Owl Labs signs UK & Ireland deal to expand on Westcoast

Owl Labs has signed a UK and Ireland distribution partnership with Westcoast, covering the full range of Meeting Owl and Owl Bar devices.

Under the agreement, Westcoast will supply Owl Labs products through its reseller network across both markets, widening availability and improving delivery and support for channel partners and customers.

The deal gives Owl Labs a broader route to market in the UK and Ireland as it looks to grow sales of its hybrid meeting equipment. Westcoast will add the products to its Unified Communications division alongside other workplace collaboration tools.

Demand for simpler meeting setup remains a persistent issue for office and hybrid workers. In Owl Labs' recent State of Hybrid Work report, 79% of workers said they lose time in meetings because of technical difficulties such as joining calls or setting up cameras, while 30% said they spend more than 10 minutes per meeting getting technology ready.

That has created an opening for meeting room hardware suppliers as employers continue to support a mix of office-based and remote work. Across the sector, vendors are trying to convince buyers that easier installation and sourcing can reduce delays at the start of meetings.

The distribution deal follows the introduction of the Meeting Owl 5 Pro, a 360-degree camera, speaker and microphone device for hybrid meeting rooms. The product is certified for Microsoft Teams and offers a single-cable Bring Your Own Device setup.

The agreement is non-exclusive, so existing Owl Labs partners can continue buying through current distribution channels as well as Westcoast. For Westcoast, adding Owl Labs expands its unified communications portfolio as resellers continue to see demand from organisations updating meeting rooms and collaboration spaces.

Westcoast is one of the UK's largest IT distributors, working with vendors and resellers across hardware, software and services. Its parent group, ALSO Holding, extends its reach across European technology markets.

Frank Weishaupt, chief executive officer of Owl Labs, described the partnership as part of the company's regional expansion.

"Technology should not be a barrier to hybrid work," said Frank Weishaupt, Chief Executive Officer of Owl Labs. "Our partnership with Westcoast represents a significant step in our UK growth strategy, aligning our products with a distributor that shares our dedication to customer success. Together, we are enabling seamless hybrid meetings, with technology that makes it easier than ever for organisations to build meeting spaces that work for everyone."

The tie-up also adds another vendor to Westcoast's workplace collaboration push, an area that has remained active as businesses review how offices are used. While demand for laptops and other end-user devices has fluctuated, meeting room technology has remained relevant as companies try to make shared spaces work for staff joining both in person and remotely.

Boston-based Owl Labs focuses on video conferencing hardware for hybrid organisations and has raised USD $47 million in funding. Its product line centres on devices that combine camera, microphone and speaker functions for shared meeting rooms.

Sam Armstrong, unified communications business manager at Westcoast, said the distributor expects the products to appeal to partners serving customers with hybrid working needs.

"We are delighted to welcome Owl Labs to our Unified Communications portfolio," said Sam Armstrong, Unified Communications Business Manager at Westcoast. "As demand for hybrid working continues to grow, our partners and customers are seeking reliable, intuitive solutions that drive productivity and collaboration. Owl Labs' products are a perfect fit, and we look forward to working together to bring these market-leading solutions to businesses across the UK and Ireland."