India, China, and Singapore are leading the way in Asia Pacific when it comes to using collaboration technology in huddle rooms (small meeting rooms). However, there’s still a significant opportunity to boost productivity further through advanced collaboration tools.
A new study by Polycom (now a part of Plantronics) reveals that although content sharing is the preferred collaboration method for Singaporean workers, the country’s adoption of video conferencing lags behind other countries in the region. This presents a chance to enhance productivity by utilizing the latest tools such as video conferencing and digital whiteboards.
The “Growing Big Ideas from Small Spaces” study aimed to uncover the most popular collaboration methods among workers in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Singapore. The report, which surveyed over 2,000 workers in the region, including 202 from Singapore, also aimed to understand the growing use of smaller meeting spaces.
The study found that 96% of Singaporean and Asia Pacific workers believe collaboration technologies make them more productive and efficient. Singaporean workers are regional leaders in using these technologies for enhanced collaboration (77%), knowledge transfer (74%), productivity improvement (70%), and boosting innovation and new idea generation (56%).
Mei Lin Low, Director of APAC Solutions Marketing at Polycom, explains that huddle rooms or workspaces are small areas designed for up to six people. Modern workplaces are incorporating more huddle spaces instead of larger conference rooms to facilitate frequent team meetings and provide quiet areas for focused work in open environments.
Low adds that today’s digital workers want to work smarter by connecting and interacting spontaneously, achieving outcomes, and driving results quickly. Technology-enabled huddle rooms fulfill this need for real-time, productive collaboration and are increasingly becoming essential for an organization’s digital transformation.
While half of Singaporean workers (49%) use small meeting rooms only once or twice a week, one in three use them almost daily (three to five times a week), mainly for internal meetings, followed by client meetings and brainstorming sessions.
Despite this, the survey shows that less than half (41%) of small meeting rooms in Singapore are video-enabled, compared to 77% in India and 74% in China. This indicates a significant opportunity for Singaporean IT decision-makers to improve collaboration and implement up-to-date, well-equipped, tech-enabled environments, especially given national innovation initiatives like Smart Nation.
The need is evident, with 84% of Singaporean workers using collaboration solutions for team meetings with colleagues in other locations, and 70% using them for workshops, brainstorming, or problem-solving with remote participants. Adopting tools like video conferencing has the potential to significantly improve productivity through more interactive, face-to-face communication.
Low points out that while expensive equipment isn’t necessary for successful collaboration, a huddle room needs to effectively enable team meetings regardless of location. Collaboration technology has evolved to accommodate new work styles and employee needs. However, Frost & Sullivan research reveals that most small meeting rooms globally lack adequate audio-visual capabilities, presenting a considerable opportunity for Singaporean organizations to create smarter huddle spaces.
Other key findings from Singapore include:
Content sharing via laptops is most common for 71% of Singaporean respondents, while 37% use mobile devices.
Creating human connection is a priority: 72% connect with remote participants from their small meeting rooms using audio, video, or content-sharing technologies.
Teleworking is also influencing Singaporean workers, with respondents indicating a stronger preference for using collaboration technology to connect with colleagues while working remotely.
Audrey William, Senior Fellow and Head of Research at Frost & Sullivan Australia and New Zealand, believes that creating intelligent workspaces like huddle rooms is the future of work. Small meeting spaces are rapidly becoming smart workspaces where high-performance collaboration, such as problem-solving and idea generation, takes place.
William predicts that collaboration technologies like video will continue evolving, with many already integrating smart devices and voice-activated speakers powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
Details:
Read the “Growing Big Ideas from Small Spaces” report.