APAC is losing millions to “failing” collaboration tech. Neat’s Niko Walraven discusses how AI and unified platforms are tackling productivity and redesigning the modern office.
The shift to hybrid work was initially hailed as a new era of corporate flexibility. Still, across the vast and complex Asia-Pacific region, that promise is being quietly undermined by a pervasive, daily frustration: technology that simply fails to work. In a market spanning from the bustling return-to-office culture of Singapore to the rapidly scaling remote workforces of India, businesses are losing millions annually—not to cyberattacks, but to lost productivity and disjointed collaboration. The meeting room, once a simple physical space, has become the frontline in a critical battle for employee retention and organizational agility.
Niko Walraven, the Area VP – APAC at Neat, is at the center of this technological reckoning. His perspective is clear: the current generation of video conferencing devices is inadequate; they are mere endpoints for calls, not interactive hubs for actual, high-impact work. In this exclusive conversation, we discuss how Neat is navigating APAC’s cultural mosaic by building intelligent solutions—powered by AI and deep platform integration—that prioritize simplicity and meeting equity.Â
Walraven argues that this evolution goes beyond better connectivity, becoming the digital backbone that redefines the purpose and design of the modern office itself. It is an unavoidable strategic investment for any enterprise hoping to thrive in a competitive, digital-first landscape.
Full interview;Â
The APAC region is incredibly diverse in work cultures and hybrid tech adoption. How do you navigate this to scale Neat’s collaboration solutions across such varied markets?
Diversity is APAC’s greatest strength, but it also creates complexity. We see a majority of markets, especially here in Singapore, pushing for a return to the office, while India is scaling large hybrid workforces. However, the core challenge is universal: employees everywhere are frustrated by technology that fails to meet their needs. Our recently commissioned IDC Infobrief reveals that technical issues, outdated equipment, and complex setups are the top productivity killers across the entire region.
Our strategy is to focus on solving these universal pain points with simplicity and flexibility. Our intelligent video devices deliver a consistently high-quality, intuitive experience, whether you’re in a huddle room in Sydney or a boardroom in Mumbai. We start by integrating into existing workflows—offering platform-native solutions for Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet, as well as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) capabilities.
However, our unique differentiator is that we take it a step further. We believe a meeting device should facilitate work, not just calls. That’s why our devices can run leading collaboration apps like Miro natively. This transforms the room from a passive video endpoint into an interactive hub where a team in Singapore can actively brainstorm on a digital whiteboard with colleagues in India, all on the same shared canvas. This deep integration provides a reliable foundation that any organisation can build its specific collaboration culture upon.
As APAC companies rethink office spaces amid rising real estate costs, how is video collaboration tech evolving beyond connectivity to shape workspace design and experience?
Video collaboration technology is no longer an add-on; it has become the digital backbone of the modern APAC office. With real estate at a premium, the office must offer an experience that a home cannot. The focus is shifting from just providing desks to creating a compelling destination for high-impact collaboration and human connection—and smart technology is what makes this possible.
We see technology shaping this by enabling companies to create a variety of “purpose-built” spaces. Imagine moving seamlessly from an acoustically tuned focus pod for a crucial client call to an immersive, dynamic project room for a team brainstorming session. Every space is instantly video-enabled, professional, and free from the distractions of home.
This fundamentally improves the employee experience. It’s a world away from the kitchen table webcam. It gives people the freedom to choose an environment that not only suits their task but also fosters a sense of community and creativity. By removing technological friction—the endless fight with cables and dongles—you make the office a hub for seamless interaction, justifying the commute by ensuring the experience is always more engaging and productive than working alone.
What role does leadership play in driving the adoption of advanced collaboration tools? How quickly are APAC organisations embracing these innovations, and what’s holding them back?
Leadership is the single most critical factor. When leaders view collaboration technology as a strategic investment in productivity and talent retention, adoption accelerates. When they see it as just an IT cost, progress stalls. The conversation has shifted from “How much does it cost?” to “How much is our outdated technology costing us in lost time and frustrated talent?”—which our study shows is about $US8.5 million a year.
