Back in 2016, we needed to set up a corporation to further meet client business needs. Putting up a business in the Philippines is a little challenging, but going through such a process is important to further grow our business.
When the pandemic started in 2020, we needed to reshape our business model and incorporate “new normal” processes in the mix. As the number of offline events decreased, we started to get swamped with online activities. Our monthly meetings also started to become mostly online, which was a little difficult at first but we somehow managed to get used to it.
A study by Lenovo and Microsoft support my experience in their 2-page study. In their research, the companies believe that, “Advances in technology have enabled unprecedented workforce globalization and a subsequent increase in remote working. While these trends have generated many positive effects, they’ve also created all-new communication and integration complexities. As a result, companies are turning to a host of innovative solutions to keep employees around the world connected and engaged.”
A few weeks ago, Lenovo reached out to us to try their latest business solution that is perfect for organizations that use Microsoft Teams and Office. Lenovo sent a ThinkSmart Core Full Room Kit with Zoom Rooms, which is an all-in-one smart collaboration device that can be deployed in key locations that may be considered as pseudo-board or meeting rooms of the organizations. Once pandemic is over, the device can easily be redeployed back to offices to continue its core function.
ThinkSmart, In a nutshell
ThinkSmart Core is essentially a purpose-built device powered by 11th Gen Intel®
CoreTM vProTM processors with Intel® Iris® Xe graphics. By virtue of being purpose-built, its main function is to provide optimized business productivity and collaboration.
ThinkSmart Core is preloaded with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise and uses Microsoft Teams as its core collaboration platform. This allows employees to connect, share, and collaborate easily and securely regardless of location, provided that you have internet connection.
The device Lenovo sent includes the following modular components:
- ThinkSmart Core
- ThinkSmart Controller
- ThinkSmart Cam
- ThinkSmart Bar
ThinkSmart Core is basically the computer that fully powers the solution. As mentioned earlier, the ThinkSmart Core is powered by an 11th Gen Intel CoreTM vProTM processor with Intel® Iris® Xe graphics.
It is packed with an 8GB DDR4-3200RAM and a 256GB SSSD M.2 2280 PCie 3.0 storage. In terms of connectivity, it is installed with an Intel AX201 11ax and Bluetooth 5.0 Module.
If you are working with the IT of your company, you should be familiar with its specifications and confirm that it should be more than capable enough to carry out its role in the organization. If you are the end user, like myself, I can definitely verify that I never had concerns about presenting our media kit or conducting meetings with our clients.
ThinkSmart Controller, on the other hand, is a 10.1-inch Touch display with anti-fingerprint and anti-glare features. It works hand-in-hand with the ThinkSmart Core as its primary display and controller. It is advisable to connect a keyboard and mouse to the ThinkSmart core, but the Controller definitely gives additional ease of use to end-users.
ThinkSmart Cam provides a wide field of view in high resolution and frame rates. You have to understand though that this camera is more than just one as it sports AI features like active speaker tracking and whiteboard awareness that further improves user experience. This is ideal especially for meetings with multiple people in a single frame.
ThinkSmart Bar is ThinkSmart Core’s audio solution. It sports stereo speakers and four built-in microphones with 180-degree wide-angle coverage. It also has integrated DSP noise cancellation, which is a must-have feature to help listeners on the other end hear your clearly.
ThinkSmart Manager
Managing the ThinkSmart Core and its components is made possible and easier by ThinkSmart Manager. It’s the application that fully assists your organization to navigate through ThinkSmart’s smart office management ecosystem.
I find this application a godsend to an organization. This allows IT operations to remotely manage and monitor deployed ThinkSmart Cores at the least possible cost. It is not short of management features as well, and the available plans look nimble enough to help operations continue unlock the full value of flexible workforce:
Realized and Future Value of ThinkSmart Core
With the changes being experienced by SME and big organizations brought about by the pandemic, the value of empowering a hybrid workplace is among the best solutions and investments they can consider. Utilization of video conferencing and content sharing among the members of the organization will form an integral part of the “new normal”, and today is the best time to consider Lenovo ThinkSmart.
Both the Lenovo ThinkSmart Core + Controller and ThinkSmart Core Full Room Kit are available in select global markets. For more information, click here. You may also inquire or request for a product demo through this link.
Giancarlo Viterbo is a Filipino Technology Journalist, blogger and Editor of gadgetpilipinas.net, He is also a Geek, Dad and a Husband. He knows a lot about washing the dishes, doing some errands and following instructions from his boss on his day job. Follow him on twitter: @gianviterbo and @gadgetpilipinas.
