A Cisco or Poly video conference room uses these manufacturers’ room equipment — codec or video bar, cameras, microphones, and panel — to connect the meeting with Webex, Microsoft Teams, or Zoom. At Integración AV, Cisco and Poly distributors and Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms partners, we integrate them with the room’s audio, screens, and control.
We integrate equipment from both brands in new rooms and in rooms that already have them installed. This page explains what each one brings and how the room is put together. The full solution, with acoustics and automation, is in video conference rooms for companies.
Cisco and Poly: what each brand brings
Both make room equipment for remote meetings, but they come from different starting points. The choice depends mostly on the platform your company uses and how you manage your rooms today.
| Aspect | Cisco | Poly |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Networking and enterprise collaboration manufacturer | Current name of Polycom, a specialist in audio and video for meetings |
| Room equipment | Codecs, video bars, and collaboration screens | Video bars, cameras, microphones, and audio-conferencing equipment |
| Platforms | Webex, its own platform, and depending on the model, Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom | Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other platforms, depending on the model |
| When it’s worth it | Companies already on Webex or standardizing their network and rooms on Cisco | Companies on Teams or Zoom looking for room video bars and audio |
The specific model is defined during the design, based on the room size and the platform. We don’t recommend a brand before we know the space.
Key idea
The codec’s brand doesn’t fix a room’s audio. In medium and large rooms, the result depends as much on the microphones, the audio processor, and the acoustics as on the video equipment.
How a room with Cisco or Poly is put together
The manufacturer’s equipment handles connecting to the meeting. Around it, we integrate microphones, screens, and control, sized to the number of seats.
Small rooms just need a video bar. Medium and large rooms add cameras, table or ceiling microphones, and an audio processor.
- Codec or video bar
- The Cisco or Poly equipment that runs the platform and compresses the room’s audio and video.
- Cameras
- The one built into the equipment, or additional PTZ cameras with automatic framing or speaker tracking in large rooms.
- Microphones and audio processor
- Manufacturer microphones or Shure, with a processor that cancels echo and levels voices.
- Screens
- One for remote participants and another for content when the room needs it.
- Control
- The manufacturer’s own meeting panel, or a Crestron system when the room also controls lighting, shades, and projection.
Small, medium, and large rooms with Cisco or Poly
In a room with 2 to 6 seats, a video bar from either brand covers camera, microphones, and speakers in one device. It connects to the screen and, depending on the setup, to the room’s computer or the user’s laptop.
From 6 to 14 seats, the codec or bar is paired with table or ceiling microphones and an audio processor. If the table is long, a PTZ camera with automatic framing keeps whoever’s at the far end from being cut out of the shot.
In boardroom or U-shaped rooms with over 14 seats, speaker-tracking cameras, zoned audio, and a second screen for content are added. There, unified control stops being a nice-to-have and becomes necessary.
The room can also include a panel at the door showing whether it’s occupied and letting you book it. We cover that in room booking.
If your company already has Cisco or Poly equipment
It’s common to find rooms with Polycom or Cisco equipment installed years ago. Before replacing it, we check what can be kept.
Manufacturer support
Equipment out of support stops receiving security and platform-compatibility updates.
Current platform
Equipment that worked with one platform may not be compatible with the one the company uses today.
Audio condition
Microphones and the processor are usually the cause of complaints, more than the camera or the codec.
Reuse
Screens, cabling, and equipment in good condition are kept and integrated into the new system.
With that assessment, we propose what to upgrade and what to keep. If the room needs a new system, we compare options in video conferencing systems for companies.
How we work
- AssessmentWe review the room, the existing equipment, the network, and the company’s platform.
- Design and integrationWe define the Cisco or Poly equipment, the microphones, screens, and control, and install them coordinating with office operations.
- Handover and supportWe test the room in real meetings, train users, and leave support and preventive maintenance in place.
Frequently asked questions about Cisco and Poly rooms
Is Poly the same as Polycom?
Yes. Poly is the name Polycom adopted in 2019, after merging with Plantronics. The Polycom equipment still installed in many rooms is from the same brand; what’s worth checking is whether it still has manufacturer support.
Does Cisco equipment work with Microsoft Teams?
It depends on the model. Several Cisco room devices can run Microsoft Teams Rooms in addition to Webex. We confirm this during design, based on the platform your company uses.
Do you work with brands other than Cisco and Poly?
Yes. We integrate Crestron conferencing and control systems, Shure microphones, Sony and Laia cameras, and Mersive wireless presentation. The brand is chosen per project and on technical merit.
Let’s Review Your Cisco or Poly Room
During the technical consultation we review the equipment you already have, the platform you use, and what the room needs. From there we prepare a proposal with scope, schedule, and support.
Request a Technical Consultation Message us on WhatsApp
Bogotá and Medellín · +57 301 656 9858
