THE PROJECT AT A GLANCE
The City of Richland uses Jabra PanaCast cameras and Speak 710 speakerphones combined with leading video communications systems like Zoom, to elevate the meeting room experience and connect those who are in the office with those who are at home.
Solution:
Jabra PanaCast
Speak 710
Benefits:
Remote as a Strategic Decision
The way that we connect has become increasingly distributed as remote communication and collaboration tools have found their way out of the C-suite’s home office and sales team’s briefcases. Smart organizations have extended the use of the latest technology to bring their entire teams together no matter where they are. Remote work and collaboration, however, is not rooted solely in technology accessibility.
For several years, organizations have launched remote initiatives for strategic purposes such as reducing real estate costs and facilitating connections regardless of geography. Not coincidentally, remote work arrangements are linked to organizational growth – making them a win-win for workers and businesses alike. Additionally, flexibility in where employees work enables businesses to be more competitive in the fight for highly qualified or specialized employees by opening doors to talent outside their geographic region.
The Overnight Remote Revolution
Even with its benefits, at the start of 2020, not all businesses fully embraced remote work – and its use in education was limited. Then, seemingly overnight, the phrases “remote collaboration” and “Zoom calls” solidified their place in the global lexicon. With the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, businesses, organizations and schools around the world were forced to embrace the practice to not only keep the wheels turning but to foster connection.
Similarly, the World Economic Forum reported that 1.2 billion children across 186 countries were affected by school closures due to COVID-19, forcing many school systems to come up with innovative and secure ways to connect their students with educators. In the U.S., 93% of school-aged children turned to distance learning. What’s notable is that it’s unlikely we’ll ever return to the way things were. According to a Harvard Business School survey, 61% of office workers who have been working from home since March say they would like a hybrid work schedule where they go into office only a few days a week. It’s not just workers who are on board with the new way of working. From March 2020 to July 2020 alone, LinkedIn reported a 2.8x increase in remote job postings. While the openings were a mix of temporarily and permanently remote positions, this jump is a promising indicator that remote work is here to stay and not just for a handful of professionals.
What’s notable is that it’s unlikely we’ll ever return to the way things were. According to a Harvard Business School survey, 61% of office workers who have been working from home since March say they would like a hybrid work schedule where they go into office only a few days a week. It’s not just workers who are on board with the new way of working. From March 2020 to July 2020 alone, LinkedIn reported a 2.8x increase in remote job postings. While the openings were a mix of temporarily and permanently remote positions, this jump is a promising indicator that remote work is here to stay and not just for a handful of professionals.
Supporting the Ability to Collaborate, Engage, and Meet Anywhere
Remote opportunities have clear benefits. However, along with minimized distractions and more space to think independently and creatively comes less opportunity to organically collaborate and engage with peers. For example, voice technology alone doesn’t capture the nonverbal cues that enable workers to easily navigate the same conversations face-to-face. The raised finger, the lean in when you want to add to a colleague’s point – these signals are lost when individuals cannot see their fellow collaborators. This underscores the need for not only the right technology but a powerful combination that delivers the right experience.
For example, voice technology alone doesn’t capture the nonverbal cues that enable workers to easily navigate the same conversations face-to-face. The raised finger, the lean in when you want to add to a colleague’s point – these signals are lost when individuals cannot see their fellow collaborators. This underscores the need for not only the right technology but a powerful combination that delivers the right experience.
Jabra and Zoom Solutions Solve Communication Challenges
Zoom brings teams together to get more done. Its frictionless unified communications platform leverages video to empower people to accomplish more – and has quickly become a staple for enterprises and classrooms alike. As individuals across the globe need to connect and collaborate, they tap Zoom icons on their trusted device to instantly and securely communicate face-to-face no matter where they might be.
To provide seamless communication and collaboration experiences, Jabra tested our audio and video solutions in close cooperation with Zoom. The resulting Jabra integrations enable a simple user experience whether joining a Zoom meeting from a headset or enterprise meeting room solution. Together, Jabra and Zoom support secure and streamlined experiences that allow individuals to get more done, wherever they are.
Jabra and Zoom in Action
Around the world, teams have quickly replaced water cooler conversations with virtual meetings. And teachers have replaced classroom book reports with slide presentations over a video call. Whether joining a meeting from home, the road or a meeting room, Jabra’s solutions are designed to enable effective collaboration, making the most of each Zoom conversation. Individuals can host effective video conferences using the Zoom certified Jabra PanaCast. With Jabra PanaCast, businesses can bring the estimated 33 million huddle meeting rooms worldwide back into commission while maintaining distance between participants. This enables teachers to enhance their students’ learning experience with visual aids and without spatial limitations. This is possible thanks to three 13-megapixel cameras, patented real-time video stitching technology and a full 180° view of the room – far exceeding the market-standard, 120° view. Paired with the Zoom certified Jabra Speak 750’s omnidirectional microphones for the meeting room, the Jabra PanaCast helps ensure everyone is seen and heard in Zoom calls. For workers who prefer to join meetings from the comforts of their desk – wherever that may be, the Jabra Evolve2 also ensures a seamless call experience with its Zoom optimization for PC and Mac clients.
