The most recent Gallup poll on “Work Locations for U.S. Employees With Remote-Capable Jobs” — updated in February 2025 — reveals that 52% of staff have a hybrid schedule, while 27% are fully remote. The big takeaway: Despite all the headlines about some larger organizations pushing employees to return to the office, 79% of those who are remote-capable are joining meetings virtually at some point during the week.
The data buttresses something Crestron has been speaking about for years: achieving “meeting equity,” a state where everyone can be seen clearly by everyone else, no matter their location. In a meeting where everyone is on-site, such equity occurs naturally — we can turn our heads to see every gesture and nuance from our colleagues as they speak. That’s more challenging in a setting that brings in remote participants via video conferencing. Many of us have had the experience of remotely joining a meeting that connects us via a single camera in a large conference room — that “view down a bowling alley” perspective just doesn’t cut it.
The solution: A multi-camera system that can provide full room coverage and dynamic, automated switching. Crestron offers multiple products, including solutions that can easily integrate with features offered by Microsoft and Zoom.
Finding the Right Solution for Your Needs
Crestron offers two multi-camera options for intelligent switching: 1 Beyond cameras and the Automate VX multi-camera speaker tracking solution. Each is designed for different needs and room types, and both are platform-agnostic.
Intelligent Switching with 1 Beyond Cameras
1 Beyond cameras provide a flexible, cost-effective multi-camera solution featuring automatic intelligent switching using zone-based visual cues — or custom control for switching between cameras in your space.
A solution that leverages 1 Beyond camera switching is perfect for medium to large flexible spaces like collaborative meeting rooms and classrooms where zone-based or manual camera switching is sufficient. It’s a cost-effective, plug-and-play solution perfect for informal meetings and active learning.
How it works ...
In a room outfitted with 1 Beyond cameras, the primary camera provides a switched output between itself and up to four companion cameras. There are two switching options here: automatic, which switches views using visual cues when someone enters or exits a predefined zone; or custom control, which allows people in the room to switch between cameras using a touch panel, or with other triggers. 1 Beyond cameras offer Presenter Tracking and Group Framing options.
The benefits of a 1 Beyond camera system include lower up-front costs and simplified deployment and cabling with a single USB connection. It’s also UC platform agnostic.
Intelligent Switching with 1 Beyond Cameras
1 Beyond cameras provide a flexible, cost-effective multi-camera solution featuring automatic intelligent switching using zone-based visual cues — or custom control for switching between cameras in your space.
A solution that leverages 1 Beyond camera switching is perfect for medium to large flexible spaces like collaborative meeting rooms and classrooms where zone-based or manual camera switching is sufficient. It’s a cost-effective, plug-and-play solution perfect for informal meetings and active learning.
How it works ...
In a room outfitted with 1 Beyond cameras, the primary camera provides a switched output between itself and up to four companion cameras. There are two switching options here: automatic, which switches views using visual cues when someone enters or exits a predefined zone; or custom control, which allows people in the room to switch between cameras using a touch panel, or with other triggers. 1 Beyond cameras offer Presenter Tracking and Group Framing options.
The benefits of a 1 Beyond camera system include lower up-front costs and simplified deployment and cabling with a single USB connection. It’s also UC platform agnostic.
Intelligent Switching with the Automate VX Solution
The Automate VX solution is a premium, fully automated multi-camera system with advanced speaker tracking.
The Automate VX solution is an excellent choice for large, high-impact spaces like executive boardrooms, high-impact lecture halls, and bigger spaces where you need automated speaker tracking, dynamic layouts, and a polished, professional video experience. It’s ideal for environments that demand hands-free, high-production quality output.
How it works ...
The Automate VX system directs, composites, and switches up to 12 1 Beyond cameras based on a spatially aware room design using information from the microphones in the room. The cameras are linked to a single video conferencing appliance. This provides the user with industry-leading multi-camera speaker tracking: Visual AI functions for presenter framing and tracking which enable precisely framed shots, reframing if a person moves while speaking, and switching cameras if they change the direction they are looking, so that a remote viewer also gets a head-on view of the speaker.
Want to see the solution in action?
Check out our blog post on the Automate VX solution at work — or have a look at the Smarter Spaces podcast on the subject.
The Automate VX solution offers dynamic composition layouts, with settings for conversation mode, picture-in-picture, or customized designs. You can tailor the installation based on a room’s layout and the shots you need for that space. The solution also gives you recallable Room Scenarios for flexible use cases and support and setup features (like proximity check and other tools — find more info here) for perfecting a room. The technology’s fully supported by Crestron with our Professional Services team and CTI training courses.
The results: Remote meeting attendees are given a broadcast-quality experience with a system that’s spatially aware of cameras, microphones, and people. The system also features recallable presets for flexible room configurations, and, of course, it’s UC platform agnostic.
Quick Facts: Intelligent Switching with 1 Beyond Cameras or Automate VX
What is the difference between a Crestron Automate VX solution and a 1 Beyond camera solution?
A 1 Beyond camera solution is a simple, cost-effective setup that can leverage up to five cameras in a room. It’s perfect for medium-to-large spaces that don’t demand complexity, as the intelligence and switching capabilities are in the primary camera. The Crestron Automate VX solution is a system that controls 1 Beyond cameras and can handle big, high-impact spaces. Additionally, the Automate VX solution is driven by the microphones in the room for advanced speaker tracking, while intelligent switching with the 1 Beyond camera solution can be triggered by visual cues or a control system.
How many cameras can Automate VX support vs. 1 Beyond?
A setup leveraging 1 Beyond runs with a single primary camera driving up to four additional cameras (for a total of five) in a space, while the Automate VX system can handle up to 12 cameras in a room. In addition to its built-in switching software, the Automate VX solution can control external Blackmagic ATEM switchers for deployments of more cameras.
Can 1 Beyond be upgraded to Automate VX later?
Yes! Existing 1 Beyond cameras can be easily integrated into an Automate VX solution.
Do you need precise speaker tracking or basic camera switching?
“If you’re looking for individual shots in a really large room, like a 50-person boardroom, Automate VX is going to be actually probably more cost-effective since the Room Designer does all of the programming,” says Shannon.
The best way to satisfy the needs of modern hybrid collaboration and learning is to leverage a multi-camera solution. They bring unparalleled meeting equity to hybrid collaboration, increasing engagement, improving visibility for every attendee, and maintaining the kind of professionalism modern work demands. Explore Crestron’s intelligent video solutions to find the right solution to transform your meeting and learning spaces here, or talk to one of our experts.