When pandemic-triggered restrictions forced a good chunk of the U.S. workforce to work from home, video conferencing technology allowed organizations to bridge physical distances and maintain operational continuity. Some analysts say business video conferencing usage grew 2,000 percent over pre-pandemic levels.
With employees now returning to the workplace, you might think organizations would curtail their use of video collaboration. That’s not the case.
According to TechSci Research, the U.S. video conferencing market is expected to see a compound annual growth rate of 15.7 percent through 2030. Remote and hybrid work, increased globalization and the need for seamless virtual communication are driving continued demand for video conferencing solutions.
For some organizations, an upgrade is in order. Faced with a need to set up video conferencing quickly with no allocated budget, some organizations purchased basic solutions with limited features. Those worked well enough in a pinch but lack the capabilities needed to support an effective, long-term video conferencing strategy.
The Value of Today’s Video Conferencing Systems
Even if an organization has implemented a return-to-office policy, meetings are likely to have one or more remote participants. Face-to-face meetings are also being replaced by virtual ones to save the time and cost of travel to a remote office. A high-quality video conferencing solution is essential to maximize productivity and employee engagement.
Basic solutions such as all-in-one videobars are handy, inexpensive and easy to set up. However, they tend to have poor audio and video quality, making it difficult for remote participants to see and hear everyone in the room. These solutions are designed for small huddle rooms although they are often installed in larger spaces.
Today’s solutions not only offer high-quality video but automatically focus on the person speaking. Advanced hardware and software eliminate distracting noise while ensuring more natural-sounding conversations. An ecosystem of camera, microphone and loudspeaker options make it possible to customize the solution to meet the requirements of each meeting space.
Best-in-class systems also feature a range of productivity-enhancing tools such as whiteboarding, screen sharing, real-time document editing and integrated digital assistants. Application programming interfaces (APIs) extend the functionality of video conferencing systems, making it possible to integrate real-time video into business applications and workflows.
Appealing Use Cases Beyond Meetings
With such enhancements, many organizations are using video conferencing in a variety of ways. In addition to team meetings and conferences, here are four areas in which organizations can make innovative use of video capabilities:
Human resources. Video conferencing allows organizations to reach a wider pool of potential candidates while reducing travel costs. It is also a powerful tool for new employee onboarding, orientation and training.
Marketing. Video conferencing enables collaboration for brainstorming and developing marketing campaigns. It is also a valuable tool for lead generation, product launches and demonstrations.
Technical support. A video-enabled help desk enables technical support staff to address problems faster, whether the user is in the same building or another part of the world. Video allows technicians to see what’s happening on the other end, leading to more accurate diagnosis and faster resolution.
Customer service. Live video can help customer support professionals resolve issues in real time. When customers have complex issues, video allows them to describe their problems clearly and agents to provide step-by-step instructions. Agents can also share video, text or graphics that address common issues.
How Verteks Can Help
The Verteks team has proven expertise in the design, implementation and support of video conferencing solutions. We also have extensive experience in networking and can help ensure that your network has the bandwidth and performance to support high-quality video conferencing.
The pandemic drove massive adoption of video conferencing applications, but the technology continues to deliver value even as employees return to the office. Let us help you explore innovative ways to use video conferencing to increase efficiency and innovation and select the right solution to serve your business needs well into the future.
