Finding the right technology for your business is essential, and utilizing smart boards in conference rooms will elevate every meeting. Conference rooms have evolved from easels with large sheets of paper to laptops and tablets. Transitioning from individual laptops to a shared screen via smart boards is the best way to increase collaboration and understanding for every meeting.
However, smart boards have more benefits than simply enhancing how your team digests information. Smart boards are changing how people present information and play a vital role in meetings for every industry.
The points we’re going to make concerning the benefits of smart boards for conference rooms apply to every industry and every type of meeting.
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What Is a Smart Board?
Let’s start by specifying what a smart board is because a lot has changed since husband and wife duo David Martin and Nancy Knowlton released this innovative tool in 1991. Smart boards are interactive whiteboards that allow a person to project whatever is on their computer screen onto the board.
The term “smart board” is really a brand name. Much the same as “zelcro” of “scotch” tape. Knowing that “smart boards” are just interactive white boards can open up a lot of product options that give better pricing and different capabilities for application. Our favorite is G2 Galaxy because of the impressive capabilities and an aggressive price.
These types of smart boards allow you to interact with the device with the touch of a finger, special pens, or your computer. With a smart board, you can share files with meeting participants, edit or interact with the on-screen information in real-time, and allow others to control the board for group presentations.
Smart boards have changed how educators teach their classes and the way businesspeople hold meetings and deliver presentations. The benefits of smart boards are varied, but here are 8 of the most compelling.
8 Benefits of Smart Boards for Conference Rooms
Increase Collaboration and Engagement
The days of long, drawn-out PowerPoints and listeners having to save their questions until the end of a presentation are over. Smart boards allow meetings and presentations to become more collaborative and engaging by changing how meetings are held.
Smart boards allow attendees to edit and annotate documents in real time. It also will enable attendees to cast their files to the smart board while discussing the topic rather than waiting until the end to share their findings.
The ability of the presenter to write and draw on smart boards also enhances feelings of engagement in a meeting. Attendees can see their ideas being physically written onto the board and saved into a document, which helps them feel their opinions are valuable contributions.
Accomplish More In Less Time
One of the biggest benefits of utilizing smart board technology is the ability to accomplish more in a shorter time frame. Meetings that used to take three hours could be completed in half that time with smart boards.
Instead of having to load up multiple power points and then allow attendees to share their questions or notes after the fact, everything can be done at once. You simply load up your presentation and allow attendees to make notes and explore their findings as you go through the presentation.
Smart boards allow visuals that everyone can interact with, even those who aren’t attending the meeting on-site. This streamlines the meeting process and allows everyone to access and discuss the same information simultaneously. Studies show that a feeling of collaboration enhances workplace productivity, so using smart boards will make your meetings far more efficient.
Are you looking to enhance your business with the right technology? Contact us at C&C Technology Group to learn how we can help!
Run Meetings With No Delays
Smart boards are very efficient. Meetings can be overrun by delays when presenters need to load up a new PowerPoint or stop to write out notes on a separate whiteboard. There’s also time spent on attendees giving their thoughts after the main presentation and delays when sending over files and waiting for attendees to open them.
All of these things can be done quickly with smart boards. You won’t have to pause your meeting to queue up the next PowerPoint, nor will you need to wait while attendees open a relevant attachment.
Smart boards allow you to access everything you and your attendees need on one simple platform.
Improve Workplace Culture
The culture of your workplace will be forever changed once you start using smart boards. They empower employees by allowing them to actively participate in discussions and watch their ideas pop onto the screen in real time.
It also creates an easier space for dialogue to take place, especially if you have remote workers who aren’t attending the meeting on-site. They’ll feel included and heard by participating in meetings through the use of a smart board.
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Save Money On Supplies
It may not seem like a large expense, but you’ll save a lot of money over time with a smart board. Your company will no longer need to budget for certain expenses like expo markers, erasers, whiteboard cleaning fluid, etc.
Instead, you’ll have one expense upfront to buy the smart board. It’ll quickly pay for itself within a few years by saving you money on conference room supplies. There will also be less need for your IT department to come and make repairs or adjustments compared to a projector system.
Encourage Participation From Remote Workers
The number of remote workers has tripled since 2019. Remote workers need to feel included and engaged during meetings. They will be able to actively participate in meetings with the use of a smart board. If you think about it, a meeting using a projector, old-school whiteboard, and other tools is incredibly one-sided.
You present your information, then discuss it with your employees. Remote workers do nothing but sit, watch, and listen in this instance. However, remote workers can actively participate with a smart board by annotating the presentation, sending files, and more.
Personalize Your Conference
A simple PowerPoint presentation or a plan of action written out on a whiteboard isn’t going to cut it in every industry. The needs of your industry and conference will shape how you want to deliver your presentation. With a smart board, you have so many options to personalize your conference.
You can show your employees videos, create graphs in real-time, discuss sales projections, and input calculations in real-time based on employees’ suggestions to find the best course of action. Personalizing your conference will keep your employees engaged and lead to a better outcome.
Less Stress For IT Workers
IT workers are stretched pretty thin. They have a multitude of responsibilities and limited time each day. Your IT department will be far less stressed and, therefore, better able to focus on their daily goals when you switch to using a smart board.
The reason for this is fairly simple. A smart board requires less maintenance than a projector. smart boards are easy to set up and maintain, so if an issue arises, you may be able to sort it out yourself rather than having to rely on an IT worker.
Do need help finding the right technology for your business? Contact us at C&C Technology Group to learn how we can help!
Invest In Your Company With Smart Boards
Smart boards have significantly changed the way meetings are held. They create a more streamlined process that allows employees to remain engaged and collaborative. With this technology, you won’t have to worry about unexpected delays or losing the attention of your remote workers. Invest in your company with the right technology and switch to smart boards to increase employee engagement and productivity during every meeting!
Related: What is Meeting Equity – And Why Does it Matter Now?
Last Updated on January 20, 2023 by Josh Mahan
