The world runs, partly, on technology, making software solutions and guided training essential for companies to operate successfully. That’s where Haufe Group thrives. Haufe Group is a leading B2B provider of integrated business and workplace solutions headquartered in Germany. The family business supports people and companies in their business development and in successfully shaping transformation processes – with content, software and training.
Today, Haufe Group employs around 2,500 people at ten locations. The Haufe Group’s best-known brands include Haufe, Haufe Akademie and Lexware, and over one million customers from the DACH region rely on the services of Haufe Group – from solo freelancers to all DAX 40 companies.
As a company focused on digital transformation, Haufe Group is continually seeking ways to enhance its internal operations, identifying partners that enable all employees to perform at their best. That means replacing older systems that are no longer serving the team with new ones that perform the job efficiently. This is the story of how the team partnered with Cisco for streamlined Microsoft access and room devices in all their offices.
Fragmented collaboration and device incompatibility
Back in 2015, Haufe Group began its relationship with Cisco, securing its first Cisco video conference devices in about 30 different rooms. Over the next few years, the company continued growing and implementing other devices, eventually utilizing Webex tools for various aspects of daily operations.
In 2020, Haufe Group made the decision to standardize on Microsoft Teams. As they evaluated the market they had two key considerations i) as they refreshed their video estate with new endpoints, they needed to be able to continue to use their existing Cisco devices until their end-of-life, and ii) While the majority of meetings would be on Teams, they still had a significant number of Webex meetings happening. Haufe Group wanted to ensure they could provide a great experience on whatever meeting platform, and on any device.
This is where Cisco had an advantage over other solutions – Haufe Group could invest in the latest Cisco Room Bars, Board, and Kits running a fully featured, native Microsoft Teams Rooms app experience AND join fully featured Webex meetings on the same device. They could also leverage Cisco’s Video Integration for Microsoft Teams (VIMT) service – to support both Teams and Webex meetings on their older devices. And with Webex Control Hub – they could manage their entire estate of devices from one place.
“When we moved from Webex to Microsoft Teams, we wanted to keep our existing Cisco devices because they still worked perfectly,” said Thomas Biechele, Haufe Group’s main Collaboration Specialist.
Another main concern was scalability and flexibility. Because each of Haufe Group’s various locations and offices has different uses—like boardrooms, collaboration spaces, and flexible tables—it was challenging to find video and audio tools that would work alongside Microsoft Teams to ensure high-quality finishes and crisp clarity. This didn’t make for a good long-term fix, meaning the team was stuck with an inconsistent experience across old and new devices.
The last problem was operational efficiency. Biechele is Haufe Group’s main Collaboration Specialist, managing the way employees use technology daily for work-related tasks. Because he’s managing video infrastructure, he needed a solution that offered simple setup, management, and troubleshooting. And with only two other people employed to assist, it was critical that the tools he selected would enable him to have a full view of all systems being used across the company locations.
Cisco video infrastructure integration
To ensure that Haufe Group could continue using Cisco room devices while being a Microsoft Teams company, the team decided to integrate legacy Cisco endpoints with Cisco CVI gateways. This enables full Teams interoperability, ensuring every device can work seamlessly with Microsoft systems.
“Cisco’s Teams-native devices were a no-brainer—better integration, easier network management, and only 10% more than competing options,” said Biechele.
Haufe Group’s offices feature a mix of devices, with each space delivering the same intuitive experience: one-touch join for Microsoft Teams meetings, intelligent camera framing, and in-person-like audio powered by Cisco’s Ceiling Microphone Pro and Table Mic Pro units.
The company also adopted Cisco Navigator Touch Panels as in-room booking displays, helping employees instantly see room availability and start meetings with a single tap. “People just walk into the room, tap the screen, and start their meeting. There are no complications,” said Biechele. “The quality is great—audio, video, and the overall meeting experience are very consistent, even across different locations.”
Behind the scenes, Haufe Group relies on a comprehensive Cisco networking and security stack—including Cisco Switches, VPN, Cisco DUO, Umbrella, Firepower firewalls, and Cisco ISE for certificate-based access. This foundation ensures secure connectivity for every meeting and seamless integration between devices, networks, and users across all locations.
Seamless Microsoft Teams experience
Haufe Group’s transition to Cisco’s Teams-integrated video ecosystem has transformed collaboration across its offices. What began as a challenge to unify hybrid meetings has become a flexible, scalable system managed almost entirely by one administrator, Biechele.
With more than 150 Cisco video devices deployed and connected to Microsoft Teams, employees can enjoy a consistent, one-touch join experience, whether they’re in Freiburg, Berlin, or Barcelona. Through Control Hub, Biechele gets an accessible, bird’s-eye view of all systems in place, eliminating the need for on-site intervention and ensuring minimal downtime.
“Control Hub is really easy to use. It’s much more user-friendly than other platforms,” said Biechele. “With it, I can configure or update any room from my desk and get notified automatically if something isn’t working—and that saves me a lot of time.”
The integration of Cisco’s CVI gateway extends the life of Haufe Group’s legacy Room Kit and Room Kit Plus systems, allowing them to join Teams meetings without replacement. Meanwhile, new Teams-native Room Bar and Room Bar Pro devices deliver high-quality video and audio in a sleek, easy-to-manage package.
“Now, with Cisco’s Teams-native devices, the integration is even smoother,” said Biechele. “It’s just one button to join, and everything works right out of the box.”
This improved user experience provides team members with more time back in their days to focus on value-adding tasks, rather than attempting to troubleshoot meeting problems on the fly. Plus, each individual can rely on secure video communication, no matter where they’re joining from. This makes sure employees have what they need to best serve their customers.
As Haufe Group continues to modernize solutions and choose partnerships that serve internal and external groups alike, Cisco will be there to customize tools for the company’s specific needs.
Want to find scalable technology solutions that will improve operations and meeting quality at your organization? Connect with a Webex team member to learn more about our systems and devices.
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