In the software versus hardware race for innovative agility, there’s usually only ever one winner.

Thanks in part to the power of the cloud, the relentless iteration of next generation technological functionality can be a fast and furious business.

Not so the design and manufacture of the devices through which that technology delivers.

Put simply, when the bits of physical plastic go ‘end of life’, their invisible smarts just keep getting smarter.

The result? Organisations can have a ton of clever, cloud-powered capability but their out-dated hardware often lacks the ability to leverage its full potential.

Example: audio endpoints.

Sure, it’s possible to connect factories’, hospitals’, and schools’ existing and ageing PA speakers to new cloud-based communication systems; but that misses a big trick.

Switching to the latest IP speakers enables organisations to fully-integrate with the latest feature-rich unified communications platforms.

In the education sector in particular, it’s a simple and affordable upgrade capable of truly transforming.

“Many institutions’ old, premise-based phone systems have been replaced by smart new unified communications platforms that are not compatible with their paging infrastructure – it’s possible to adapt that infrastructure but so much better to update fully,” says Ryan Zoehner, Head of Strategy and Commercial Operations at leading IP endpoints provider Algo Communication Products, whose easy-to-install range of endpoints include speakers, visual alerters, and intercoms that seamlessly integrate seamlessly with leading UCaaS platforms.

“Simultaneously leveraging the intelligence of UCaaS and IP speaker technology not only improves the overall communication experience but also supports the positive rationalization of an institution’s IT resource and future-proofs it for 20 years plus.”

In Algo’s case, the options are two-fold.

First, it’s clever IP paging adapter can bridge and connect UCaaS platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams to existing analogue speaker systems.

Alternatively, its next gen, wideband audio range of IP speakers can be deployed which natively register with over 65 different UCaaS platforms and which deliver huge amounts of extra functionality.

“The paging adapter enables an establishment to broadcast to classrooms and other spaces via its new UCaaS platform, but the old speakers remain just that; old,” says Zoehner.

“Our IP speakers can do so much more. They have an embedded microphone, for example, so a principal can initiate a page into a classroom or gymnasium or hallway and a teacher or student can talk back. They also feature ambient noise detection so, when it’s lunchtime and it’s very loud, they automatically get louder and when it’s silent reading time, they automatically quiet themselves.

“We also provide video-enabled devices so imagery and scrolling messaging can also be displayed where required. Plus, it’s all remotely manageable. So, you could have one IT director for hundreds of schools spread across a large school district controlling everything from one single location.

“A teacher from a particular school calls that guy because her classroom speaker is too loud and boom, it’s done. Or if the principal wants to change the time of a bell or issue an announcement, they simply log into the web interface of the software and boom, it’s done. No walking across large campuses or down long corridors to deliver a verbal message in person, so more time spent actually teaching.

“The devices are either wall- or ceiling-mounted very quickly and easily and work with just one ethernet cable. There are no additional ongoing costs, no additional software – it’s a one-off purchase of a piece of infrastructure that you simply bolt on to your UCaaS system. It all adds up to a highly improved level of communication and engagement with staff and students, and a more efficient management of the IT.”

It’s a relatively easy pre-sale conversation too.

In some countries, for example, legislation states that buildings with a certain number of occupants must have a means to issue emergency notifications.

In some cases, immediate action is required where schools are being more reliant on paging systems to be able to broadcast emergency notifications quickly and effectively in the event of an incident.

“If an analogue device in a classroom goes down, there is no way of knowing and no way for that classroom’s occupants to hear a message or an alarm,” says Zoehner.

“An IP speaker system is permanently connected and monitored. If a device goes offline, an automatic notification is issued.”

So, in the education sector, it seems hardware keeping pace with software may just be about as important as it gets.

To learn more about how Algo can help you and your customers leverage the intelligence of IP endpoints, visit Algo Solutions.



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