Improving the Hybrid Work Environment – The Role of Next Generation Monitors and Meeting Space

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Improving the Hybrid Work Environment the Role of Next Generation Monitors and Meeting Space Solutions

Support Your Remote Workforce with the Right Tools to Boost Productivity Redesigning Meeting Spaces of the Future Powering the Future with Hybrid Work Size Matters: Why Screen Resolution is Crucial for Productivity What Does the Return to Work Mean for Meeting Spaces?

Published by Global Business Media

TEAM UP SEAMLESSLY. Introducing the World’s First Video Conferencing Monitors Certified for Microsoft Teams.* Maintaining the human connection between employees in a hybrid workforce is vital. From scheduled meetings to social catch-ups, the Dell C-Series Monitors deliver innovative and inclusive virtual meetings that feel in-person.

DELL C-SERIES MONITORS Collaborate with confidence with razor-sharp pop-up 5MP IR camera and dual 5W integrated speakers. Team up seamlessly with superior connectivity, easy manageability and a USB-C single cable solution for incredible power and speed.

* Based on Dell analysis of publicly available information of competitive desktop monitors, October 2020.

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

SPECIAL REPORT

Improving the Hybrid Work Environment the Role of Next Generation Monitors and Meeting Space Solutions

Contents Foreword 2 Tom Cropper, Editor

Support Your Remote Workforce with the Right Tools to Boost Productivity Support Your Remote Workforce with the Right Tools to Boost Productivity

3

Sean Chen, Vice President, Commercial Monitors, Dell Technologies

Redesigning Meeting Spaces of the Future Powering the Future with Hybrid Work Size Matters: Why Screen Resolution is Crucial for Productivity What Does the Return to Work Mean for Meeting Spaces?

Published by Global Business Media

Published by Global Business Media

Boost Productivity and User Comfort with External Peripherals Choosing the Right Monitor for Your Home Office Select the Right Screen Size and Resolution Optimize for Ergonomics and Well-Being

Global Business Media Limited 62 The Street Ashtead Surrey KT21 1AT United Kingdom

Choose Connectivity

Switchboard: +44 (0)1737 850 939 Fax: +44 (0)1737 851 952 Email: info@globalbusinessmedia.org Website: www.globalbusinessmedia.org

Future Proof Devices for Your Work Environment

Collaboration is Key

Redesigning Meeting Spaces of the Future Sean Chen, Vice President, Commercial Displays,

Publisher Kevin Bell

Software and Peripherals Product Group, Dell Technologies

Editor Tom Cropper

Powering the Future with Hybrid Work

Business Development Director Marie-Anne Brooks Senior Project Manager Steve Banks Advertising Executives Michael McCarthy Abigail Coombes Production Manager Paul Davies

6

8

Tom Cropper, Editor

The New Workers Technology Into the Future

Size Matters: Why Screen Resolution is Crucial for Productivity

10

For further information visit: www.globalbusinessmedia.org

Jo Roth, Staff Writer

The opinions and views expressed in the editorial content in this publication are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the views of any organisation with which they may be associated.

Larger Higher Definition Monitors

Material in advertisements and promotional features may be considered to represent the views of the advertisers and promoters. The views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily express the views of the Publishers or the Editor. While every care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, neither the Publishers nor the Editor are responsible for such opinions and views or for any inaccuracies in the articles.

What Does the Return to Work Mean for 12 Meeting Spaces

Two is Better Than One Improving the Work Experience Assessing Costs

James Butler, Staff Writer

Staying Safe Video Conferencing A Seamless Experience

© 2021. The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright. Full details are available from the Publishers. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

References 14

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IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Foreword

A

YEAR ago, businesses faced the biggest

the new normal, businesses will need to upgrade

upheaval in living memory. Almost overnight

remote working setups to levels seen within the office.

they had to shut offices and move staff to a

The second challenge is meeting spaces.

work from home model. Today, what started as

Collaboration has become ever more challenging

a stopgap looks set to become permanent with

for hybrid businesses. Ensuring office-based and

both staff and employees leaning towards a more

remote-based staff can communicate will be a major

flexible model.

challenge for businesses.

