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Join UC Today’s Kieran Devlin as he sits down with Brad Hintze, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, and Joel Mulpeter, Senior Director of Product Marketing at Crestron. While the tech industry is understandably captivated by cloud-based software like Copilot and Zoom AI Companion, this insightful conversation shifts the focus to the physical foundation that makes these tools actually work. If you want to understand why true AI scalability requires robust, purpose-built hardware and edge computing, this session is an absolute must-watch for IT and AV leaders. In this engaging discussion, the Crestron team unpacks the reality of deploying AI across enterprise meeting spaces. They reveal why prioritizing purpose-built compute and intelligent audio over IP is the secret to avoiding the "garbage in, garbage out" trap of AI transcription and collaboration tools. Key takeaways from our conversation include: The Shift to Edge AI: Why relying solely on the cloud is inefficient, and how integrating Neural Processing Units (NPUs) at the edge enhances security, reduces latency, and processes complex tasks like facial and voice recognition directly in the room.AI as the Installer: How Crestron leverages computer vision, auto-measure technology, and ArUco markers to drastically slash room commissioning time from hours to mere minutes, democratizing broadcast-quality video across the business.Solving the Audio Challenge: An inside look at Crestron's scalable audio-over-IP processor, designed to minimize "time to audio" and deliver the crystal-clear acoustics that AI transcription tools demand to function accurately.Future-Proofing for 2027: Strategic advice for IT leaders on standardizing room platforms and investing in hardware with enough compute headroom to support the rapidly evolving AI software landscape.

Join UC Today host Kieran Devlin as he sits down with William Rubio, Chief Revenue Officer at CallTower, and Elka Popova, Vice President and Senior Fellow at Frost & Sullivan. As AI features rapidly light up across communications platforms, internal IT governance models are struggling to keep pace. This insightful session dives into the hidden vulnerabilities of "shadow AI" and the messy reality of multi-vendor environments. If you're looking for a practical approach to standardizing policy, monitoring data usage, and holding vendors accountable without suffocating innovation, this conversation is essential viewing. The rush to implement AI in Unified Communications (UC) and Contact Center (CCaaS) platforms is outpacing IT's ability to safely secure it. When different teams own different parts of a fragmented tech stack, compliance risks multiply, and traditional governance breaks down. William and Elka break down the real-world friction of enterprise AI adoption and share practical strategies for maintaining control. Key takeaways from our discussion include: The Threat of Shadow AI: How personal use of unauthorized AI tools and a lack of specialized AI skillsets within IT departments are exposing organizations to hidden data vulnerabilities.Navigating Multi-Vendor Sprawl: Why a "one size fits all" approach fails, and how to maintain unified, proactive governance across complex hybrid environments featuring platforms like Microsoft, Cisco, and Genesys.Building a Culture of Compliance: Moving beyond the annual "check-the-box" mentality to create dynamic, ongoing security protocols that secure buy-in from business leaders across the organization.Vetting Your Vendors: The critical questions IT and CX buyers must ask during procurement regarding technology roadmaps, industry-specific expertise, and global data sovereignty.

In the first episode of the UC Today AI & Productivity Show, Marcus Law hosts a roundtable on what AI productivity looks like in the real world — what’s delivering value today, what’s still not landing, and what leaders should focus on next. Marcus is joined by Tom Arbuthnot (Founder, Empowering.Cloud & Microsoft MVP), Mark Nixon (AI Business Solutions Go-To-Market Lead, Microsoft UK & Ireland), and Andreas Welsch (Founder & Chief AI Strategist, Intelligence Briefing). The discussion covers: 🔵 What organisations are actually doing with AI productivity and automation right now 🔵 The Microsoft Copilot/M365 direction that matters (beyond the headlines) 🔵 AI agents: what’s real in enterprise, what’s still early, and what good governance looks like For more Unified Communications & Collaboration Tech News visit https://www.uctoday.com/

In this UC Today interview, host Christopher Carey speaks with Loopio CEO Zak Hemraj about Loopio’s latest industry report on the impact of generative AI on the workforce - and one headline stands out: over 80% of teams are now using AI in their workflows, with more than half using it daily. Zak also highlights a surprise trend - financial services and banking, often viewed as cautious adopters, are among the most aggressive in embracing AI, driven in some cases by top-down executive mandates and structured governance. The conversation explores why “capacity” has become the top challenge even as AI reduces time spent writing, how productivity gains can be offset by rising demand, what separates top performers in how they apply AI beyond first drafts, and what comes next as enterprises push toward agentic AI - alongside growing security and risk concerns.  

