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The Collaboration Space

The Collaboration Space

Hosted by AVI-SPL Global Technology Services Provider

BusinessInterviews guests

Episodes

97

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Pull up a chair in our virtual conference room as we chat with industry experts about collaboration and experience technology. We explore the latest audio visual and unified communications solutions designed to create better user experiences. Brought to you by AVI-SPL. AVI-SPL is a global technology solutions leader that ignites confidence and curiosity. We provide unmatched audio visual and unified communications services for IT. Visit avispl.com to explore how we can help you. Explore how we can help you attract and retain customers and employees. Visit avispl.com.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 5, 2026Episode 411 min

The Express Lane to Intelligent Collaboration with Microsoft

In this podcast episode, Microsoft's Sarika Kesavan shares insights into Microsoft Teams Rooms Express Install. She discusses ways organizations can transform small meeting spaces into intelligent collaboration hubs in as little as one hour. Discover how pre-engineered room solutions reduce deployment costs, simplify installation, replace unmanaged BYOD rooms, and create a consistent Teams experience that scales across your workplace.Learn more about Microsoft Express InstallMicrosoft Teams Rooms Express Install is a streamlined approach that helps organizations bring the full Teams Rooms experience to focus rooms and small meeting spaces without the complexity of traditional room builds.We share how Express Install helps organizations:Deploy Teams Rooms in about an hour instead of days or weeksReduce deployment costs by up to 40-50% compared to traditional room installationsEliminate the need for construction, permits, wall modifications, and extensive cablingStandardize meeting room experiences across locations with repeatable, pre-engineered designsUpgrade more rooms within existing budgetsReplace unmanaged BYOD spaces with secure, managed Teams RoomsDeliver one-touch join, content sharing, and a consistent Microsoft Teams experience in every roomGain centralized management and monitoring through Teams Rooms Pro ManagementCreate AI-ready meeting spaces that can take advantage of Microsoft Copilot and future intelligent collaboration capabilitiesLearn more about Microsoft Express InstallGet AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

May 26, 2026Episode 320 min

Top Ways IT Leaders Save Time with AVI-SPL Symphony

Beyond Monitoring: How Symphony Connects AV, UC, and IT OperationsWhat happens when your monitoring platform does more than just alert you to problems? In this episode of The Collaboration Space, Nancy Lussier sits down with Laurie Berg from AVI-SPL to explore how Symphony helps IT teams move from reactive support to proactive management across AV, UC, and collaboration environments.Laurie shares her unique perspective from more than two decades in the collaboration industry and discusses Symphony’s evolution from a video conferencing monitoring tool into a platform that brings together technology, people, and processes. The conversation highlights how Symphony delivers centralized visibility, intelligent ticketing, dynamic analytics, and integrations with partner technologies like Crestron and LG Electronics.The discussion also explores how Symphony helps IT teams reduce troubleshooting time, improve operational efficiency, and make smarter business decisions using real-time and historical data. Laurie explains how integrations with platforms like Crestron XiO help organizations gain deeper visibility into the entire collaboration space, not just individual devices.The episode also dives into Symphony’s practical approach to AI. Rather than adding unnecessary complexity, Symphony uses AI to improve issue detection, streamline ticketing, and guide Tier 1 troubleshooting for faster resolution times.Learn more about Crestron and LG Business Solutions.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

May 8, 2026Episode 213 min

Creating Consistent Collaboration Experiences in Every Space with Neat

Before we dive in, sign up here for the May 12, 2026, webcast that we mentioned.Now on to our discussion...In this podcast episode, we explore what truly drives a consistent meeting room experience, and why simplicity, not over‑engineering, is the key to adoption. The conversation highlights how Neat’s consistent product portfolio, paired with built-in machine learning and AI, creates intuitive, reliable experiences for both in-room and remote participants.Learn more about Neat solutions. The “Secret Sauce” of ConsistencyNeat’s approach is rooted in two foundational elements:Consistent factors across Neat bars and boards, creating a familiar look and feel in every space.Machine learning and AI run behind the scenes to automatically optimize audio and video—whether a room uses a single device or multiple Neat devices for enhanced experiences in larger spaces.The result: better audio, better video, and a seamless experience without added complexity.Designed for the Way People Actually MeetRather than over-engineering meeting rooms, Neat focuses on what users actually want:Walk into the roomTap “Join” on the touch padStart the meetingToo often, complex rooms with multiple controllers, phones, cables, and presets discourage use altogether. Scalable, Without ComplexityNeat enables organizations to:Establish a standardized room experienceEasily scale and enhance rooms by adding multiple Neat devicesAvoid manual camera presets, audio tuning, or configuration changesOnce devices are added, Neat’s intelligent technology handles the rest—automatically.Extending the Experience to Remote ParticipantsConsistency doesn’t stop at the room; it extends to remote workers as well. With Neat devices like Neat Frame, remote participants benefit from:Easy meeting join experiencesHigh-resolution video and automatic framingClear audio that makes it feel like you’re in the roomImproved engagement through facial expressions and direct conversation, even in large meetingsWhether at a desk, in a private office, a hot‑desking location, or a huddle space, the experience remains consistent everywhere.Visibility, Insight, and ReadinessWe also touch on how organizations can understand whether their spaces are being used and ready when needed, using:Neat Pulse for device and space insightsIntegration with Symphony for enhanced monitoring and managementLearn more about Neat solutions.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

