A Closer Look: HP Poly Integration with COLL-IN: Bringing Professional Video Collaboration into the Workspace
As collaboration environments continue to evolve, organisations increasingly need their meeting room technology to work together rather than as separate, disconnected systems.
At Future Software, we recently carried out a series of HP Poly integration tests using Poly hardware with our COLL-IN collaboration software, exploring how Poly camera technology could be incorporated directly into the COLL-IN workspace.
The aim was not simply to establish whether a camera could provide a video feed. We wanted to test different levels of integration — from straightforward plug-and-play camera connectivity through to a more complete Poly software experience where users can access calling, camera controls and collaboration tools without leaving COLL-IN.
The result was two distinct approaches, giving organisations flexibility depending on how they want to use their meeting and collaboration spaces.
Testing Two Different Camera Workflows To Enable HP Poly Integration
During the testing process, we worked with two different Poly camera configurations.
The first focused on simplicity: connecting a Poly camera as a standard video input that could be recognised and used by the COLL-IN system.
The second test went significantly further, incorporating the Poly Studio software environment directly into the COLL-IN workspace.
This allowed us to explore how COLL-IN could act as the central interface for a room while still giving users access to Poly's wider communication and collaboration capabilities.
Test One: Simple Plug-and-Play Camera Input
Our first test focused on the most straightforward deployment scenario.
The Poly camera was connected to the COLL-IN system as a standard camera source. Once recognised by the system, the live camera feed could be accessed alongside the other content being used within the COLL-IN workspace.
This approach is designed for environments where the primary requirement is simply to introduce a high-quality camera feed into the room without adding unnecessary complexity.
For the end user, the experience remains simple. The camera behaves much like any other connected video source: connect the hardware, select the appropriate input and begin using it.
Within COLL-IN, that camera feed can then sit alongside other content being presented or discussed, such as:
Documents and presentations
Websites
Images and video
Other live inputs
Shared participant content
Annotated material
Rather than having the camera operate as an entirely separate part of the room, it becomes another source available within the collaborative workspace.
This test demonstrated that organisations wanting a simple Poly camera deployment can introduce the hardware without significantly changing the way users interact with COLL-IN.
Test Two: Integrating the Poly Studio Software Experience
Our second test explored a more advanced workflow.
Instead of treating the Poly device purely as a camera input, we tested the Poly Studio software itself within the COLL-IN environment.
This creates a much richer experience.
Because COLL-IN allows users to work across different applications and content sources from within a single interactive workspace, the Poly software can be opened and operated alongside the rest of the meeting content.
Users can therefore access the Poly environment without having to leave their COLL-IN session or move between separate room interfaces.
From within the COLL-IN workspace, users can open Poly Studio and access functionality such as video calling, camera controls and Poly's whiteboarding and collaboration features, while continuing to work with the other information already available within COLL-IN.
For example, a meeting could include a live Poly video call alongside a PowerPoint presentation, a technical document, a website and other shared material.
The presenter can then move between these different sources as required while maintaining one central workspace.
Creating a More Unified Meeting Room Experience
One of the main objectives of COLL-IN is to reduce the friction that often comes with modern meeting rooms.
A typical collaboration space may contain a conferencing platform, interactive display, camera system, presentation laptop, documents, browser applications and several different content sources.
Individually, each technology may work well. The challenge is making them feel like part of one system.
Our testing with HP Poly integrations demonstrated how COLL-IN can help bring these elements together.
Rather than forcing the user to think about which hardware input, application or interface they need to switch to, COLL-IN provides the workspace in which those technologies can be accessed.
With the Poly Studio software running within COLL-IN, the conferencing technology effectively becomes part of the wider collaboration environment.
Users can make or participate in calls while simultaneously opening and interacting with the content relevant to that meeting.
Combining Video Collaboration with COLL-IN's Workspace
The integration becomes particularly useful when the meeting moves beyond a conventional video call.
During a discussion, users may need to open a document, compare information, review a website, display a video or annotate something being presented.
COLL-IN is designed to allow those different content types to exist within the same workspace.
When combined with Poly, the video collaboration element can remain available alongside that material.
For example, a user could have a live video conference running while opening several documents within COLL-IN. Those documents can be moved, resized and positioned around the workspace so that information can be compared visually.
Users can then annotate content directly on the interactive display as part of the discussion.
Instead of the video conferencing system becoming the entire meeting-room interface, it becomes one part of a much broader collaborative workspace.
Supporting Different Room Requirements
An important outcome from the testing was that there does not need to be a single way of deploying Poly hardware with COLL-IN.
Different rooms have different requirements.
For a straightforward meeting room or classroom, the simple camera-input approach may be all that is required. It keeps the installation simple while providing a professional camera source for the system.
For larger or more sophisticated collaboration environments, integrating the Poly Studio software provides additional functionality and gives users greater control over their meeting experience.
This means the solution can be adapted depending on the requirements of the room rather than forcing every installation into the same configuration.
Hardware and Software Working Together
The testing also reflects a wider principle behind COLL-IN.
COLL-IN is a software-based collaboration platform, allowing organisations to combine it with appropriate professional AV and IT hardware rather than being locked into a single proprietary display or room configuration.
Working with technology from manufacturers such as HP and Poly allows us to explore how familiar professional hardware can be incorporated into a COLL-IN deployment while maintaining a simple experience for the person using the room.
The hardware provides the professional camera, audio and video capabilities.
COLL-IN provides the workspace that brings those capabilities together with the applications, documents and information being used during the meeting.
More Than a Video Call
Ultimately, our Poly testing demonstrated two successful approaches.
For organisations wanting simplicity, a Poly camera can operate as a straightforward plug-and-play video source within a COLL-IN system.
For organisations wanting a deeper collaboration experience, the Poly Studio software can be accessed directly within the COLL-IN workspace, giving users access to calling, camera functionality, whiteboarding and Poly's wider collaboration tools alongside their other meeting content.
The important difference is that users do not have to choose between their conferencing environment and their collaborative workspace.
They can work with both at the same time.
By bringing professional Poly technology together with COLL-IN, meeting rooms can move beyond simply displaying a video call and become flexible spaces where people can communicate, present, annotate, compare information and collaborate from one central workspace.
Working with HP / Poly is a great experience. Their technology is incredible, their intelligent design, reliability and exceptional audio-visual performance brought to life with our collaboration software.