Kristian McCann speaks with Ryan Holmes, Digital Workspace Solution Architect at New Era Technology, about how 3D visualization is helping enterprises plan AV refreshes with far more confidence than traditional 2D drawings. Traditional 2D plans can look polished on paper, but they often miss the messy reality of how people actually use meeting rooms. Ryan explains how New Era Technology’s immersive 3D approach helps teams test room layouts, device placement, acoustics, lighting, and camera coverage before a single cable is installed. Points of discussion include: See why 2D drawings can hide real-world issues like poor sight lines, weak mic pickup, and glare.Learn how immersive 3D and virtual reality make AV designs feel like a true-to-scale room clone.Discover how the platform helps IT, facilities, contractors, and users work from the same visual reference.Hear how visual-first planning can improve room adoption, reduce redesigns, and boost meeting quality.If you are planning an AV refresh and want to get it right the first time New Era Technology. For more Unified Communications & Collaboration Tech News visit UC Today.

Despite billions being spent on AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and Google Workspace, most employees still aren't ready to use them effectively: and it's becoming a productivity problem. In this interview, JP Gownder, VP and Principal Analyst at Forrester, breaks down the findings from Forrester's second AIQ report: "AIQ 2.0: Employees (Still) Aren't Ready To Succeed With Workforce AI." JP explains what AIQ, the AI Quotient, actually measures, why the numbers have barely moved year-on-year, and why the gap between AI deployment and employee readiness is actively hurting organisations rather than just slowing them down. Key topics covered: 🔵 What AIQ is and why it matters for enterprise AI adoption 🔵 Why rolling out tools doesn't automatically build AI skills 🔵 The "abandonment behaviour" undermining productivity gains 🔵 The ethics and responsible AI gap, and what happens when it goes wrong 🔵 What organisations getting this right are doing differently 🔵 Why AI slop is filling inboxes and creating negative productivity 🔵 What leaders should do first if this sounds like their organisation Whether you're deploying Copilot, Gemini, or any enterprise AI platform, this is essential viewing for IT leaders, HR and L&D professionals, and anyone responsible for making AI investments pay off. 🔔 Subscribe for more AI, UC, and workplace technology insights from UC Today. For more Unified Communications & Collaboration Tech News visit https://www.uctoday.com/ 

Hybrid work has become the default — and that means the devices, meeting rooms, and collaboration platforms we rely on have to “just work,” every time, for everyone. In this UC Today Devices & Workspace Tech Roundtable, host Christopher Carey (UC Today) is joined by industry leaders to unpack what’s changing across workplace technology: the rise of AI-powered meeting experiences, how IT teams can scale room management, what “employee experience = customer experience” really means, and why security and identity will matter even more as AI agents enter the workplace. Topics covered include: - Designing spaces and workflows for “always hybrid” - AI in meeting rooms (today’s reality vs. near-future expectations) - Room reliability, observability, and user experience - Managing devices and collaboration at scale - Trust, identity, and security risks (including AI-generated threats) Watch for practical insights on what workplace and IT leaders should prioritize next.

Kristian McCann sits down with Dima Gutzeit, Founder and CEO of LeapXpert, to explore how enterprises can finally bridge the gap between conversation and execution. As businesses juggle countless communication channels, from Teams and Slack to WhatsApp and iMessage, Dima unpacks why so much valuable insight gets lost and how connecting conversations directly to workflows can redefine enterprise performance. Modern enterprises are awash with communication data—but most of it never gets used. In this conversation, Dima explains how organizations can extract real value by breaking silos, connecting insights to action, and embedding execution directly within messaging channels. Key discussion points: Why enterprise communication data often sits unused — and the hidden risks of “shadow IT.”How connecting messaging channels closes the gap between decision and execution.The impact of losing context when workflows live outside communication platforms.LeapXpert’s new productivity innovations: Signals, Maxen, and Communication Workflows, designed to boost responsiveness and trigger intelligent actions from real-time conversations.To find out how you can turn your messaging compliance into a competitive advantage, visit LeapXpert.