In this hybrid working environment staff will be

Our first two articles come from Dell as they discuss

spread across multiple locations. It’s a new way of

next generation solutions to enhancing the hybrid

working in which technology will be key, particularly in

working environment. High spec monitors, interactive

relation to monitors and meeting spaces. The ability to

solutions and connected platforms for the sharing

work from home depends on individuals’ technical set

of data, will help to create a seamless multi-location

ups in their home offices. Not everyone has access

working environment.

to a computer or high-speed internet in the home.

We will then explore both these in more detail.

Those that do will still struggle to match the same

Jo Roth will look at how hybrid meeting spaces

high-tech experience as in the office. Screens will

are evolving while James Butler will look at what

be smaller and at a lower resolution. Connections

value businesses can expect to receive from

will be slower. According to Zen Internet, connectivity

upgraded monitors.

issues see home workers lose approximately half an hour’s work a day1.

While offices have powered ahead with multiple high-res screens, people are still working off small, single screen laptops. If hybrid working is to become

Tom Cropper Editor

Tom Cropper has produced articles and reports on various aspects of global business over the past 15 years. He has also worked as a copywriter for some of the largest corporations in the world, including ING, KPMG, and Zurich Insurance.

2 | WWW.CEOREPORTS.COM

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Support Your Remote Workforce with the Right Tools to Boost Productivity Sean Chen, Vice President, Commercial Monitors, Dell Technologies Monitors and other accessories drive better employee experience

An easy way to improve employee productivity is to equip laptop users with a monitor, keyboard and mouse so they can see more and work across several applications faster Introduction In the past decade, the number of people working remotely has grown by nearly 400% - with many making the adjustment nearly overnight in 2020. As more companies embrace remote work and evolve their workplace polices, supporting employees with the right technology and tools is a critical first step to ensure they are set up for success.

Less-than-ideal home office setups can contribute to reduced productivity. Forrester research commissioned by Dell revealed that 37% of workers reported a downgrade in the specifications of the monitors they use at home – for example, going from using dual monitors in the office to a single monitor (smaller than 24”) at home, or moving from a larger monitor to a smaller monitor or laptop screen.

Boost Productivity and User Comfort with External Peripherals An easy way to improve employee productivity is to equip laptop users with a monitor, keyboard and

mouse so they can see more and work across several applications faster. A study by Hot Tech found that by adding a 27-inch monitor, keyboard and mouse, user productivity increased by nearly 38% versus using a laptop alone. And, upgrading to a 34-inch QHD curved monitor increased productivity by 42%.

In addition to time savings, adding a monitor, keyboard and mouse can result in less fatigue and increased comfort, making work more comfortable for extended periods of time.

Choosing the Right Monitor for Your Home Office Now that we know that monitors are an essential tool for an effective work from home environment, here are some tips on selecting the right monitor for your remote work needs.

Select the Right Screen Size and Resolution The typical screen size for most office work – including emails, Internet browsing and Microsoft WWW.CEOREPORTS.COM | 3

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Resolution and screen size go hand-in-hand.

With more pixels in each square inch of the display, users will get more realistic and sharper images

Office documents – is between 24 and 32 inches.

If bigger and wider screen space is a priority, you should consider more than one monitor or go with one ultrawide curved monitor, commonly between 34 to 49-inches.

Resolution and screen size go hand-in-hand.

With more pixels in each square inch of the display, users will get more realistic and sharper images. A higher resolution is recommended for larger monitors. For example, 27-inch QHD (2560 x 1440), 32-inch 4K (3840 x 2160) and 34-inch WQHD (3440 x 1440) displays are the recommended size and resolution with more than 100 pixels per inch.

Optimize for Ergonomics and Well-Being Working from home often results in longer hours in front of the screen, so it is important to choose a monitor optimized for ergonomics and wellbeing. Squinting at a screen or slouching over your monitor can lead to poor posture, back issues and eye strain. We recommend monitors with height and tilt adjustability to accommodate users of various physical builds, ensuring correct posture and viewing alignment.

