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Is your huddle room up to spec?

In open-plan offices, people are looking for easy ways to escape the noise and distractions and a space where they can collaborate with team members in private and host impromptu brainstorming sessions.  Many businesses are creating huddle rooms to help teams collaborate and increase productivity. But what is a huddle room, why should you have one and what do you need to kit it out.

What is a Huddle room?

A huddle room or collaboration room is a strategically small meeting space that’s designed to empower people to meet quickly and easily. Named after a sports team huddle, a huddle room typically accommodates up to six people and could include the following equipment:

• Video, conferencing room
• TV, LCD or LED monitor
• A small central table that allows for sitting or standing
• An interactive or regular whiteboard
• Speakerphone
• Chairs (optional)

5 Benefits of a huddle room

Focused meetings: Huddle rooms are designed for small, quick informal gatherings. As they can only accommodate up to six people this means only the people who need to be there are invited. This reduces the risk of unnecessary or unproductive meetings.

Increased engagement: With a video conferencing solution it feels like everyone is in the same room, including remote workers, enabling everyone to be part of the conversation. 

Improved productivity: Ideal for teams to get away from the noise and distractions of the open plan office to collaborate on their latest project without interruptions.

Budget-friendly: Due to their size, the investment required to kit out a huddle room is much lower than a traditional meeting or conference room. It also allows businesses to better utilise their office space.

Be spontaneous: As huddle rooms are small spaces, companies can install lots of them throughout the office, and if you have a no booking policy it enables people to meet up for impromptu discussions and brain-storming sessions.

How to kit our your huddle room

Matt Clark and Paul Greenslade, who head-up the Banner technology and furniture teams recommend the following to kit out your huddle room.

By 2023, 73% of video-conferencing meetings will happen in huddle rooms* so you need to make sure you huddle room is equipped with the right technology. Whether you are creating a brand-new huddle room or upgrading an existing room this will affect the tech and furniture you need.

If you need a video conferencing solution the Jabra PanaCast is the ideal partner, simply plug the device into your laptop or computer’s USB port and you’re ready to go. The PanaCast has a 13-megapixel camera and real-time video stitching to give a full 180° view, so it’s like everyone is in the same room.

Avocor F6550 Interactive touch screen is the smallest size in the F50 range and is the perfect size for a huddle space.  With a built-in Windows swipe bar, it’s like using a tablet on a large format display, along with an integrated soundbar and microphone to make audio conferencing a breeze.

Poly Studio is a USB video bar built for small rooms, with superb room-filling sound and pinpoint accurate microphones, teams can experience meetings like they are there in person. The Poly Studio is compatible with nearly any cloud-based video platform including Zoom, Go To Meeting and Microsoft Teams. For IT Managers managing multiple huddle rooms is simple; no more running from room to room to update systems for every new software release as this can be managed centrally.

When video isn’t required, you need high-quality sound. The Jabra Speak 710 is a portable speakerphone with a 15-hour battery life. With an omni-directional microphone and HD voice it provides 360° coverage and picks up sound from any angle. With intuitive plug-and-play connectivity it couldn’t be easier to use. Weighing just 298g and protective travel pouch means it’s lightweight and portable too.

The furniture you select for your huddle space will impact how the room is used and ultimately its success. Comfy chairs may look and feel nice, but will they encourage quick, productive meetings? You may also want to consider soft fabric chairs and sofas that can be used in an open plan office to create a huddle space.

Furniture that is flexible and moveable is helpful as the set-up can be adjusted for the meeting in hand.

A small table is also worth considering. Whether your employees prefer sitting or standing, your huddle room should have a central table that allows for both.  You will also need somewhere to put your laptops when you walk into the room.

Having the right tools and furniture in your huddle room makes collaboration fast and easy. 

Your account manager working in partnership with our tech and furniture teams will work with you to help you achieve the right solutions for your huddle room.