APAC organisations are embracing innovation. 49% are already investing in new meeting infrastructure. The primary hurdle is a lingering “good enough” mindset. Many businesses don’t realise the significant cumulative impact of small, daily frustrations. The biggest challenge is inertia, and breaking through it requires a clear-eyed look at the data and recognising that in a hybrid world, the quality of your collaboration tools directly impacts your company’s agility and competitiveness.
Neat Centre uses AI-driven cameras and sensors to enhance meetings. How does AI manage participant framing and visibility — and why does this matter for remote collaboration?
Your AI-powered Neat Centre device utilizes a sophisticated fusion of camera, sensor, and microphone technologies to enhance meeting experiences dynamically.
At its core, our AI is about creating human connection and meeting equity. This intelligence is built on a foundation of best-in-class audio. Features like Neat Symmetry use our advanced microphone array to detect who is speaking and then leverage visual tracking to intelligently frame each person in the room individually. Instead of a static, wide-angle shot where remote participants can’t see expressions, our AI presents everyone as if they were in their own optimised camera frame. It dynamically follows speakers as they move, ensuring they remain the focus.
This matters immensely because it solves the biggest problem in hybrid meetings: remote participants feeling like passive observers. When everyone is clearly visible, you can read body language and facial cues, which are vital for effective communication. This synergy of audio and visual AI alleviates the cognitive load for remote attendees, making the interaction feel more natural and inclusive. It ensures that every voice can be seen, heard, and understood with perfect clarity.
Hybrid work introduces complexity to maintaining connections across various platforms and locations. How does Neat integrate with Microsoft Teams and Zoom to ensure a seamless user experience?
Our philosophy is that the technology should disappear into the background. The key to this is our deep, native integration with partners like Microsoft, Zoom and soon, Google. Our devices are certified for these platforms, which means they not only work with them but also deliver the platform’s core experience. When you walk into a meeting room, you get the familiar Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or Google Meet interface on the Neat device, enabling one-touch joining and a consistent experience for users.
This removes the friction and complexity that kills productivity. There’s no need to connect a laptop and launch an app; the room is always ready to go. For organisations using other platforms, our Neat Select (BYOD) mode allows users to easily connect their laptops and run any video application they choose. This combination of native integration and open flexibility ensures a seamless experience across the entire organisation.
Neat’s sensor data extends beyond meetings to monitor workspace factors, including temperature and air quality. How does this integration help create smarter, healthier workplaces in the APAC region?
Data collected from sensors in Neat devices extends beyond meetings, helping you manage your entire workspace. This is powered by Neat Sense, our integrated environmental monitoring system that sets us apart.
While many companies require you to purchase and install separate sensors, Neat builds a wide variety of them directly into every device. This all-in-one capability provides a comprehensive view by monitoring key workplace conditions, including room occupancy, noise levels, temperature, humidity, and air quality (COâ‚‚).
For facilities and real estate teams across APAC, the benefits of this integration are immediate:
- Simplicity: Instead of juggling multiple vendors, they get a single, holistic source of workplace intelligence.
- Cost-Effectiveness: It streamlines deployment and reduces the total cost of ownership.
- Actionable Insights: The data enables the optimisation of HVAC systems, dynamic cleaning schedules based on real usage, and smarter, data-driven decisions about office layouts.
In a region focused on enhancing employee wellness and sustainability, our integrated approach offers the most efficient way to build smarter and healthier work environments.
Neat’s recent study revealed major productivity losses from outdated meeting tech in APAC. What key shortcomings do you see in typical video setups, and how is Neat solving them?
The IDC report pinpointed three main culprits: poor audio and video quality that forces people to repeat themselves, overly complex setups that delay meeting start times, and a disconnected experience for remote participants. These shortcomings create a “technology tax” on every single meeting, slowly draining productivity and morale.
Our intelligent devices address these issues head-on. First, we deliver studio-quality audio and video, ensuring every participant is seen and heard with total clarity. Second, our devices are designed for radical simplicity, featuring one-touch join functionality that eliminates the setup scramble. Finally, our AI-driven features, such as Neat Symmetry, create an equitable and engaging experience for everyone, regardless of their location. By solving these fundamental problems, we help businesses reclaim those 4.5 lost hours per week and turn their meeting rooms from sources of frustration into engines for growth.
