Cisco reveals Webex App Hub for seamless app integration

Announced recently at WebexOne, Cisco has revealed a new suite of apps and solutions, in addition to seamless integration with popular applications to enhance communication, productivity and digital experience.

Cisco’s Webex platform consists of powerful programmability and an extensibility layer via open application programming interfaces (APIs) and software development kits (SDKs).  These features empower users to utilize the benefits of Webex, to call, message, schedule meetings, use multiple devices and gain intelligence and analytics.

To ensure everyone can benefit from this platform, Cisco has unveiled its new Webex App Hub. Available now, the App Hub makes it easy for users to find and use integrations within a Webex messaging space, and soon, the same will be possible in a Webex meeting. The result is an immersive digital workspace where users will be able to easily add and collaborate with third-party applications while in a Webex meeting, then save the work to follow up afterward. The App Hub also is ideal for IT managers seeking to make native integrations company-wide.

The new Webex App Hub will expand the ecosystem of solutions that integrate with Webex. Box, Dropbox, Salesforce, ServiceNow and Workplace by Facebook are among the first partners that will support prebuilt integrations.

“Our vision with building a strong open ecosystem-based approach for partners is to make sure that regardless of the application someone is using, they can work seamlessly with Webex, where the experience is unparalleled and fully integrated for the user,” said Reem Asaad, Vice President, Cisco Middle East and Africa.

Cisco now announces the following upcoming integrations, with more to follow:

Box: User can get the most out of Webex meetings with content stored in Box. Currently, Box and Webex are integrated to easily share and manage Box content when in Webex. Cisco is now elevating this a step further, so that from within Box, users are provided with embedded access to Webex, enabling them to start or schedule a Webex meeting, and share content with a Webex Space – either with an existing Space or a newly created Space – all without leaving Box. All Webex content sharing events are captured in the Box activity feed.

Dropbox: For Dropbox users, the powerful integration coming between Dropbox and Webex will help drive more effective meetings. Users can click and select a file in Dropbox to share during a Webex meeting. Webex users can leverage Dropbox Paper in Webex to easily capture notes, agendas, and follow-up tasks to share with the team or move from chat to a meeting without leaving the Paper UI. Meeting artifacts such as recordings are accessible in Dropbox after the meeting for offline playback.

Miro: Webex customers can also harness the power of visual thinking and team collaboration by using Miro within Webex. This integration allows users to embed any Miro board directly inside of their Webex project space for everything from ideation and workshopping to product planning and design without ever leaving the meeting.

MURAL: Offering an enhanced layer of engagement to video meetings from within Webex, MURAL helps distributed teams share, think, and solve problems together through visual collaboration. The integrated solution will give every team member a voice and makes remote planning, Agile ceremonies, design sprints, brainstorming sessions, and client collaboration more productive and enjoyable. 

Salesforce:  Bringing Webex and Salesforce together can make sales activities and motions 10x better and help drive quotes to cash. Within Salesforce, Webex meetings, messages and calls will be associated with Leads and Opportunities.  These custom Webex objects will be delivered through the Salesforce AppExchange.​

ServiceNow: Webex’s integration with ServiceNow incident management means Webex actions related to Meetings, Calling and Messaging become “in agent” workflows, eliminating manual repetitive tasks and context switching.

Workplace from Facebook: Workplace and Cisco are coming together to improve employee communications for all organizations, particularly those with frontline employees and distributed teams split between working in-office and from home. Now, joint customers can broadcast Webex video live to Workplace and users will also be able to interact (like, comment, react, ask questions, use polls, etc.) during Webex broadcasts, for real-time engagement. Upcoming product experiences will include being able to use Workplace with Webex hardware, and Workplace live engagement features being brought into the Webex experience.