In this insightful session, UC Today Host Kieran Devlin sits down with Will Morey, Managing Director of Channel at Gamma, to unpack the hidden costs of treating migration as a routine task. If you're an MSP or reseller feeling the strain of balancing new business with the heavy lifting of legacy tech upgrades, this conversation is a must-watch. Will breaks down the commercial risks of inaction and reveals how a managed service model can safeguard your profitability while keeping your customers happy. Managing migrations in-house might seem cost-effective, but the reality is often a messy, resource-draining distraction from your core business. Will explains why relying solely on your existing team to navigate complex, multi-vendor environments is a dangerous trap - and how partnering with experts can completely change the game.   Key Takeaways From This Episode Include: The Hidden Cost of DIY Migrations: Why pulling your engineers off daily support and new logo acquisition to handle the PSTN switch-off is a massive risk to your bottom line.Navigating Multi-Vendor Chaos: How GammaEdge Migrate tackles the messy reality of legacy infrastructure through rigorous upfront analysis and tailored, customer-specific execution plans.Future-Proofing Your Base: Why customers are abandoning legacy UCaaS platforms for vendors heavily investing in R&D, AI, and advanced cybersecurity.White-Labeled Delivery: How you can outsource the heavy lifting to Gamma while remaining the sole face of the customer relationship, ensuring a seamless and branded experience.Stop letting complex migrations bottleneck your growth and learn how to turn a massive operational headache into a profitable, streamlined process.

Join Kieran Devlin, Host at UC Today, alongside an elite panel of unified communications experts and analysts—Mel Brue, Irwin Lazar, Evan Kirstel, Zeus Kerravala, Jon Arnold, and Craig Durr. The enterprise tech landscape is shifting faster than ever, and in this episode, we unpack exactly what that means for your business. From the identity crisis facing major tech conferences to the rise of autonomous AI agents driving real revenue, this candid debrief cuts through the hype to deliver the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve. Here’s what we cover in this jam-packed session:  🔵 The Evolution of Enterprise Connect: We discuss why traditional keynote formats are losing their edge, the urgent need for business-outcome focus, and how vendors are rethinking booth ROI amidst shifting attendee demographics.  🔵 RingCentral AIR Pro’s Revenue Potential: A deep dive into RingCentral’s new no-code AI Representative Pro. We explore how this multi-agent builder is moving beyond basic chatbots to actually generate revenue, specifically targeting healthcare workflows and missed appointments.  🔵 NEAT’s Strategic Edge AI Pivot: With former Cisco exec Javed Khan taking the helm as CEO, we analyze how NEAT is positioning meeting rooms as edge AI devices and what this means for the hardware vs. software battle.

In this UC Today interview, Christopher Carey speaks with Don McElligott, VP of Compliance Supervision at Global Relay, about how organisations are rethinking supervision in a multi‑channel, AI‑enabled world. The discussion explores why legacy keyword‑based approaches are struggling, how understanding context and intent changes risk detection, and why archives are evolving from passive storage into active governance platforms. Don also shares practical insight into review fatigue, platform‑based compliance, and what UC and compliance leaders should prioritise over the next 12 months. Topics covered include: Managing communications risk across modern UC environmentsMoving beyond false positives to catch real riskThe role of AI in compliance and supervisionArchive‑to‑platform thinking and governanceReducing review fatigue and improving oversight

Many people are being asked to make big career decisions with very little real insight into the jobs they are choosing. At the same time, employers are struggling to fill high‑growth roles, and education systems are under pressure to modernise career guidance. Christopher Carey speaks with Bharani Rajakumar, Founder at Transfr, and John Iaia, Global Head of Strategic Alliances for XR and Vision AI at Lenovo, about how immersive learning and VR career “test‑drives” can help close that gap. They discuss: • The structural mismatch between unemployment and hard‑to‑fill skilled roles • Why traditional careers advice and workforce training often fall short • How VR simulations let learners “do the job” before they commit to a pathway • Real‑world outcomes from schools, workforce boards and employers using Transfr • How Lenovo’s XR ecosystem helps move from pilots to practical scale • The role of AI, human skills and vocational pathways in the future of work If you are dealing with skills gaps, under‑used talent, or trying to make career education more practical and honest, this conversation is for you. Learn more: Lenovo ThinkReality & XR solutions Transfr immersive career exploration & training

