Why Businesses Need Smarter Workspaces

This episode of Explain IT explores the evolution of the smart workspace, moving beyond basic connectivity to create environments that act as a "magnet, not a mandate" for employees. 

Host Ashleigh Baker is joined by experts from Softcat and Cisco to discuss how integrated technology - ranging from seamless networking to AI-powered collaboration tools - drives employee experience and business performance. By focusing on technology that removes "meeting room fear" and enhances creativity, organisations can transform their physical offices into high-IQ hubs that rival the comfort and efficiency of home working. Ashleigh Baker is the guest host of the podcast and a team leader in Softcat's architecture service. Joining her is Tom Rowley, Softcat networking connectivity chief technologist; Jack Lewis, Softcat workspace chief technologist; and Rob Lei, Cisco UKI solutions engineering director and CTO.

The conversation highlights the critical role of a performant and secure network as the foundation for these workspaces, ensuring that investments in Unified Communications (UC) are not bottlenecked by poor infrastructure. Using Softcat's own Manchester office refit as a blueprint, the guests explain how leveraging smart sensors for air quality and energy usage supports both sustainability goals and operational efficiency. 

Looking ahead, the panel predicts a shift toward intelligence at the edge and "agentic AI" to further optimize real-time interactions and maintain a "distance zero" feeling for remote participants.

• Magnet vs. Mandate: Understanding why modern workspaces must be designed to inspire collaboration and outperform the home-working experience to draw employees back to the office.

• The Network Foundation: Why a wireless-first strategy and resilient switching are essential to support the density of modern devices without creating performance bottlenecks.

• Seamless Integration: How the partnership between Cisco and Microsoft Teams allows businesses to utilize their preferred platforms while benefiting from bleeding-edge hardware and unique breakout experiences.

• Sustainability and Observability: Using smart sensors to monitor granular power usage and air quality, while leveraging observability to prove ROI and improve user experience.

• The AI Frontier: A look at the next five years of agentic AI and cinematic meeting experiences that use automated camera switching to reduce meeting fatigue.

Softcat’s Explain IT podcast is the place where we discuss, debate and demystify tech in simple, jargon-free language.

For more information visit softcat.com.

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

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