Smarter Systems Collaboration Center

This blog post was created with the help of Vaddio, the premier global manufacturer of PTZ cameras, professional AV solutions and a full suite of UCC products for the audiovisual, videoconference and broadcast marketplaces.

Sunday services look a little different right now with COVID-19 restrictions in place. The pews are empty but that doesn’t mean parishioners aren’t worshipping. Many houses of worship are turning to technology to reach the congregation.

For the churches who don’t stream their services online regularly, it’s been a scramble. The main misperception -- adding video production is really hard-- it’s something only megachurches do. But that’s not the case.

In the midst of this Coronavirus (COVID-19) disruption to our lives and businesses, if you’re anything like me, you are wondering how long until we get back to “normal”? I long for the days of seeing my teams gathered around a conference room table, collaborating on a new idea or discussing an upcoming project. I want to be able to grab lunch with a co-worker and connect face-to-face. I want to sit down in my office for a one-to-one with a direct report, instead of using video conferencing to discuss our goals for the month. Don’t you?

I have always found myself an interested observer of other businesses and business models. I guess it's the entrepreneur in me—what a time to be watching what others are doing with their company. From crisis to calm, some are in their busiest season ever while others are shutting their doors. I find a majority are in the middle. They are weathering this storm, and those that learn to leverage this time will come back stronger.

Ready or not, working from home has now become a business reality. Even if your team wasn't fully prepared before, they are finding a way to make this work during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For some, it's been scary and overwhelming, but this is our new reality. Now is the time to settle in and leverage technology such as video conferencing for meetings to make the most of it.

I'm finally engaged!

I'm sure reading that gave you pause, huh? Well, it's true! After a couple of weeks on the struggle bus trying to juggle work, kids, online school, navigating ways to find groceries, etc., I realized that I'm finally engaged… at work, that is.

If remote work isn't already a mandate in your office, it's been discussed. According to global technology giant Barco, remote work is up 115% in the last decade. Can you even imagine how that number has changed in the last month? Coronavirus (COVID-19) has drastically changed the way businesses operate here in Charlotte and around the world. If a work from home mentality is new territory for your business, it may feel chaotic and overwhelming. Consider the following guidelines to help your management team and employees acclimate.

It's more important than ever to have technology that allows remote teams to work collaboratively from remote places. With Coronavirus (COVID-19) making global headlines, many large organizations have halted international travel, and they've started to strict non-essential travel here in the US. Work from home is quickly becoming the norm. Even small businesses are starting to feel the impacts and realize the importance of having technology that connects people, so everyone can continue to work.

Hope for the best and plan for the worst is the mantra replaying worldwide as the concern of  Coronavirus (COVID-19) spreads. Whether you are worried or not, it’s a serious concern for many Charlotte businesses where Smarter Systems is headquartered. Just this week, we had planned to attend a networking event which was canceled due to health concerns. With each passing day we hear of clients and friends with new business travel restrictions or mandates to work remotely if possible.