Like other electronic devices, monitors emit low blue light that can strain your eyes when viewed over extended periods of time. Select monitors from Dell offer ComfortView Plus – a built in, TÜV Rheinland-certified low blue light solution that maintains color accuracy and minimizes blue light emission to optimize eye comfort.

Choose Connectivity Next, consider what devices you want to connect to your new monitor and check your PC’s ports for compatibility. Dell monitors provide the most 4 | WWW.CEOREPORTS.COM

comprehensive connectivity options including HDMI, USB-C and Thunderbolt 3. Select models also offer a built-in KVM feature which can support up to two PCs with a single keyboard. With USB Type-C® technology, users can charge their laptop, transfer data, audio and video signals all in one single cable. This streamlined connectivity between the monitor and their laptop can potentially save up to 20 hours of time wasted annuallya on having multiple cables and inefficient connectivity options.

If you have other accessories that you would like to connect to your monitor – such as a keyboard and mouse, webcam, headset or charging cell phones – pick a monitor with multiple USB ports. Dell USB-C Hub monitors offer users a wide range of connectivity options, including RJ45 for ethernet, USB-C with up to 90W power delivery for charging of laptop, and super speed 10Gbpsb ports for fast data transfers.

Collaboration is Key If you’re on video calls for a majority of the workday, look for a monitor that includes collaborative features such as a built-in camera, microphone and speakers to ensure that participants can hear and see you clearly.

The new Dell 24 Video Conferencing Monitor (C2422HE), Dell 27 Video Conferencing Monitor (C2722DE) and Dell 34 Curved Video Conferencing Monitor (C3422WE) are the world’s first video conferencing monitors certified for Microsoft Teamsc, with a dedicated one-touch Microsoft Teams button to join meetings instantly.

The pop-up 5MP IR camera, dual 5W integrated speakers and noise-cancelling microphone allow users to collaborate with stunning video and audio clarity.

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Future Proof Devices for Your Work Environment Investing in the right monitors for a more comfortable working environment at home will reap returns in the long run in terms of overall health and work productivity. As the world’s leader in PC monitors for seven years runningd, Dell is committed to delivering the best monitors across our portfolio, giving you the most ergonomic and productive workspace at home. Dell also offers the most EPEAT® Gold registered monitors globallye, letting employees and companies feel good about their energy footprint. Furthermore, we use environmentally friendly and sustainable packaging for all our monitors.

Working from home often results in longer hours in front of the screen, so it is important to choose a monitor optimized for ergonomics and well-being

For more information on Dell Monitors for Work, visit here.

References: a

IDC Infobrief: Future of Work – Embracing New Dynamics, Creating New Experiences, September 2019.

Full report: https://www.dellemc.com/resources/en-us/asset/industry-reports/products/electronics-accessories/dell-idc-infobrief-monitor.pdf b

Data transfer speeds may vary among different USB devices, system configurations, and other factors.

c

Based on Dell analysis of publicly available information of competitive desktop monitors, October 2020

d

Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker, Q3 2020

e

Based on Dell analysis, December 2020. EPEAT registration varies by product and by country.

See www.epeat.net for registration status by country

This streamlined connectivity between the monitor and their laptop can potentially save up to 20 hours of time wasted annually on having multiple cables and inefficient connectivity options

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IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Redesigning Meeting Spaces of the Future Sean Chen, Vice President, Commercial Displays, Software and Peripherals Product Group, Dell Technologies

These days, employees change place and move constantly across office, home, third spaces and more. But this new way of working requires companies to adopt new technologies that better support collaboration

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G

LOBAL DISRUPTIONS have encouraged employers to rethink their workplace policies and accommodate a more flexible hybrid work model. These days, employees change place and move constantly across office, home, third spaces and more. But this new way of working requires companies to adopt new technologies that better support collaboration.

Meeting rooms still have a place in our future, but they’ll need to foster collaboration with employees in the room as well as with those joining remotely.

