With global scale, the Westcon-Comstor Unified Communications and Collaboration Solutions Practice will make it easier for VARs to integrate Microsoft Surface Hubs and Surface Hub accessories into their customers’ collaborative environments, as well as the opportunity to provide additional services such as site assessments, solution design, project implementation and service support.
The Surface Hub, which is available with a 55-inch or 84-inch screen, is designed for collaboration, and enables multiple people to work on the device at the same time in a range of Windows 10 applications. With digital inking capabilities, each Surface Hub comes with two Surface Pens that enable users to write directly onto the screen. Integration with Microsoft services such as Skype for Business means people can work together remotely and easily share what they create in different ways, including email, OneNote or OneDrive.
“We are focused on providing organisations with the best possible collaboration tools to ensure employees are able to work together more easily and effectively,” says Wayne Mason, EMEA UCC Practice Lead and General Manager, Westcon-Comstor. “The Microsoft Surface Hub absolutely ticks the box both from a technology perspective and in the culture of collaboration it creates. With our ability to wrap additional services around the Surface Hub and a comprehensive portfolio of complementary solutions for Skype for Business we are creating a very strong offer for the VAR community.”
“The addition of the Surface Hub to Westcon-Comstor’s portfolio will ensure that they are able to offer the VAR community the best possible collaboration solutions for customers throughout the UK & Ireland,” says Ryan Asdourian, Windows and Surface Lead, Microsoft UK. “We have been delighted with the reaction to the Surface Hub since it was first introduced to the UK market in 2016 and the addition of Westcon-Comstor as a distributor, combined with its strong portfolio of wrap-around services such as Skype for Business, will ensure that even more organisations are able to transform the way their employees collaborate, share and communicate.”
According to a report by Forrester, for an average 1 hour meeting, an additional 20 minutes is spent on post-meeting tasks, such as typing up notes, taking pictures of whiteboards, recreating sketches and mock-ups in digital format, or writing up text explanations to accompany pictures. Purpose built collaboration solutions such as the Surface Hub help reduce and in some cases eliminate this post meeting work by providing a digital experience that everyone can contribute to and access after the meeting ends. This ultimately helps companies increase productivity and decrease common barriers to collaboration.