So you’ve got the latest IT budget to spend or have been tasked with upgrading your organisation’s video conferencing facilities. It’s always exciting to have the opportunity to switch out old kit or have entirely new devices to play around with, but you’ll probably also be facing the age-old question of “should I do it myself?”

We don’t need to sell you the benefits of a Microsoft Teams Rooms upgrade in this article. You’ve got this far, so it’s likely that you already know just how much smoother and more professional your video meetings will be with a proper video conferencing solution in place. However, we do understand that there will be different routes you need to consider when deciding how to make this upgrade happen.

You should definitely buy your chosen Teams Rooms device from an authorised reseller, but different organisations do it in different ways.  A retailer (box-shifter) will sell you the box of kit only and leave you to roll up your sleeves and fit it yourself, whereas a systems integrator reseller (like us) will handle everything professionally, from the consultation, solution design, ordering of hardware, to the installation and support. Both approaches have their merits, but if you really want to make the most of your investment, we’d always argue that working with an experienced systems integrator will give you the best results. Let us explain why.

Buying Microsoft Teams Rooms From A Box Shifter – What You Need To Know

Microsoft Teams Rooms devices, particularly the impressive range from Yealink, are billed as plug-and-play video conferencing solutions that you can order from authorised resellers and fit yourself. In theory, doing so is a fairly straightforward process. Firstly, you’ll need to choose a device that suits your meeting room size and requirements, then work out what extras (like screens, microphones, speakers and control panels) you’ll need. You’ll also need to buy a suitable licence (Microsoft offer different tiers depending on how you want to run things and which features you think you need). 

Once your kit arrives, it’s then up to you to get everything installed and firing. This will involve a combination of tasks like mounting displays, connecting the hardware, and handling the integration with your existing Microsoft environment. You’ll also need to think about how you can be certain that staff know how to use the system properly, otherwise that ‘simple’ setup can quickly become an ongoing source of frustration.

Ultimately, buying Microsoft Teams Rooms from a box shifter and installing them yourself is typically the cheapest way to upgrade your business video conferencing if you’ve got the technical know-how and confidence to manage the installation. However, as we find lots of our clients have discovered, what looks manageable on paper can become a little more complicated once you factor in room layout, cable management, and long-term support. This can quickly become quite a considerable compromise in the user experience and success of the project.

The Alternative Approach

It’s with these frustrations that a systems integrator like Agile Comms can come in. Rather than simply supplying a box of kit and leaving you to it, we’ll cover every aspect of the Microsoft Teams Rooms integration. 

This starts with understanding your meeting spaces and how they are used, so that the right solution based on size, layout, and meeting style can be sourced and ordered. From there, installation will be handled professionally, including screen mounting and cable management through to thorough testing to make sure that everything works as it should.

Where the merits of buying Teams Rooms from us really come in is in the moments beyond initial installation. If something goes wrong or you want to change something about your setup, you’ll typically have a dedicated point of contact who can help. That’s certainly the case when you buy from Agile Comms, and it’s this end-to-end service that we’re known for when designing, specifying and installing bespoke and effective Microsoft Teams Rooms for modern businesses.

The Advantages Of Buying From A Systems Integrator

Whilst we cannot deny that you might shave a little bit off your upfront costs if you buy your Teams Rooms kit in isolation, doing so often comes at the expense of a number of key advantages that only a company that handles the entire integration can offer. These include:

1. Bespoke Solutions

The range of Teams Rooms devices available is continually evolving, from all-in-one bars like the Yealink A50 to innovative devices like the Yealink M Tower. Which is most suitable for your organisation will depend on the type and layout of your meeting room, and what might work for a huddle room is highly unlikely to be the best approach for a large boardroom. 

Buying from an organisation that takes ownership and responsibility for the entire integration allows you to take advantage of the right expertise during the purchase process by helping you to identify exactly what you need, taking into account the nuances and complexities of your space. This ensures that the Teams Room installed will be one that is genuinely functional and can fulfil your adapting needs, rather than something packed with features you don’t need or capabilities that don’t realise the full potential of your space.

2. Proper Installation

Trust us when we say that Microsoft Teams Rooms installations involve a lot of moving parts. Any screens need to be mounted securely and straight, all of the cables need to be connected properly but hidden neatly, and microphones and speakers must be placed properly to ensure audio is optimised across the room.  

A reliable company like us will take care of all of this for you, ensuring that your system both looks good and performs properly. After all, the whole point of upgrading your video conferencing system is to help you host meetings more professionally, so it’s important that it’s not installed in a way that undermines that.

3. Ongoing Support

When installing Microsoft Teams Rooms yourself, your responsibilities are only just starting with the initial setup. Employees and room users need to know how to use the system confidently, or else you’ll find yourself in frustrating situations where you’re called away from your desk five minutes before a meeting starts for last-minute fixes and impromptu training sessions. 

You will also need to stay on top of licensing, updates, and any future upgrades to your setup. However, we can take that burden off your shoulders. At Agile Comms, we’re always on hand if you’re having any problems or if Microsoft’s licensing landscape changes again. Our team is also more than happy to walk you and your team through how to use the system once it’s installed so that user adoption is where it should be from day one.

Upgrade Your Teams Rooms With Agile Comms

Whether you’re upgrading outdated meeting rooms or implementing Microsoft Teams Rooms across your organisation for the first time, we can help. As an expert reseller and integrator of Yealink Teams Rooms devices, we’ve got significant experience working with organisations of all sizes to implement solutions that genuinely improve the way meetings are run.

From initial solution specification to long-term support, it’s our aim to make sure that your investment delivers value now and in the future. So, if you’re weighing up whether to go it alone or work with the experts, let’s have a chat and we can show you what a fully supported Microsoft Teams Rooms solution looks like.