According to research conducted by Wainhouse commissioned by Dell, 78% of IT and meeting rooms decision makers believe the utilization of video-conferencing enabled meeting rooms will increase. Additionally, 69% expect to increase their budgets for meeting room technologies.

Meeting planners and attendees are constantly looking for easy to use technology that drives a seamless experience in the meeting space.

They’re looking for a fast and fluid experience. This includes being able to instantly share information, chat over video and connect accessories that boost our productivity. Yet when it comes to conference rooms and other shared spaces, we often struggle to find an intuitive, uncomplicated experience. It’s more likely that we’re dealing with poor audiovisual experiences, incompatible ports, malfunctioning equipment and an array of devices

needed to launch a meeting.

To tackle these issues, modern display solutions should offer users the ability to: •C onnect quickly with seamless casting technology that is easy to install and easy to use •P resent and share content confidently, knowing that both video and audio is crisp and clear •C ollaborate with onscreen annotation and data capture, so users can easily save and share content remotely and in person.

According to Wainhouse Research, adding interactive monitors to meeting rooms yields extensive productivity benefits like saving 11.3 minutes for every one hour meeting. Fifty percent of respondents cite improved employee engagement and greater creativity.

Dell’s Large Format Monitors are redefining the modern workspace to offer easy connectivity, presentation and collaboration technologies.

Features include up to 20-point multi-touch screen, impressive 4K resolution visuals, USB-C connectivity and Dell’s exclusive Screen Drop feature. Our large format monitors are easy to setup and use, allowing teams to connect quickly without any disruptions. They are software and hardware agnostic so users can pair them with virtually any PC, OS or software.

They ensure seamless group collaboration, letting multiple users write, edit, annotate or erase notes simultaneously.

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Meeting planners and attendees are constantly Dell Meeting Space Solutions include the OptiPlex 7080 Micro configured with Microsoft Teams Rooms or Zoom Rooms, audio/video peripherals and Dell Large Format Monitors.

Meetings can start on time with proximity detection and one-touch join to instantly project content in the room and with remote participants.

We understand the unique challenges facing meeting planners today – they are constantly being pulled into different directions to coordinate technology needs for team meetings without vendor support or IT assistance. As the world’s number one monitors company for seven years running Ϯ, Dell offers a variety of display solutions for all types of meetings - from small, medium and large spaces to open areas and learning labs.

looking for easy to use technology that drives a seamless experience in the meeting space

References: Ϯ Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker, Q3 2020

As the world’s number one monitors company for seven years running, Dell offers a variety of display solutions for all types of meetings - from small, medium and large spaces to open areas and learning labs

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IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Powering the Future with Hybrid Work Tom Cropper, Editor Hybrid working is becoming the new normal. Making it work will require a considerable adjustment in equipment, facilities and mentality.

W

Major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Zillow and Uber announced that they would be extending remote working through to 2021 and beyond

HEN THE world went into lockdown, many businesses were scrambling to adjust. How, they wondered, would they adapt to the world of remote working? The answer to that, for the most part, was much better than they expected.

Major corporations such as Google, Microsoft, Zillow and Uber announced that they would be extending remote working through to 2021 and beyond. Research from Regus found that 74% of workers believed that they were more productive at home2. Two thirds of workers say they want to continue working from home, at least part of the time, for the long term3.

Businesses are happy to let them. Even in industries such as the law, which had always relied on face-to-face interaction, remote working models were found surprisingly effective. One firm, Dentons, closed two of its four UK offices with all staff in those offices working remotely4.

However, the future landscape will be more complicated. Most workers say they want to return to the office for at least some of the week5.

They prefer a middle ground where they return to work for part of the week and work from home for the rest.

For most businesses, therefore, the challenge will be equipping their offices to function in a hybrid working environment. To do this they will need to balance the needs of multiple different stakeholders and invest in new technology.

The New Workers Even before the pandemic, the traditional working week was breaking down. Employers and employees were pushing towards more remote working. COVID 19 served as the major prod, forcing companies and employees to make a move many were already thinking about.