Individuals can host effective video conferences using the Zoom certified Jabra PanaCast. With Jabra PanaCast, businesses can bring the estimated 33 million huddle meeting rooms worldwide back into commission while maintaining distance between participants. This enables teachers to enhance their students’ learning experience with visual aids and without spatial limitations.
This is possible thanks to three 13-megapixel cameras, patented real-time video stitching technology and a full 180° view of the room – far exceeding the market-standard, 120° view. Paired with the Zoom certified Jabra Speak 750’s omnidirectional microphones for the meeting room, the Jabra PanaCast helps ensure everyone is seen and heard in Zoom calls.
For workers who prefer to join meetings from the comforts of their desk – wherever that may be, the Jabra Evolve2 also ensures a seamless call experience with its Zoom optimization for PC and Mac clients.
Whether joining from the Jabra Speak 750 speakerphone or Evolve2 headsets, our integration supports the seamless start of Zoom Meetings and Zoom Phone calls, saving users the headaches of technology that simply doesn’t click or callers who cannot hear each other. Additionally, both options allow for a hands-free meeting experience, allowing you to engage in the conversation without the restrictions of wires. Individuals can also use their headset or speakerphone to control their participation in Zoom meetings - mute and unmute themselves in Zoom meetings and calls. Workers can also answer or decline Zoom calls directly from their Jabra device. So, when workers are in the zone, they can stay in the zone.
Individuals can also use their headset or speakerphone to control their participation in Zoom meetings - mute and unmute themselves in Zoom meetings and calls. Workers can also answer or decline Zoom calls directly from their Jabra device. So, when workers are in the zone, they can stay in the zone.
A graduate of DeVry Institute of Technology, Doug has been in the Technology industry since 1976 and actively oversees Fearing’s daily operations. Along with his wife, Lois, and three others, Doug started Fearing’s in a 600 square-foot facility in Portage, Wisconsin. In the 25 years since, the company has grown to over 30 employees with offices in Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Doug likes to say he’s a “TV Technician with a dream� going back to his history with the family’s original business-Fearing’s TV and Appliance.
Doug values time with family, watersports, hiking, snowshoeing and skiing. In addition to being a devoted member of his church, Doug serves as Board President for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County, Board member of Schools for Haiti and Scripture Chair of the Gideons-Portage camp.
A graduate of MATC, Lois oversees Fearing’s daily book keeping along with various HR responsibilities.
Along with Doug, Lois is deeply connected to community outreach, serving as a Board member and Fundraising Committee Chairperson for Kinship Mentoring of Columbia County. She also serves on the Schools for Haiti Fundraising committee. In addition, Lois’ ongoing passion and commitment to provide care for the elderly comes from her 10-year history of working in a Reedsburg, Wisconsin Nursing home.
Lois enjoys singing, hiking, sunny days on the pontoon, and spending time with her 4 grandchildren.
Ehren drives Fearing’s technology by continually seeking out trends to enhance capabilities while supporting Sales, Engineering and Installation teams. Throughout his years with Fearing’s, Ehren’s talent and vision have joined forces to create a wide variety of projects and strategic solutions that exceed expectation.
Ehren loves music, family time, movies, nature, sustainability efforts and electric vehicles.
With 10 years with Fearing’s and over twice that long in the industry, Ben continues to lead, coordinate, and develop the Commercial AV team.
By consistently delivering an outstanding experience and outcome, Ben contributes to the Fearing’s legacy of long-lasting partnerships that truly make a difference. Whatever the Commercial AV need may be, Ben and team deliver at the highest level.
Ben is an avid fisherman and photographer. He enjoys coaching his sons and other youth.
Chris has been with Fearing’s for 20 years and in the industry for over 2 decades. As a Certified leader in Sales Acceleration and trained in EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems), Chris successfully utilizes his skills to lead the Fearing’s Salesforce. Chris and team are motivated and driven to develop new client partnerships while continuing to reinforce loyal long-term relationships with ongoing Service excellence.
Married for 19 years with 3 children, Chris enjoys skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, hunting, camping and golf. He’s also been actively involved as a Youth Football and Softball coach for his family and others.
