Future trend talks at Integrate 2014

Integrate 2014 is hosting a range of informative seminars on future trends at this year’s expo. The expo is a trade-only event for the professional, commercial and residential AV and systems integration industry, but professionals who source, recommend, specify or make purchase decisions for AV and IT solutions for their business are also welcome.

Some of the seminars on offer include:

Unified Communications and Collaboration Roadmap

Unified communications (UC) has become the default term for next-generation, IP-enabled enterprise communications. Organisations can no longer consider video, telephony, instant messaging or collaboration products in silos - they must be viewed and planned as part of a UC strategy. Settling on a successful UC strategy has been nearly impossible to achieve, with many organisations frustrated as a result. Part of the reason it is elusive is because UC means different things to different people. Success is all about achieving the right blend of technologies and features.

This session will look at the successes and pitfalls of UC implementation and how to achieve that ‘right blend’. We will also hear from end users and industry experts on what they personally experience on a day-to-day basis 17 years after the term unified communication was launched. What are they able to rely on? What is still failing? What should our industry’s priorities be? Learn first-hand some real-world examples of achievable successes and avoidable pitfalls.

Key learnings

• Learn how unified communications has developed over the years.
• Learn how successful UC is not a technology, but an outcome.
• Hear how organisations have developed successful UC strategies.
• Hear how to develop the right ‘blend’ of technologies and services to achieve the promise of UC.

Smarter Working - Changing the Face of Collaboration Tools and Office Designs

Are you working now?  Are you in your office? Do you even have a traditional office anymore? The era of smarter working dictates that work is what you do, not where you go. People are living better - with less wasted commuting time and more family time.

Organisations are reaping the rewards of lower real estate and facilities costs and happier, more productive workers. In this session our panel will describe new work environments and policies that have been a great success for organisations.

Key learnings

• Hear how smarter working is changing the face of office design.
• Learn how remote working/teleworking has improved things for all parties.
• Hear how other organisations have successfully implemented remote worker strategies.
• Discuss how remote workers have been ‘scapegoated’ by some firms and what the real problems are.

The Future of Desktop and Mobile Devices

Video and collaboration have moved from group systems and room systems to the desktop and mobile devices. How do users interface with each of these technologies and make them work together? How do organisations handle the huge growth in the use of the devices and manage them effectively? Session panellists will discuss the current and future state of desktop and mobile devices. They will look at what is happening today, the impact it is having on organisations and future prospects for desktop and mobile devices.

Key learnings

• Learn about the explosion of mobile collaboration.
• Hear how organisations are meeting and managing their mobile needs.
• See a roadmap of where mobile collaboration is going.
• Discuss real-world examples of mobile collaboration in use.

Integrate 2014 being held 26-28 August 2014, Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park.