The News: Cisco has introduced two new products designed to revolutionize the hybrid work environment: the Cisco Board Pro G2 and the Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series. These devices aim to address technology gaps in modern offices, offering advanced collaboration tools for a more connected and efficient workforce. The Cisco Board Pro G2 is an AI-powered, touch-enabled collaboration device, while the Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series transforms any desk into a smart, personalized workspace. These innovations were announced at Enterprise Connect in Orlando, Florida, marking a significant step toward supporting permanent hybrid work models and enhancing workspace flexibility. For more information, please refer to Cisco’s official announcement.
Cisco Intros Innovative Devices for Enhanced Hybrid Work Collaboration
Analyst Take: Cisco’s latest product launches signify a pivotal move in the evolution of workplace technology, especially in the context of hybrid work. The Cisco Board Pro G2 and the Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series are not only technological advancements; they also attest to Cisco’s commitment to facilitating seamless collaboration across diverse work environments. By integrating AI capabilities and offering flexible, user-centered design, Cisco addresses the pressing need for more effective and inclusive communication tools in the hybrid workspace.
Cisco Board Pro G2: Redefining Collaborative Spaces
The Cisco Board Pro G2 stands out as a pioneering solution designed to meet the demands of modern collaborative spaces. It is particularly suitable for small to medium-sized rooms, such as huddle spaces, meeting rooms, and classrooms, offering a versatile platform for various collaborative activities, including video conferencing, digital whiteboarding, and interactive presentations.
Use Cases and Value Proposition:
The Board Pro G2 is engineered to support ‘Distance Zero’ collaborative experiences, ensuring that remote participants feel as engaged as those present in the room. This inclusivity is achieved through an advanced camera system and AI-driven functionalities that adapt to room dynamics, enhancing participant visibility and engagement. It’s an ideal tool for teams that require a seamless blend of in-person and remote collaboration, supporting a range of use cases from corporate meetings to educational sessions.
Key Features:
- Intelligent Camera System: A 96-megapixel dual-lens camera offers expansive and detailed views of the room, accommodating different room sizes and participant arrangements.
- AI Virtual Zoom: Advanced image processing provides a clearer focus on active speakers or groups, improving remote participant engagement without compromising video quality.
- Flexible Collaboration: The device’s touch-enabled interface allows for intuitive interaction and supports various applications and services for comprehensive collaborative experiences.
- Deployment and Scalability: An all-in-one design simplifies deployment, offering IT teams a streamlined solution that is easy to standardize and scale across different spaces.
The Cisco Board Pro G2 will be integrated with RoomOS and supports multiple collaboration platforms, offering flexibility in deployment.
Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series: Personalizing the Desk Experience
The Cisco Desk Phone 9800 Series is tailored to the evolving landscape of modern office environments, where flexibility and personalization are key. It aims to transform any desk into a personalized, efficient workspace, aligning with the needs of a hybrid and transient workforce.
Use Cases and Value Proposition:
This series is designed for users who require a high degree of flexibility within the office while also needing access to personalized settings and features. The phones cater to a variety of workstyles but excel in supporting hoteling and hot desking, offering a consistent and secure experience whether users are at their desks, in a meeting room, or in any shared workspace.
Key Features:
- Personalized Productivity: Features such as desk reservation and QR code check-in enable a customized user experience, allowing employees to transition among different workspaces effortlessly.
- Premium Audio and AI-Powered Noise Removal: Ensures clear communication, which is critical for effective collaboration in today’s noisy office environments.
- Enterprise-Grade Security: Incorporates TPM 2.0 for secure encryption, providing peace of mind for sensitive business communications.
- Sustainability: The 9800 Series is constructed with more than 74% PCR plastics, reflecting Cisco’s commitment to environmental responsibility.
The Desk Phone 9800 Series is designed for versatility, supporting both on-premises and cloud-based operations, which aligns with various business infrastructures.
Adapting to Hybrid Work: Cisco’s Approach to Collaboration and User Experience
Cisco’s Board Pro G2 and Desk Phone 9800 Series embody the company’s response to the ever-changing demands of hybrid work, offering intelligent, adaptable solutions to enhance collaboration. These devices, designed to bridge the gap between remote and in-person participants, prioritize equitable and engaging user experiences. The Board Pro G2 exemplifies this with AI-driven features for inclusive meetings, while the Desk Phone 9800 Series offers personalized functionality, reflecting Cisco’s focus on user-centric design.
This emphasis on user experience is integral to Cisco’s approach, ensuring that technology acts as a collaborative partner rather than just a tool. These innovations aim to address hybrid work’s challenges, setting new standards in collaborative tool design by prioritizing flexibility, inclusiveness, and interaction quality. Cisco’s commitment to advancing workplace technology signifies a step towards a future where collaboration tools enhance the dynamism and productivity of the workforce.
Shaping the Future of Hybrid Work
Cisco’s latest innovations mark a significant milestone in the evolution of hybrid work technologies. By focusing on AI-powered solutions and user-centric design, Cisco is not just responding to current trends but also shaping the future of workplace collaboration. As organizations continue to navigate the complexities of hybrid work, the role of such technologies will become increasingly critical, offering new opportunities and challenges in the quest for more effective and inclusive collaboration.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
Other Insights from The Futurum Group:
AI-Driven Features of Cisco Webex Contact Center
Unleashing the Power of AI: Cisco’s Bold Webex Strategy
Webex Advances Digital Sovereignty With New European Partnerships
Image Source: Cisco
Author Information
As Practice Lead - Workplace Collaboration, Craig focuses on developing research, publications and insights that clarify how the workforce, the workplace, and the workflows enable group collaboration and communication. He provides research and analysis related to market sizing and forecasts, product and service evaluations, market trends, and end-user and buyer expectations. In addition to following the technology, Craig also studies the human elements of work - organizing his findings into the workforce, the workplace, and the workflows – and charting how these variables influence technologies and business strategies.
Prior to joining Wainhouse, now a part of The Futurum Group, Craig brings twenty years of experience in leadership roles related to P&L management, product development, strategic planning, and business development of security, SaaS, and unified communication offerings. Craig's experience includes positions at Poly, Dell, Microsoft, and IBM.
Craig holds a Master of Business Administration from the Texas McCombs School of Business as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Tulane University.
