Neat Open unites BYOD, apps, AI in one seamless, cloud-managed experience

The technology addresses persistent limitations in traditional BYOD implementations by transforming meeting spaces into intelligent, flexible collaboration environments that remain productive whether users are in video calls or conducting local meetings.

Neat, a leader in video collaboration technology, today announced Neat Open, a comprehensive bring-your-own-device solution that unites BYOD capabilities, business applications, and artificial intelligence into a single cloud-managed platform. The technology addresses persistent limitations in traditional BYOD implementations by transforming meeting spaces into intelligent, flexible collaboration environments that remain productive whether users are in video calls or conducting local meetings.

Hybrid work has established cross-platform collaboration as standard practice, yet most BYOD solutions have failed to evolve beyond single-user experiences. While these systems deliver audio and video through room devices, only the laptop user maintains control, creating inefficiencies as participants struggle with cable management and losing productivity during transitions. More critically, rooms sit idle between video calls, representing underutilized assets that generate no return on investment outside scheduled meetings.

Traditional BYOD implementations suffer from fundamental shortcomings: no scalability as organizational needs evolve, inconsistent quality compared to native platform experiences, and lack of visibility for IT departments to manage or optimize spaces effectively. Organizations increasingly demand freedom to join any meeting platform, simplified setups with reduced hardware complexity, direct access to business applications within rooms, comprehensive IT visibility and control, and lower total cost of ownership without quality compromises. Small and mid-sized businesses face particularly acute challenges, forced to choose between complex, expensive systems that strain IT resources or budget BYOD devices that cannot scale with growth.

Neat Open addresses these challenges through three integrated layers that work in concert. The evolved BYOD layer allows users to connect laptops via USB-C cable and immediately access Neat's premium microphones, cameras, and speakers. Users can pair their browser with room controls and AI-powered note-taking, providing intuitive methods to adjust settings, manage calls, and capture key information directly from their laptops without leaving their workflow.

The AI value layer extends productivity beyond video calls through wireless content sharing and automated note capture. Multiple participants can simultaneously share content during local meetings, while AI automatically captures key discussion points. Users can subsequently explore topics of interest and query the AI about meeting content, with notes shareable via link to any stakeholder. This capability ensures every meeting—whether conducted via video or in person—generates documented outcomes and actionable insights.

The application layer, powered by Neat App Hub, provides direct access to over 40 business and video applications on the device itself, spanning project management tools, training platforms, and workflow applications. This functionality keeps spaces productive when no laptop is connected, ensuring rooms support how teams work throughout the day rather than serving solely as meeting venues. All three layers operate under unified management through Neat Pulse, Neat's cloud platform that provides IT departments complete visibility into deployment, monitoring, and room utilization analytics.

Neat Open delivers distinct value propositions across organizational stakeholders. End users can join meetings on any platform using their laptops while leveraging Neat's audio and video capabilities, wirelessly share content, capture AI-generated notes, and access daily-use applications directly from room devices. IT managers can deploy and manage entire implementations through Neat Pulse, configuring devices for BYOD-only operation, Neat App Hub access, or hybrid modes that combine both capabilities. The platform provides usage monitoring and space optimization without requiring extensive technical resources or ongoing maintenance overhead.

For organizations, Neat Open increases room utilization rates by ensuring spaces remain productive between video calls. The solution reduces software licensing costs by eliminating requirements for multiple platform subscriptions, while keeping infrastructure future-ready through continuous over-the-air updates and evolving AI features. Even when no video calls are scheduled, teams can share content, sketch ideas collaboratively, or launch workflows directly from devices, allowing meetings to flow naturally while automatically documenting ideas and decisions.

Because Neat's purpose-built hardware and software architecture powers the platform, Neat Open represents not merely a current solution but a foundation for ongoing innovation. Extensible APIs enable integration with emerging tools, centralized cloud updates ensure consistent functionality across deployments, and AI capabilities that continuously learn and adapt mean spaces evolve in parallel with organizational needs rather than requiring hardware replacement cycles.

Neat Open expands the company's portfolio without diminishing its commitment to native platform integrations. Neat will continue delivering differentiated, market-leading experiences for Zoom and Microsoft Teams that maximize platform investments, while native support for Google Meet launches in late 2025. The addition of Neat Open provides flexibility that many customers require without forcing platform consolidation decisions.

By uniting BYOD freedom with Neat App Hub intelligence and AI features on elegantly designed devices, Neat Open transforms spaces into fluid collaboration hubs. The platform offers a future-ready experience that adapts instantly to how teams work, while providing IT departments the security, visibility, and control required to scale implementations with confidence across diverse organizational contexts.

Neat Open eliminates the traditional dichotomy between limited BYOD boxes and rigid, expensive systems. Users gain freedom to work with their preferred platforms and tools, while organizations achieve productivity that extends throughout the workday rather than being confined to scheduled video calls. With Neat Open, laptops become bridges to enhanced room capabilities rather than complete solutions, allowing users to join any platform while accessing Neat's intelligent audio, video, and collaboration features. When calls conclude, spaces remain active and valuable, supporting ongoing work rather than sitting idle until the next meeting.

The platform embodies Neat's foundational belief that video technology should feel human—effortless, inclusive, and inspiring. Neat Open brings this philosophy into a new operational era, transforming meeting rooms from static spaces reserved for scheduled calls into dynamic, all-day collaboration hubs that support every work modality. Whether organizations are fast-moving startups requiring flexibility without heavy IT infrastructure, or global enterprises demanding consistency across BYOD spaces equivalent to dedicated single-platform rooms, Neat Open delivers comprehensive capabilities that scale across contexts.

Neat Open will be available in Q1 2026, with pricing and deployment details to be announced closer to launch. Organizations interested in preview programs or additional technical information can contact Neat's sales team through the company's website.