April 10, 2026Episode 116 min

Shazam! Your AV/IT Insights Wish List Granted

In this episode of The Collaboration Space, we share how IT’s role continues to evolve, including sharing more insights into how and where we work and the spaces we use. Specifically, we’ll dive into how workplace automation and analytics help your real estate and facilities teams make informed decisions. We’ll also talk about how to get started.Joining this discussion is Henry Levak from LogitechHenry and host Nancy Lussier discuss:How IT’s role is changing and how that drives the need for different insights that show the results of technology investments.Explosion of meeting room techPressure to justify budgetsHybrid work uncertaintyHow Executives want measurable outcomes, not anecdotesThis shifts IT’s role from deploying AV/UC hardware to optimizing experiences.With this convergence of AV and IT, what’s on the insights wish list?Rooms aren’t passive hardware anymore. They’re active sources of intelligence. You can see utilization patterns, booking behavior, environmental conditions, and device health, things that used to be invisible.Facilities teams want utilization data. Real estate wants occupancy trends. Leadership wants to know how space investments are performing. IT sits at the center of that ecosystem.You can measure utilization rates, space efficiency, cost per meeting, energy savings, and support reductions. Suddenly, AV isn’t a cost center. It becomes a performance asset.Data that shows visibility into user behaviorRoom and device usage/utilizationProactive room and device health monitoringSpace efficiencyEnergy usageSupport tickets/service visitsHow do we gather this data?Sensors + analytics = visibility into behaviorHow does this data translate to value for facilities and real estate teams?Data-based decisions for optimal space designHigher tech adoption and space utilization/ROIBetter workplace experience/employee productivity, and retentionAbility to identify issues before users are impacted/self-healingRoom automation: scheduling, sleep mode, auto-release unused roomsSmart sustainability/energy savings: automated HVAC/heating/cooling/lightsGet AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

December 4, 2025Episode 2821 min

The Future State of Workplace AI with Logitech

AI is already changing how we meet, collaborate, and get work done. But what comes next and how can organizations prepare their AV and UC ecosystems for the next wave of AI?In this episode of The Collaboration Space, AVI-SPL’s Mathew DeFreitas talks with Sudeep Trivedi, Head of Alliances and Go-To-Market at Logitech. They explore how AI is enhancing meetings today,  the next phase of AI, called pervasive AI, and what it will mean for workplace productivity and engagement. Additionally,  they highlight how Logitech and AVI-SPL are helping organizations build flexible, AI-enabled collaboration environments.Key conversation takeaways:AI is automating meeting tasks such as transcription, note-taking, and actionable insightsLogitech solutions like Rally Bar and Sight are already powering AI-driven collaborationPervasive AI is emerging as an always-on experience, improving workplace productivity and engagement continuously and contextuallyAVI-SPL and Logitech work together to design AV and UC ecosystems ready for current and future AI capabilitiesLogitech technologies embed AI and machine learning across hardware and software for smarter, more connected experiencesExplore how Logitech and AVI-SPL are helping organizations adopt and prepare for pervasive AI in the workplace.Follow AVI-SPL on YouTube.Catch The Collaboration Space on your favorite podcast app.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

December 1, 2025Episode 2724 min

Remove Barriers to Human-Centric Collaboration with HP Poly

People want hybrid meetings that feel natural. IT wants solutions that are easy to deploy and manage across the enterprise. Focusing on these human-centric needs can drive more compelling engagement and more effective collaboration across the organization.In this episode of The Collaboration Space, AVI-SPL’s Mathew DeFreitas talks with HP Poly’s Joe Mukherjee. They discuss how AI and advanced AV systems remove barriers to human-centric experiences. Additionally, they explore how these technologies can help IT manage global meeting environments with confidence.Key conversation takeawaysHuman-centric collaboration improves communication, context, and participationAI-driven multi-camera systems follow real conversations and support natural interactionSolutions like HP Dimension with Google Beam enhance group discussions and hybrid teamworkEnterprises can scale standardized meeting experiences worldwide with HP Poly and AVI-SPLNew video platform updates give IT a clear path to upgrade and extend hardware valueAVI-SPL Symphony integration enables proactive monitoring, issue prevention, and longer tech lifecyclesLearn more about how HP Poly and AVI-SPL help organizations create people-first meeting environments that are easier to scale and manage.Check out the HP Poly video trade-in program.Follow AVI-SPL on YouTube.Catch The Collaboration Space on your favorite podcast app.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

