56 INTERVIEW A simple solution for the ‘meeting tax’ Microsoft's Albert Kooijman and Barco's Jan van Houtte explain how Barco's ClickShare Hub and Sennheiser TeamConnect Bar bundles make joining Microsoft Teams meetings easier Hybrid meetings are only as good as the technology behind them, and for many organisations, getting a session started smoothly has long been a challenge. “The certification for Teams Rooms of the Barco wireless room bundles marks an expansion into the Microsoft Teams ecosystem with flexible, intelligent room systems,” says Albert Kooijman, general manager of Microsoft Teams partner engineering and customer enablement at Microsoft. “We value partners like Barco who share our vision for inclusive, secure and seamless collaboration across the modern workplace, and are excited for customers choosing ClickShare to experience Teams Rooms.” This clear endorsement from Microsoft sets the tone for a partnership that has reached a significant milestone. With the launch of ClickShare Hub and Sennheiser TeamConnect Bar bundles, now officially certified for Microsoft Teams Rooms, Barco is delivering a simpler, more inclusive and dependable hybrid meeting experience. At the heart of the Microsoft–Barco collaboration is a shared commitment to tackle one of hybrid work’s most persistent pain points: burdensome meeting technology that interrupts flow rather than facilitating it. “Lots of employees lose time in meetings due to technical difficulties,” says Jan van Houtte, executive vice president of meeting experiences at Barco. “Some waste more than 10 minutes just getting started.” Analysts have dubbed this the ‘meeting tax’, a drain on productivity that modern workplaces can no longer afford. Barco’s new ClickShare Hub bundles, paired with Sennheiser’s TeamConnect Bars for small and medium-sized meeting rooms, are designed to address this frustration. The certification from Microsoft signals that these solutions are ready for enterprise‑grade hybrid collaboration, fully integrated into the Teams ecosystem and manageable at scale. “From the end user’s perspective, the shift is striking in its simplicity,” says van Houtte. “ClickShare’s core promise has always been wireless, one‑tap sharing: no cables, delays or confusion. In a Microsoft Teams Room powered by ClickShare Hub, a user approaches the room and taps once on the ClickShare Control Panel to instantly start the video call using the peripherals in the room. Sharing meeting content is equally as seamless, requiring just one click on the ClickShare Button.” This simplicity is exactly what attracted Enedis, the largest electricity distribution network operator in Europe, to ClickShare Hub. Enedis has deployed ClickShare Hub as part of its expansion into Teams Rooms, ensuring a consistent, simplified experience across all meeting spaces while enabling wireless presentation. ClickShare Hub’s modular design allows users to walk into a room, start a Teams BY ALICE CHAMBERS “ ClickShare’s core promise has always been wireless, one‑tap sharing” JAN VAN HOUTTE, BARCO
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