It became a massive experiment and the apparent success of remote work, means measures which were intended as stopgaps are becoming permanent. As lockdown eases, therefore, most businesses are having to adjust to three different types of workers: 8 | WWW.CEOREPORTS.COM

•T he co locator: These workers continue with the nine to five routine as they did before. They continue to work in the office with little change to their routines.

•T he remote worker: Employees who, for whatever reason, prefer to work full time from home. They are part of a growing virtual workforce which can work from just about any location. Rarely, if ever, will they need to come into the office.

•T he hybrid employee: In many businesses, this category will cover most people. They may work on a rigid or flexible schedule. For example, one worker may work two days at home and three in the office. Another might mix and match, spending most of the time at home but coming into the office as and when needed.

To these groups, for the foreseeable future, businesses will have to add reluctant returners; those who for one reason or another are anxious about returning to the office environment. They may have underlying health conditions or elderly relatives at home. Equally, businesses may wish to operate a rota or run partial occupancy rates while COVID 19 remains a threat.

The situation is likely to be fluid and different for each business.

Space allocation will be delicate. Hybrid workers will want desk space to work at when they come to the office. However, maintaining a full-time desk for hybrid workers is an inefficient use of space. Businesses may wish to go for a booking system which sees people schedule desk space on an as needed basis. Space can be fluid, being allocated to those workers who are in the office at any one time. Office managers can plan ahead, monitoring and controlling occupancy rates in the most optimal way.

Technology Collaboration has been difficult in the remote working environment and it will be complicated in a hybrid model. Remote staff will need full access to video conferencing equipment, and office staff will need a place to meet.

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Maintaining conversations from desktops may be distracting in an open plan office layout.

Additional meeting space, such as huddle spaces or pods, provide small spaces where staff can collaborate. Meeting rooms will also need adequate equipment to provide a streamlined experience for all participants.

Technology will be at the heart of this transformation. Remote working proved so successful because the pandemic occurred at a time when the majority of employees have adequate internet connection and computer hardware to continue working.

To make it permanent, firms will need to invest in technology both at home and in the workplace.

Large, high-definition monitors will improve productivity and enable teams to collaborate more effectively. Interactive platforms capable of securely sharing files in real time will help remote teams feel as if they are working in the same room.

Into the Future In one sense, businesses are fortunate this has occurred at a time when technology is developing faster than ever. Software is becoming more sophisticated, monitors larger and higher spec, connections are becoming faster.

Technology providers are responding quickly to these needs.

Workforce interaction is becoming more digitized. According to a recent report from Mckinsey, 85% of businesses have accelerated the digitization of workforce collaboration. Zoom has replaced face to face meetings, instant messaging services such as Slack have replaced leaning over to ask a colleague a question.

Up to 67% of businesses are accelerating their investigations of artificial intelligence and automation. AI tools are being used to understand how people work and think and to identify pockets of talent around the world.

As teams become spread out, companies are expanding their reach. No longer are they necessarily constrained to the local area to find their talent pool. Now they can go nationally, or even internationally.

The use of freelancers is increasing, with flexible working models allowing a looser interaction between the employee and employer. In this new environment, flexibility and agility will be key.

Those businesses which have remodeled their workplaces for the hybrid environment will be better placed to maintain collaboration, access international talent and satisfy a growing desire for flexible working patterns.

Most workers say they want to return to the office for at least some of the week. They prefer a middle ground where they return to work for part of the week and work from home for the rest

Technology will be at the heart of this transformation.

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IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Size Matters: Why Screen Resolution is Crucial for Productivity Jo Roth, Correspondent Businesses have been upgrading to larger screen sizes and resolutions in the office environment. However, as they work from home, they risk losing all these gains.

T Higher definition improves performance, user experience and convenience. It stands to reason, therefore, that the same applies to the working environment

HE WORLD is obsessed with resolution.

Every new TV, computer, smartphone or tablet bids to outdo the last. In the blink of an eye, we have moved from high definition to ultra-high def, 4K ultra and beyond.

Higher definition improves performance, user experience and convenience. It stands to reason, therefore, that the same applies to the working environment. Over the last few years, offices have been upgrading the technical specifications of monitors to offer greater size, more workspace, and a higher definition.