Kristian McCann sits down with Ryan Zoehner, CEO at Algo, and Bryan McCarthy, VP Global Partnerships at Algo, to explore how education providers can take unified communications beyond screens and extend it reliably across the entire campus. Schools have relied on copper wire PA systems for decades — and for a long time, they did the job well enough. But as campuses grow, those legacy systems are showing their age in two very specific and very costly ways. First, the infrastructure itself. Copper wire PA networks are fixed and rigid. Adding a new speaker to a new classroom, a new building, or even a newly partitioned space isn't a simple plug-and-play exercise — it means running new cabling, commissioning physical installations, and absorbing costs that quickly spiral when a district is managing multiple sites. The second problem is these systems are one-way by design. Typically, the only person who can broadcast across the campus is the principal or a designated administrator triggering from a central control point. A teacher in a classroom who spots a safeguarding concern, a member of staff in a corridor who witnesses an incident, a caretaker in a building on the far side of campus — none of them can initiate a communication to the rest of the school.= This is the problem Ryan Zoehner and Bryan McCarthy address head-on in this conversation. From classrooms and corridors to playgrounds, gymnasiums, and auditoriums, they unpack why schools are some of the most demanding communication environments in any sector — and how modern IP endpoints close the gap between UC platforms and the physical spaces where staff, students, and visitors actually live and work.​ Watch the conversation to learn: Why education campuses are so challenging to keep consistently connected, with fragmented legacy PA, telephony, and security systems spread across multiple buildings and spaces.​ How integrating UC platforms with IP endpoints helps schools replace siloed phone and PA systems with a cohesive, district-wide communication layer—without needing to rip and replace everything at once.​ How UC-connected endpoints support everyday operations, from targeted classroom announcements and recess reminders to more efficient IT management through centralized monitoring and updates.How secure intercoms, two-way audio, and visual alerting enhance campus safety—from controlled door access to rapid, easy-to-trigger emergency notifications that staff can initiate from the UC clients they already use daily.Practical strategies for modernizing on a budget, including hybrid deployments that bridge existing analog infrastructure with new IP devices via paging adapters and open-standard SIP technology.​ What a truly future-ready education environment looks like: open standards, layered systems instead of disconnected silos, and centralized management at scale to support changing needs over the long term.For more Unified Communications & Collaboration Tech news, visit UC Today.

As regulations evolve, use cases multiply, and businesses demand more flexibility, many organizations are finding that a one‑size‑fits‑all UC approach simply doesn’t work anymore. In this UC Today interview, Vivek Kar, Head of Employee Interaction Suite at Tata Communications, explains why multi‑platform collaboration has become the norm, how an ecosystem‑led UC strategy helps enterprises balance flexibility with governance, and what IT leaders should evaluate when expanding to platforms like Zoom and Google alongside existing environments such as Microsoft and Cisco. The conversation explores: Why enterprises are adopting multiple UC platformsHow regulation and voice governance are shaping UC strategyThe role of a single managed layer in reducing complexityCommon mistakes organizations make in multi‑platform rolloutsWhat IT leaders should prioritize to stay flexible without losing controlThis interview is essential viewing for IT, digital workplace, and UC leaders navigating the realities of modern enterprise collaboration.

In this session, Kieran Devlin of UC Today sits down with Chris Stapenhurst, Director of Product Management at Arctera, to unpack a critical shift in the financial services sector. If you are a compliance leader looking to reduce operational drag and gain global visibility, this conversation sets the stage for a more agile, cloud-first future. The era of managing sprawling data centers just to satisfy compliance boxes is coming to an end. In this insightful interview, we explore why banks and financial institutions are aggressively moving toward "pure SaaS" models. It isn’t just about cost - it’s about the agility required to survive in the age of AI and strict data sovereignty. Chris Stapenhurst shares his expertise on how Arctera is helping organizations break free from legacy infrastructure, allowing compliance teams to choose the technology that fits their needs rather than being bound by existing IT hardware. We discuss the reality of "sovereign regions" and how nimble cloud vendors are solving the residency puzzle faster than ever before. Key discussion points include: The Drivers of SaaS: How the democratization of AI and the need for operational flexibility are pushing firms away from rigid, on-premise hardware solutions.Agility & Sovereignty: How Arctera’s unique approach allows them to deploy country-specific, compliant SaaS environments in a matter of months, solving the complex data residency challenge.The ROI of Cloud Compliance: Understanding the tangible return on investment achieved by reducing data center costs, electricity consumption, and the specialized IT headcount required to manage physical servers.Global Risk Visibility: Why a unified cloud platform provides a "single pane of glass" for global heads of compliance, eliminating the fragmentation of monitoring risks across hubs like New York, London, and Singapore.Next Steps:  Ready to streamline your global compliance operations? Visit the Arctera website.