Lenovo ThinkSmart Expands Offerings for Smart Meeting Rooms

Global tech company Lenovo unveiled two new solutions it says will simplify the transition of meeting spaces into managed video conferencing spaces and Microsoft Teams Rooms. The new offerings: Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit and the ThinkPad Universal USB-C Smart Dock – ThinkSmart Edition, allow businesses to effortlessly drive smart collaboration while also offering IT managers the advantages of managed meeting spaces.

Today, with hybrid work models become increasingly prevalent, organizations must optimize meeting spaces to allow for intelligent collaboration. A significant portion of remote workers have said they feel disconnected from meetings, and most meeting rooms lack video conferencing capabilities. To address these issues, they need a way to enhance collaboration and meet the evolving needs of both employees and IT departments.

The Lenovo ThinkSmart Tiny Kit includes the ThinkCentre M70q Gen 4 compute module and ThinkSmart Controller, allowing for Microsoft Teams meetings with a single front-of-room display and external audio/video. This solution offers an easy upgrade path from bring your own device (BYOD) meeting experiences to Microsoft Teams Rooms.

With in-room compute power, users of the ThinkSmart Tiny Kit can use Microsoft Teams Rooms functionalities like one-touch join and Front Row. Additionally, the modular nature of the kit makes it possible to integrate certified peripherals such as the ThinkSmart Bar 180 and ThinkSmart Cam to further optimize room experiences.

Backed by ThinkSmart Manager, Lenovo's proprietary console, IT teams can efficiently deploy, monitor, and troubleshoot ThinkSmart devices from a single interface. This means managers can oversee room status, add new devices and users, monitor active users, check for updates, and address issues in real-time.

The ThinkSmart dock provides an entry-level solution for capturing room usage data and analytics while maintaining BYOD flexibility. Preloaded with ThinkSmart Manager Basic, this smart dock enables IT administrators to manage room functionality effectively.

The device is equipped with a range of ports, plug-and-play functionality, and rapid charging capabilities for seamless connectivity and convenience for meeting attendees.

“Customers are faced with a continuum of options as they look to deploy the right technologies to build and upgrade meeting spaces for today’s world of hybrid work and distributed teams,” said Shannon MacKay, General Manager of Worldwide Smart Collaboration Business at Lenovo. “The ThinkSmart Tiny Kit and the ThinkSmart dock are entry-level solutions for transforming meeting spaces into better audio/video experiences while adding backend manageability for IT support.”

Edited by Greg Tavarez