However, little work has been done assessing the impact of a shift to remote working has had.

In this article we will outline the benefits of larger screens and higher definition and how companies can lock in many of these gains in the remote working environment.

Two is Better Than One Dual monitors have become increasingly common in the office environment. According to research from Jon Peddie Research, dual monitors can increase productivity from 20% to 30%6. A study from the University of Utah found that they reduce errors by 20% and increase job satisfaction and make work less stressful.

We spend much of our time cycling between different tabs, so it makes sense to view more than one screen at a time. Dual or multiple monitor setups allow workers to significantly reduce the amount of time it takes to undertake certain tasks including: • Data entry: Faster data entry with fewer errors.

• Data sharing: Employees spend more time working on multiple programs. Having more than one monitor makes it easier to share data between them.

•R esearch: Having one monitor for research while working on a document increases productivity and reduces fatigue caused by switching from one to another.

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•D rafting content from source material: Having source material directly available reduces the risk of errors.

•P roduct comparison: Employees find it easier to make a direct comparison between one product and another if they have both in front of their eyes.

Linked dual monitors will also allow users to work on large spreadsheets across both monitors or to keep chat or video conferencing boxes open.

These can enable team members to remain connected even when physically separated.

Larger Higher Definition Monitors Just as in the consumer world, employees have been migrating from standard 2k screens to 4k and beyond. These higher definition screens make images sharper and clearer; they reduce eye fatigue and improve the working experience.

In addition, higher definition workstations usually have more screen space to work with. This gives more surface with which to view multiple files, tabs, or programs.

More data from the University of Utah suggests that a larger screen size can boost productivity.

The study compared the work times of people working across 18-inch 20-inch and 24-inch screens. Those working on 24-inch screens worked on average 52% faster than those on the smallest 18-inch screens. Even those working on 20-inch screens experienced a 44% boost compared to those on 18- inches7. Larger monitors, they concluded, could save up to 2.5 hours per day.

With technology evolving, monitors are expanding to 27-inch and 32-inch 4k monitors.

These offer more space and more clarity together with the ability to view multiple applications.

Depending on space, others are moving even further into the ultra-wide curved screen territory with screen sizes of more than 40 inches.

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

These setups often move into the multi monitor format with a main widescreen monitor being complimented by smaller screens.

Improving the Work Experience A somewhat less tangible, but nevertheless vital, benefit comes in the form of the user experience. Having a larger screen with a higher resolution improves the entire experience.

When screens are small, pixelated or flickering, working can feel awkward. This has a tangible impact on performance.

Larger screens are more comfortable to look at and reduce the risk of eye strain, headache or screen fatigue, which can limit a worker’s effectiveness. A study from eyeglass lens optics company Transitions Optical, shows that 79% of employees report at least one visual disturbance which affects their eyes during a day. More than half admit they take at least one break a day to rest their eyes because they feel painful or uncomfortable8.

High resolution enables sharper graphics and larger screen sizes. Characters appear larger reducing the risk of screen fatigue, headaches and other forms of discomfort. This has long term health benefits. A study by spectacle makers Cubitts found that seven out of ten people have experienced eye problems while working from home9.

Assessing Costs Unfortunately, the move to remote working has reversed many of these gains. For most employees working from home means leaving behind their high spec office workstations and making do with whatever they have at home.

They are moving from multiple monitors to just one, going from large PC screens to small laptops and from high resolution to low.

This has a number of impacts including reduced productivity, increased risk of error and lower job satisfaction. For many tech minded employees, a return to their high spec workstations is one of the attractions of returning to the office.

With hybrid work set to become a norm for many businesses, some are investing in improving domestic workstations. For example, Salesforce India has been paying individuals up to $250 to bring their home workstations up to the same specifications as their offices10. In March, Shopify gave its employees $1,000 to set up their home offices11.

The exact impact, though, will depend on the nature of the work being done, how permanent remote working will be and the nature of individual jobs. Roles which involve high levels of multitasking, for example, will be more severely hit than others. At a time of economic uncertainty, companies will be reluctant to undertake any spending where they cannot see a clear return.

