Workplace technology is at the heart of every large, medium and most small businesses across the world. Whether it's a meeting room, showroom, boardroom, a foyer, atrium or training space - workplace technology is there. From video walls to video conferencing, from digital signage to wayfinding and everything in between, the technology in workplaces defines what's possible. 

The most valuable resource of any business is its people.

The most expensive physical asset is usually real estate - places.

So why is the technology that can drive huge gains in the efficiency and productivity of these two critical enablers almost always relegated to delivery under 'Information Technology' - a business cost that's typically only 5% of revenue?

Most business spend less than half a percent of revenue - less than 0.5% - on the technology used every day by staff to ideate, debate, define, agree and ultimately drive innovation and sales.  

Workplace technology decisions are often heavily influenced - if not made - by managers without the cross-functional relationships or authority to effectively serve the needs of the workforce or real estate business areas. Their decisions are often made long after the places are designed or built. 

Therefore,  it's hardly surprising that workplace technology often fails to unlock the true potential of people or places.

 The Global Collaboration Forum will first open its doors in London, with a half-day round-table meeting and networking. The topics to be discussed and thought leaders  driving the conversation will be agreed and communicated in advance. 

The format is unlike the usual IT or AV industry meeting. GCF members will be seated at round tables, and once the subject has been introduced and the thought leader has sowed the seeds of vision, challenge or opportunity, each table gets to work. 

Each member is expected to give their input, sharing their own experience on the topic at hand. Ideas and experience will be collected, and each table will vote on priorities and paths forward. 

Once complete, all tables will share their findings back with the room. Further discussion, clarification and then more voting will draw out the collective wisdom and diverse opinion of the gathered GCF members. 

GCF will operate under the Chatham House Rule - meaning the collective wisdom and any individual learning becomes available to the gathered membership, but no individual or organisation will be identified.

An example of the Chatham House Rule in operation: GCF member ACME Ltd. recently ran a proof of concept across their European offices using new workplace software, integrated with existing meeting room solutions. The ACME CIO shares their findings, learnings and opinion of the software, the POC process, how staff reacted, the perceived benefits in time / efficiency etc, and what they would do differently next time. 

The gathered GCF members are free to reference the data and opinions presented in their own internal discussions and strategy evolution, but not ACME Ltd or the CIO's name. 

If a member is not able to attend, the findings of the meeting will be shared in a minute document afterward, for reference. 

Members are encouraged to connect with their GCF peers one-to-one, to share knowledge & experience directly.  The collective member wisdom is the true value of the Global Collaboration Forum.