INTERVIEW From playing background music in a busy lobby to running a Microsoft Teams-enabled workshop, organisations need modern workplaces that can adapt instantly to different purposes. Yet many organisations still try to meet these demands by adding standalone devices to every space, which can be difficult to link across hybrid meeting systems like Teams Rooms if they don’t connect to one platform. “A platform approach to Teams Rooms provides a unified foundation that adapts as needs evolve, extends meeting capabilities across every type of space, and helps enterprises make the most of the technology they already have,” says Nathan Glotfelty, senior director of alliances and corporate development at Q-SYS. The Q-SYS Full Stack AV Platform provides this foundation by simplifying device complexity and creating a unified, cloud-managed software layer that connects audio, video, control and the broader Q-SYS partner ecosystem with Teams. “A unified platform improves scalability, security and lifecycle management, rather than a devicecentric setup,” says Glotfelty. “Instead of managing a collection of disconnected devices, a platform approach offers a single, secure foundation that can grow with the Teams ecosystem as new AI-driven capabilities emerge.” A platform also cuts down the number of systems IT teams must secure, maintain and monitor – a significant advantage when the average company manages a portfolio of 342 software-as-aservice applications, according to Microsoft partner Productiv. Streamlining system management also lays the groundwork for organisations to adopt new Teams features and AI-driven capabilities more easily. “With a software-defined approach, organisations can extend the life of their rooms and add new Teams features and AI capabilities through updates rather than hardware replacement,” says Glotfelty. “This enables a more dynamic employee experience, with spaces that adopt to occupancy, activity and collaboration needs. A platform approach helps enterprises extract more value from existing technology while remaining flexible as Teams and the wider AI-powered workplace continue to grow and evolve.” Q-SYS also enables firms to monitor and gather analytics from Q-SYS and third-party hardware, providing a complete picture of system performance and usage patterns. “Q-SYS Reflect collects detailed audiovisual and control system data, while Pro Management Portal provides room and Teams-specific insights,” says Glotfelty. “Together, they offer a more complete operational view and enable integrated workflows, proactive issue resolution and smarter service automation. When combined with third-party systems like ServiceNow, organisations can turn monitoring into automated responses and insights into immediate action, streamlining support and improving uptime. This unified foundation simplifies operations, reduces downtime and allows IT teams to focus on elevating the overall workplace experience rather than reacting to isolated issues.” Nathan Glotfelty from Q-SYS explains how taking a platform approach to Teams Rooms helps organisations to simplify management, extend technology lifecycle and enable AI capabilities Prioritising platforms over devices BY ALICE CHAMBERS “ A platform approach helps enterprises extract more value from existing technology while remaining flexible” 81
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