In the wide market of video conferencing software, you have a lot of choices. However, one of the most important things to look for is versatility. To be cost effective, you should ensure that the software in which you invest is not only properly utilized by staff, but is also easily accessible. Today’s video conferencing options have begun to emphasize the ability to join a conference from your web browser, personal computer, or mobile device. Here are a few of the main points to consider when you’re looking for the most cutting-edge video conferencing software on the market.
- Make It Easy to Use
Enterprise Innovation advises that the video conferencing system you choose, as with any technology, needs to be as easy to use as possible. People also need to be properly trained so they’re not afraid to utilize the system you’re putting into place. Going with a provider like BlueJeans that uses cloud computing and specializes in user friendly set-ups is a good way to ensure that the system you’re implementing will be successful with staff. Whether an employee is young or old, a newbie or a business veteran, it’s a consistent expectation that most of your staff will be resistant to change. You have to show them that the video conferencing software you’ve chosen is easy to use, and can make their jobs easier. For example, once the potential for collaboration is seen using Blue Jeans Group Video Conferencing, many of your colleagues will likely be swayed.
- Keep Your Data Safe in the Cloud
Having to keep all of your data backed up in one place can be problematic, and the amount of data that’s transmitted during an ordinary video conferencing call can overwhelm your servers. This is the case for many companies today that are now looking for alternatives. In fact, according to FedTech, many IT leaders and government entities report that they’re turning to cloud-based video conferencing which is far more convenient than their current set-ups. This is due to the fact that it allows increased flexibility instead of the more costly option of installing in-room set-ups across physical and even geographical locations.
The same goes for businesses. There’s no reason to keep clunky servers around to process and store data when you could be working from the cloud, which much video conferencing software does today. Not only is it more convenient, but it’s also more secure.
- Blurring Lines Between Work and Home
There’s a constant debate about whether letting work bleed into personal time for business professionals is beneficial to work quality or not. However, given that working from the comfort of your own home appeals to many busy people today, providing an opportunity to do so can yield excellent results.
According to Fast Company, the most efficient offices allow workers to blend the line between work and home. While they advise designing offices on-site after home decor for this reason, you can go one step further and utilize video conferencing to stretch communications from door to door digitally. Allowing your employees to telecommute can be beneficial for your business. While it takes self-discipline and a good work ethic to ensure that someone is capable of doing a good job with this approach, you may be surprised at how effective video conferencing can be to facilitate communication with off-site employees.
- Real Time Problem Solving
Picture this: it’s the eleventh hour and you have a client project due the next day. A key staff member is out of the picture due to illness, and they’re incapable of even getting out of bed. The only person that can help you and has the expertise to finish the project is someone who lives in a different time zone.
This is a nightmare scenario that many a project team has been in, but with the right tools, you don’t have to leave your clients in the lurch when emergencies happen. Using video conferencing to contact that distant staff person or have a face to face meeting to break bad news to a client is one of the best ways to manage your business and smooth out kinks when they crop up. It’s inevitable you’ll run into problems once in a while, and having video conferencing software that can connect you with the person you need the most is important. Due to the fact that video conferencing is now refined to the point where you can initiate a call through your Internet browser or tablet via the cloud makes it all the easier. One of the most important parts of business is having access to the people power you need at any given time, and there’s no better way to ensure continuous interaction and communication than video conferencing.
There’s no reason not to be using video conferencing in the 21st century, since it’s one of the most effective tools for business out there, and continues to grow in popularity.