However, just as upgrading technology in the office delivers a return, so does helping employees to enhance their home working set ups. Improved monitor performance will reduce technological problems, improve collaboration with staff in other locations and help them maintain the same levels of productivity as in the office. It will also go a long way towards improving their job satisfaction and increasing a business’ attractiveness as an employer.

For these reasons, and others, a hybrid office configuration should consider the size and performance of monitors.

Larger screens are more comfortable to look at and reduce the risk of eye strain, headache or screen fatigue, which can limit a worker’s effectiveness

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IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

What Does the Return to Work Mean for Meeting Spaces?

James Butler, Staff Writer Collaboration is crucial in the world of hybrid work. Meeting spaces may well assume a whole new level of importance.

T Even before the pandemic, some businesses were moving away from the traditional meeting room in favor of smaller huddle spaces

HE PANDEMIC has challenged attitudes and assumptions about business, including meeting rooms. Before the pandemic, the traditional meeting was under threat. Businesses talked about reducing the number of unnecessary meetings. Large conference rooms fell out of fashion in favor of ‘huddle spaces’ where small teams could collaborate on tasks.

The pandemic changed things. Some businesses sought to cut down on space.

According to Dimension, 53% of companies are looking to reduce their office space12.

Office real estate costs money, so it’s understandable to see companies taking the opportunity to reduce it. Even before the pandemic, some businesses were moving away from the traditional meeting room in favor of smaller huddle spaces. With some staff staying home to work, those in the office often simply join meetings from their own desktop.

However, such an approach can be impractical.

Virtual meetings taking place via desktops can be intensely distracting for an open plan office environment. One of the biggest deficiencies of the pandemic turned out to be a lack of collaboration. Far from becoming obsolete, the meeting space will gain a newfound post pandemic importance. However, as with other aspects of office life, it will need to be updated for hybrid working.

Staying Safe According to a survey by Mindscape of more than 1,000 people across the US, Europe, UK and Israel, employees experience conflicting emotions about meeting spaces. On the one hand, the prospect of sharing a space, such as cramming into a meeting room is one of their biggest sources of anxiety. At the same time, one of the things people are looking forward to is the space and time they share with other 12 | WWW.CEOREPORTS.COM

people. Collaboration has been one of the biggest missing ingredients of lockdown13.

As staff return, every part of the office must work in a way which is not only safe, but makes staff feel comfortable. Staff may have various attitudes about the return to work. Older employees, or those with underlying conditions, may be more nervous about mingling in close proximity with other people. Businesses will have to adapt their offices accordingly.

This will encourage the use of larger meeting spaces which have been laid out to cater for social distancing.

Where possible touchless technology or anything which minimizes the need to interact with surfaces or other people will be welcomed.

Technologies, such as voice activation or device detection, which detects and connects a mobile device to a meeting, can reduce the need to physically touch surfaces.

Video Conferencing Even before the pandemic, video conferencing facilities were going high tech. Screens were becoming larger, resolution higher and technology more connected.

In order to ensure everyone can participate equally, companies will want to invest in more screen real estate with the highest definition possible to guarantee as smooth an experience as possible.

They want to have clear visuals of other participants in the room, and they also want to be able to share information quickly. One of the most common complaints of lockdown working has been the inevitable barriers it creates for collaboration. Audio visual quality can be patchy and teams can experience frustrating delays as they struggle to share information between devices.

The pandemic has accelerated demand for digital touchscreens. The market for interactive

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

screens is expected to hit $13.2bn by 2025 at an annual growth rate of 8.1%14. These dispense with the need for large amounts of paperwork and enable teams to share data digitally, swiftly and efficiently.

For the hybrid work environment firms want screens which are: • Large and high resolution: The higher the resolution and the bigger the screen the better.

• Connected: Allowing seamless collaboration with remotely based participants.

• Multi-touch capability: The ability to cater to multiple participants at the same time.

• Large format: Bigger screens will be required for large meetings with many different individuals.

