfer of knowledge.
 
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(1) Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Workplace of the Future report captured insights from 1,500 plus employers and employees across ANZ.
(2) Polycom Workplace of the Future study found that 82 percent of Australian and 84 percent of New Zealand employers are seeing an increase in tasks that require cross-organisational collaboration
(3) https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS40978116
(4) http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/policy-faqs/faqs-the-digital-transformation-office

 
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About Polycom
Polycom helps organisations unleash the power of human collaboration. More than 400,000 companies and institutions worldwide defy distance with secure video, voice and content solutions from Polycom to increase productivity, speed time to market, provide better customer service, expand education and save lives. Polycom and its global partner ecosystem provide flexible collaboration solutions for any environment that deliver the best user experience, the broadest multi-vendor interoperability and unmatched investment protection. Visit www.polycom.com.au or connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn or the Polycom Asia Pacific blog, www.polycom.asia/theview, to learn more.
 
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