The Black Box and Open Source Intersection in Workplace Collaboration Solutions

 

Today’s office spaces continue to represent a paradigm shift from segmented, non-creative workspaces to the exact opposite. Technology has accelerated this shift towards intimacy and customization, and with that comes the need for the right solutions, particularly for today’s communal and meeting spaces.

“We’re at a place now where true global room standards are paramount to the success of an enterprise,” Tom Spearman, Executive Vice President at Diversified said.

Spearman noted on today’s episode of the MarketScale Pro AV Podcast that meeting rooms have changed and expanded in number while shrinking in space. Instead of four, 16-seat rooms, offices are more inclined to create 16 four-seat areas, and the needs of these spaces are very different.

Finding an all-encompassing solution to the diverse layout of offices across the globe will be key to AV integrators, Spearman said. This solution will also have to be compatible with modern expectations of seamless user-experience. This means that neither the completely custom solution nor the one-stop-shop black box solution will be viable; the more successful competitive solutions will need to be technology agnostic and efficient.

“What we’re seeing is, where hardwire solutions were the de facto standard for many, many years, I think people have the expectation now that when they walk into a conference room that their first option for connectivity is a wireless presentation gateway,” Spearman said. “A hardwire connection falls into the category of their backup connection.”

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Pro AV Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication. A new episode of the Pro AV Show drops every Thursday.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @ProAVMKSL
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

The Tech-Enabled Hospital of the Future: Implications for Care Delivery
The Tech-Enabled Hospital of the Future: Implications for Care Delivery
March 12, 2026

Gone are the days when a hospital was simply a place where patients received care. Today’s hospitals are rapidly evolving into highly connected ecosystems powered by advanced technology, networked devices, and real-time data. The modern hospital is no longer confined to physical walls—it’s a dynamic digital environment where data flows seamlessly, AI supports clinical decisions,…

Read More
career
Stop Chasing Titles, Build a Career That Matters: A CAO’s Advice on Long-Term Success
March 11, 2026

Career advice in finance and accounting often centers around promotions, titles, and compensation. But in an era where professionals frequently change jobs every few years—the average American worker now stays in a role for less than four years—industries are facing growing talent shortages and reevaluating what long-term career success looks like. The question many…

Read More
Career success
A CEO’s Blueprint for Career Success: Leading with Love to Drive Performance and Culture
March 10, 2026

Leadership right now feels heavier than it did just a few years ago. Teams are stretched, expectations are high, and many employees are quietly disengaged. In fact, Gallup’s 2025 U.S. data shows that only about 31% of employees are actively engaged at work, leaving the majority feeling disconnected or indifferent. For CEOs and senior…

Read More
employer-sponsored apprenticeships
The Degree That Pays You Back: How Employer-Sponsored Apprenticeships Are Rewriting Higher Ed
March 9, 2026

Higher education is under pressure. Over the past few years, public confidence in the value of a four-year degree has declined significantly, with fewer Americans expressing a strong belief that traditional higher education delivers a worthwhile return on investment. At the same time, employers consistently report that graduates lack job-ready skills—particularly the “durable skills”…

Read More