November 25, 2025Episode 2616 min

Demystifying Agentic AI with Cisco

Agentic AI can anticipate needs and support users in real time, transforming how organizations collaborate and operate. It represents the next step in the evolution of AI.In this episode of The Collaboration Space, AVI-SPL’s Mathew DeFreitas talks with Cisco’s David Beisly about what Agentic AI means for the workplace. They also discuss how Cisco and AVI-SPL are preparing organizations for what comes next.Key conversation takeawaysAgentic AI is here to go beyond the meeting space, proactively assisting users without waiting for a promptIt can support meeting follow-up, workplace navigation, space optimization, service resolution, and moreDavid Beisly highlights how Cisco and AVI-SPL can help organizations build systems with the future of AI in mindCisco is already integrating Agentic AI across its ecosystem with AgenticOps, AI Canvas, AI Assistant, among othersLearn more about how Cisco and AVI-SPL are helping organizations embrace agentic AI.Follow AVI-SPL on YouTube.Catch The Collaboration Space on your favorite podcast app.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

November 11, 2025Episode 2520 min

Is full-stack AV the answer to rapidly evolving collaboration demands?

Full-stack AV, what is it? Can it help IT keep pace with constant change in technology and user needs? And will it redefine how organizations manage and scale their AV environments? Find out in this episode of The Collaboration Space. Q-SYS’ Steve McCary breaks down what full-stack AV means, why it matters, and how it helps organizations stay adaptable, connected, and ready for the future.Key conversation takeaways:Full-stack AV simplifies performance, control, and management across the AV ecosystem Seamless third-party integration ensures compatibility and flexibility Q-SYS and AVI-SPL Symphony work together for centralized monitoring and optimization Unified AV platforms support future scalability and evolving workplace needs IT teams can plan for growth and adaptability without sacrificing simplicityLearn more about how Q-SYS and AVI-SPL are helping organizations create flexible and future-ready AV experiences.Follow AVI-SPL on YouTube.Catch The Collaboration Space on your favorite podcast app.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

November 4, 2025Episode 2411 min

Why Display Durability Matters for Sustainable AV with Sony

Displays get bumped, moved, and used every day, directly impacting their longevity. The ones built to last survive the rigors of daily use.In this episode of The Collaboration Space, AVI-SPL’s Mathew DeFreitas talks with Kianna Pompa, Product Manager for Sony BRAVIA Professional Displays. They explore why durability is a key factor in sustainable AV and how it extends technology lifecycles, a critical component of ESG initiatives.Key conversation takeaways:Durable displays survive daily wear and environmental stress, extending AV lifecyclesSony BRAVIA Professional Displays combine durability, energy efficiency, and SORPLAS materialBRAVIA Pro Displays have reinforced aluminum bezels and protective packagingSORPLAS uses over 60% recycled content, supporting broader sustainability initiativesEnergy-efficient features like sensors and eco dashboards lower operational impactExtended AV lifecycles reduce waste and advance sustainability goalsLearn more about how Sony and AVI-SPL are helping organizations drive sustainability initiatives.Sony Road to ZeroAVI-SPL ESG initiativesFollow AVI-SPL on YouTube.Catch The Collaboration Space on your favorite podcast app.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

October 30, 2025Episode 2321 min

Take your first steps toward UCC optimization with AVI-SPL

Updating your unified communications and collaboration (UCC) environment can feel complex. The challenge isn’t knowing what to improve. It’s knowing where to start.In this episode of The Collaboration Space, AVI-SPL’s Mathew DeFreitas talks with Andy Blumreich, AVI-SPL’s Principal Consultant. Together, they break down the first essential steps organizations can take to optimize their UCC environments and build a clear roadmap for improvement.Key conversation takeaways: Identify what’s driving the need for UCC change Define goals and document key user personas and use cases Consider interoperability, cost, usability, and security factors Build the right internal team to lead optimization initiatives Learn how AVI-SPL’s UCC Optimization Workshop supports every stage of the processExplore more about AVI-SPL’s UCC optimization capabilities. Want more on AVI-SPL's IT Services offerings and capabilities? Find more on our website.Follow AVI-SPL on YouTube.Catch The Collaboration Space on your favorite podcast app.Get AV and unified communications news delivered to your inbox.Follow AVI-SPL:     Linkedin      X     YouTube

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