Cisco is seeking to help businesses improve and personalise the hybrid work experience for staff and customers, as collaboration becomes an increasingly vital workplace component in the post Covid-19 world.

To this end, the networking giant has unveiled new hybrid work solutions in its Webex solution. The firm also revealed that Webex Calling hit a record 39 million users – growing from 23 million users in 6 months – as organisations seek improved cloud calling options for their dispersed workforces.

 All of this comes amid fundamental changes in many corporate workplaces during the Coronavirus pandemic, where remote or flexible working has forced organisations to explore hybrid workplace solutions including video conferencing and collaboration products.

Cisco it should be remembered purchased Webex (which had started back in 1995) for $2.9 billion (£2.18bn) in 2007 as the company looked to expand beyond its traditional networking roots.

At the time of the 2007 acquisition, some analysts had questioned whether Webex was the right move for Cisco.

However collaboration rapidly became a key pillar of Cisco’s overall business, but that did not stop online meeting space firm SalesCrunch from making a very cheeky $1 billion bid for Cisco’s Webex business all the way back in 2012.

Flexible Workstyles

So, in order to help businesses communicate securely and keep staff productive and engaged, Cisco is delivering new features and options.

The first change centres around flexible workstyles.

Cisco has recognised that people and staff have differing collaboration needs, devices, and meeting platforms, reinforcing the need for flexibility, interoperability, and inclusivity.

To this end, new capabilities have been added to Vidcast, Webex’s asynchronous video messaging solution. This will help drive stronger engagement and productivity for remote workers.

Meanwhile within Webex’s Embedded Apps Framework, customers can access more of their favourite apps, including InVision for visual whiteboarding.

And there are new Webex integrations with Notion’s all-in one project management, notes and wiki solution.

Reimagined workspace

The second set of changes concern the reimagined workspace: where hybrid work requires organisations to transform traditional workspaces.

To help achieve this Cisco has partnered with Ford, so as to extend Webex Meetings to vehicles, that are serving as a mobile office.

Another change has been to enhance the in-office experience, extending the Embedded Apps from the Webex desktop app to include Webex Desk and Webex Board Series devices, as well as phones and tablets – all of which eliminates the need to toggle between different apps.

Hybrid events

The third key change Cisco is delivering concerns exceptional hybrid events: this is where attendees require flexibility to tune-in in-person and/or online with a seamless event experience.

In order to help achieve this, event planners can now manage health protocols simply and effectively. 

In addition Webex Events is furthering accessibility and inclusivity by adding real-time captions and translation, supporting transcription from English to 34 languages (more to come).

And finally Webex Events compliance standards (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, and SOC 3) and integration within Webex Control Hub delivers greater admin visibly and simplified management for enterprises’ hybrid work and event environments.

Customer experiences

And the fourth and final change centres around the ability to create memorable customer experiences: enterprises require the ability to stay connected and deliver proactive connections with customers on their preferred communication channels.

To this end, with enterprise communications platform as a service (CPaaS) Webex Connect, businesses can intelligently orchestrate those connections end-to-end to deliver seamless personalised experiences across digital channels.

Please contact us for further details on 01202 614061 and we will be happy to help