• Compatibility: Able to link with a range of video conferencing applications such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams, to allow for the different types of software people might have.

A Seamless Experience The ultimate aim is to recreate the sense of having a large meeting with all participants in the same room, but to transfer that into the hybrid working experience. This will place tremendous demands on the technology. Businesses will need experiences which are entirely seamless and connected, allowing for the instant sharing of information between participants.

This is the kind of experience most people are already accustomed to with their remote devices,

The ultimate aim is to recreate the sense of having a large meeting with all participants in the same room, but but video conferencing solutions have usually lagged behind. That is partly due to the nature of the traditional office environment. In a world in which most people are working in the office, few companies were likely to prioritize the latest interactive technology.

Now the demand is there and so, increasingly, is the technology. Development is moving rapidly with new solutions offering seamless and connected hybrid office experiences. Each business will have its own specific goals and requirements, but for those who want the capacity for virtual, connected meetings, the technology is now available.

The meeting room of tomorrow will sit at the hub of an increasingly diverse working network. It will bring workers together. With adequate planning and the latest technology, businesses will be able to ensure that working in different locations no longer creates a barrier to collaboration.

to transfer that into the hybrid working experience

WWW.CEOREPORTS.COM | 13

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

References: Poor connectivity sees home workers lose half an hour of work a day: https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252487354/Poor-connectivity-sees-home-workers-lose-over-half-an-hour-of-work-a-day

1

2

74% of workers say they are more productive at home: https://www.movemeon.com/insight/does-remote-working-boost-productivity-3-rules-for-employers/

3

UK office workers want to continue remote working: https://www.insider.co.uk/news/uk-office-workers-want-continue-22979780

4

Dentons closes two offices: https://www.legalcheek.com/2020/07/dentons-closes-two-uk-offices-and-moves-to-permanent-home-working/

Workers lukewarm on both permanent work from home and the 9 to 5: https://workplaceinsight.net/only-seven-percent-of-uk-workers-want-to-return-to-the-office-full-time/ 5

The virtues of a second screen: https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/20/technology/the-virtues-of-a-second-screen.html

6

7

Do you need to work faster? Get a bigger computer: https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB120641738276261889

8

Eye strain at work is up, lowering productivity: https://www.shrm.org/ResourcesAndTools/hr-topics/benefits/Pages/Vision-Problems-Productivity.aspx

9

Seven in ten office workers experience eye problems during Lockdown: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12698830/coronavirus-office-workers-lockdown/

Companies offer home office upgrades: https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/companies-offer-home-office-upgrade-to-make-work-from-home-comfortable-11590149589007.html 10

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Shopify is giving employees a $1,000 stipend to buy supplies while they work from home during the coronavirus pandemic: https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/12/coronavirus-shopify-gives-employees-1000-stipend-to-work-from-home.html Global workforce: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collaboration-endpoints/workforce-survey-2020.html

People returning to offices fear shared spaces: https://workplaceinsight.net/people-returning-to-the-office-fear-shared-spaces-while-looking-forward-to-meeting-colleagues/ 13

14

Interactive display market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/interactive-display.asp

14 | WWW.CEOREPORTS.COM

TEAM UP SEAMLESSLY. Introducing the World’s First Video Conferencing Monitors Certified for Microsoft Teams.* Maintaining the human connection between employees in a hybrid workforce is vital. From scheduled meetings to social catch-ups, the Dell C-Series Monitors deliver innovative and inclusive virtual meetings that feel in-person.

DELL C-SERIES MONITORS Collaborate with confidence with razor-sharp pop-up 5MP IR camera and dual 5W integrated speakers. Team up seamlessly with superior connectivity, easy manageability and a USB-C single cable solution for incredible power and speed.

* Based on Dell analysis of publicly available information of competitive desktop monitors, October 2020.

IMPROVING THE HYBRID WORK ENVIRONMENT - THE ROLE OF NEXT GENERATION MONITORS AND MEETING SPACE SOLUTIONS

Notes:

16 | WWW.CEOREPORTS.COM

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