“Lenovo is a reliable technology partner to drive seamless collaboration”, Shannon McKay

The head of the global intelligent collaboration business of Lenovo, Shannon McKay, Underlines that the future of collaboration requires an integrated range of hardware, reliable and intelligent software and services like the one offered by the company, with which it responds to the needs and expectations of the new hybrid workforce.

During his participation in WHEREAS 2023, Lenovo has presented to the industry a complete offering of collaboration solutions, both to facilitate hybrid work and connectivity in the company, with Microsoft Teams as the technology to execute it and the new ThinkSmart View Plus as a reference. What is the technological and business strategy behind this decision??

Lenovo is a leader in intelligent transformation and delivers technologies that improve the way our enterprise customers connect and work. The rise of hybrid work has accelerated the transformation of workspaces and customers are looking for smarter solutions, from trusted technology partners, that you can implement and expand to keep your staff connected and collaborating.

An ISE 2023, We present a range of smart collaboration solutions that work everywhere, for everyone and at all times.

Everywhere means smart collaboration must work on premises, at home and everywhere in between. Nine out of ten employees want flexibility in where and when they work, and a 54% Would you consider leaving your job if you were not offered flexibility?.

To meet these expectations, Businesses need hyper-flexible solutions that accommodate the full spectrum of where and how employees collaborate., with room to evolve and scale for the next normal. An example for this is ThinkSmart Core, our powerful computing system designed to work with modular configurations for small rooms, medium and large.

Besides, smart collaboration must work for everyone, with the same participation and quality of experience. One in five participants is worried about not feeling heard in hybrid meetings and almost 50% doesn't speak at all.

Our solutions include AI cameras, with automated focusing and framing, y more immersive audio experiences and intelligent. AI-based functions, like transcription, the chat, the polls, support for hand gestures and whiteboards, allow everyone to participate. Besides, They are compatible with various unified communication platforms, as Teams, Zoom y Google.

Finally, smart collaboration must work at all times, It should be easy for all employees, including the IT staff. Since Lenovo is one of the largest IT solutions providers in the world, Customers appreciate having a single-source solution when purchasing our UC tools., since we facilitate comprehensive planning services, implementation and maintenance to ease the burden on IT departments.

An example of this is that Lenovo offers collaboration as a service (AaaS), making it easy for IT departments to scale up or down based on their conference room needs.

In such a growing and changing market, What difference do Lenovo's intelligent collaboration solutions offer from others that have also been seen at ISE? 2023?

Lenovo is a trusted global technology partner. Our portfolio for the future of collaboration includes a range of hardware, reliable software and services, designed to drive seamless collaboration and convenient, end-to-end solution management for the modern hybrid workforce.

Our mission is to support the tools that each client uses most comfortably, as it is easier for them to integrate and implement solutions adapted to their existing unified communications platform.

ThinkSmart offers solutions for the most used platforms in the sector, and our technology is designed to enable seamless communication and work sharing, boosting productivity, even as businesses continue to evolve around the world.

ThinkSmart products are designed with OEMs/partners in mind to create modular solutions. ThinkSmart Core is the computer that can be used with existing AV components (microphone, speakers, screen).

We also make it easier since, as i have pointed out, we are committed to collaboration as a service (AaaS) because it offers enterprise IT departments a partner for guidance and planning, as well as a zero-touch path during installation, the implementation, management and maintenance.

It is the perfect solution for uncertain times, as it allows IT departments to respond to the changing needs and expectations of the new hybrid workforce, no capital investment risk.

In which business environments is your ThinkSmart View Plus solution best suited and what benefits does it offer companies to achieve a flexible and interactive work environment??

ThinkSmart View Plus is specifically designed for hot desking, telephone booths, meeting rooms, executive desks and home offices. As the way people work continues to evolve, It is vital to stay connected and engaged, regardless of how and where you work.

Our innovative ThinkSmart View Plus display with Microsoft Teams is a smart collaboration solution, flexible and easy to use, enabling hybrid work. The workers, traditional and remote, You can reserve shared desks and meeting spaces equipped with this solution through Teams, offering more productivity options.

For the use of personal space, ThinkSmart View Plus can switch between the preloaded Teams screen in stand-alone, so workers can use the device as a one-stop solution for productivity, and in mode display peripheral, with which it is possible to expand your computing power by connecting your PC to ThinkSmart View Plus and using its screen, camera and audio bar.

They also focus on AVOIP, Is it the technology on which Lenovo will continue to develop its collaboration solutions?

Lenovo Customers Asked for AVoIP and We Delivered It to Them. Easier to install and use, The new controller allows installation at a distance of up to 100 PC meters without the problems of extenders, complicated configurations and feeding on the table.

Lenovo's new IP controller meets growing demand for HDMI on the table, as well as IP connectivity with PoE compatibility.

What is the trend you see in this market and where is Lenovo going to focus its developments?? Will there be new agreements with other partners?

Lenovo is constantly reviewing best-in-class partners around the world and is dedicated to providing its customers with industry-leading technology in collaboration with others.. Videoconference meetings are moving from being a niche to becoming a widespread market.

Technology is simplifying the experience and making it easier for more people to learn how to set up and use them. As you Zoom, Teams and Google Meet become better known, a broader audience is increasingly comfortable using video conferencing, just like you would with any other program on your PC or laptop.

This expansion has posed new challenges in the sector. IT managers now have more devices to maintain, troubleshoot and control. Therefore, Smarter and safer equipment is needed to lighten its technological load.

Lenovo has been leading the PC/laptop sector for years, and now we are focusing that capacity on the video conferencing sector. Having the necessary resources and infrastructure removes any obstacles to bringing cutting-edge technologies to market more quickly..

What forecasts do you have for the intelligent collaboration business??

I cannot make predictions in this regard., nor about market share, But we do highlight that we are very satisfied with the growth of the business in markets around the world..