1300 757 818 
As someone who has been openly critical of Cisco in the past, I found myself eating humble pie at this year’s Cisco Live Melbourne. The event not only showcased Cisco’s impressive evolution in the collaboration space but also demonstrated their commitment to innovation in ways I hadn’t expected.
A Fresh Perspective
Let’s be honest – many of us in the tech industry have had our reservations about Cisco over the years. However, what I witnessed at Cisco Live Melbourne 2024 suggests that the company has been listening to feedback and actively working to address past criticisms. The transformation in their collaboration portfolio is particularly noteworthy.
Standout Innovations
Three products particularly caught my attention during the event:
-
The New Cisco Ceiling Mic
This might sound like a simple addition to their portfolio, but it’s a game-changer for modern workplace acoustics. The ceiling-mounted microphone solution demonstrates Cisco’s understanding of how today’s hybrid workspaces need to evolve, offering crystal-clear audio whilst maintaining a clean, uncluttered aesthetic in meeting spaces.
-
Cisco Spaces
Cisco Spaces represents a significant step forward in workplace management and optimisation. This platform goes beyond simple room booking or occupancy monitoring – it’s a comprehensive solution for understanding and improving how physical spaces are utilised. The intelligence built into the platform helps organisations make data-driven decisions about their workplace design and usage.
-
Cisco Workspace Designer
The Workspace Designer tool is particularly impressive. It’s clear that Cisco understands the challenges organisations face in creating effective hybrid workspaces. This tool allows teams to visualise and plan their collaboration spaces before making physical changes, ensuring optimal setup for both in-person and remote participants.
The Bigger Picture
What struck me most wasn’t just the individual products, but how they all fit together in Cisco’s broader vision for the future of work. There’s a coherent strategy at play here – one that acknowledges the complexities of hybrid work whilst offering practical solutions to address them.
Looking Ahead
If you’ve been sceptical about Cisco’s offerings in recent years, I encourage you to take another look. The company has clearly invested significant resources in understanding and addressing customer needs, particularly in the collaboration space. The results of these efforts were evident at Cisco Live Melbourne 2024.
Final Thoughts
Whilst no technology provider is perfect, Cisco has shown remarkable progress in evolving their collaboration solutions. The event demonstrated that they’re not just keeping pace with industry changes – in many ways, they’re helping to define what’s possible in modern workplace collaboration.
For those who, like me, may have been hesitant about Cisco’s solutions in the past, now might be the time to re-evaluate. The company has clearly turned a corner, and their current offerings deserve serious consideration for organisations looking to enhance their collaboration capabilities.