NZ's Workplace Collaboration Scorecard: Are We Leading or Lagging?

A new research report reveals surprising trends and insights into how organisations across New Zealand are embracing hybrid work, meeting equity, and AI-powered collaboration tools. 
 
In this episode of Lifting the Lid on Technology, Jason MacBride, Regional Director ANZ at Neat, joins the conversation to unpack what the data means for local businesses, where New Zealand sits on the global collaboration scoreboard and how Neat is paving the way for customers in the local market with innovative workplace collaboration solutions.

The IDC APAC Team Collaboration Benchmarks Report delivers a timely reminder for IT and HR leaders: satisfaction does not always equal progress. 
 
Across ANZ, organisations report strong satisfaction with their current video collaboration tools. Yet adoption of AI-driven meeting features remains limited. This gap suggests many teams are comfortable with the familiar but hesitant to explore the next wave of intelligent capabilities that could significantly boost productivity. Here is an insight into Jason MacBride's perspective.

"Simple to use, simple to manage, and simple to deploy. When you get those three things right, user uptake and return on investment improves dramatically."

Across the wider APAC region, only 36% of organisations believe they are maximising the value of their collaboration investments. For New Zealand businesses competing in global markets, this insight represents both a challenge and a strategic opportunity.

Despite rapid technology improvements, 60% of ANZ leaders still cite meeting equity as a major challenge. Remote participants often struggle to be seen, heard, and valued equally in hybrid environments, a barrier that continues to limit inclusion and innovation. On the most recent episode of Lifting the Lid podcast, Jason MacBride shared insights into how important meeting engagement is.

"When you're remote, you shouldn't become invisible. The ability to be seen changes the whole engagement of the meeting."

MacBride shares practical examples of how leading organisations are addressing these challenges, from intelligent camera framing to room layouts designed to promote equal participation. 
 
When everyone has an equal voice, engagement rises, collaboration improves, and decision-making accelerates. Meeting equity is not just an ethical goal; it is a measurable driver of organisational performance. 

The future of collaboration in New Zealand is being shaped by cross-functional teamwork. Successful strategies are emerging where IT, HR, and facilities teams co-design environments that bring people, technology, and spaces into alignment. 
 
MacBride highlights examples where this partnership approach is creating connected, adaptable workplaces that enhance both employee experience and operational efficiency.  
 
True collaboration is as much about culture and design as it is about devices and platforms.

A powerful new theme is emerging: 73% of APAC organisations now link collaboration investments to sustainability and cost-efficiency outcomes.  
 
For New Zealand businesses committed to environmental responsibility, this shift presents new opportunities. Smarter collaboration technology can reduce travel, shrink carbon footprints, and support flexible work models without sacrificing connection or performance.  
 
From energy-efficient meeting devices to more sustainable workplace designs, the convergence of technology and sustainability is redefining how NZ organisations approach collaboration.

As AI capabilities become integral to collaboration platforms, security and privacy expectations are increasing. MacBride explains how Neat embeds data protection into every aspect of its product design, ensuing organisations can innovate safely in a rapidly changing digital landscape.  
 
For New Zealand businesses facing a growing number of cyber threats, selecting trusted technology partners and enforcing strong governance remains critical to protecting both people and information.

This episode of Lifting the Lid on Technology delivers practical insights for IT decision-makers, HR leaders, and anyone shaping the future of work in New Zealand. 
 
Whether you are:

• Evaluating new collaboration platforms
• Tackling meeting equity changes
• Integrating sustainability into your workplace strategy

this conversation offers evidence-based perspectives and actionable ideas to help your organisation move from simply using collaboration tools to truly mastering them.  

Jason MacBride serves as Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand at Neat, where he champions the shift from complex collaboration setups to solutions that simply work. His vision centres on empowering organisations with intuitive, intelligent video solutions that make hybrid collaboration seamless. Under his leadership, Neat focuses on streamlining deployment, use, and management, enabling teams to spend less time configuring technology and more time truly connecting.