Now More Than Ever, Reliable Video Conferencing Platforms Are Essential!
In the old days (about a month ago), working remotely was trending up, but it only accounted for a small percentage of the workforce. Only around 3.6% of American employees worked primarily from home in 2018. However, 41% of employees work for companies that don’t provide work-approved technologies. With access to video conferencing platforms, organizations are experiencing higher productivity from remote workers.
During the past month companies have restructured their work environments to synchronize their teams through technologies. As a result, it is easier for employees to collaborate, access necessary documents, and stay connected with their customers. Therefore, we believe it is imperative to identify and implement an effective video conferencing platform that will keep your team connected and productive.
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Video Conferencing Platforms
Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Cisco WebEx are primary video conferencing platforms recommended for commercial use. However, the main distinction on which platform is best to you depends on the environment it will be used in. Below are some quick reviews of each product offering and where they work best.
Zoom
Zoom is a scalable, cloud-based video conferencing and web conferencing platform enabling online meetings, webinars, file sharing, instant messaging, group messaging and more.
This option is ideal for users that may not have systems already in place supported by Cisco or Microsoft products. It is also good for small businesses that are looking for an easy solution that is not expensive and easier to configure than the Cisco or Microsoft back end solutions.
Web conferencing software by Zoom has a broad and well-structured range of functionalities. The software can be used in different scenarios: virtual collaboration, online demos and online training’s.
Zoom supports high quality video conferencing for both hosts and participants. Zoom messaging allows you to chat, share files, and invite contacts to a meeting – all on your Zoom client for PC, Mac, iOS, and Android.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams combines video conferencing software with team collaboration tools and is a great option for organizations who rely on other Microsoft products.
When an underlying Microsoft infrastructure is present, all of the pieces work well together to make workflow easier. Another great benefit to Teams is that Crestron has a partnership with Microsoft to make hardware and controls for small collaboration rooms as well as large video conference rooms.
The Teams communications platform allows MS Office users to conduct conference calls and share files via SharePoint and join or initiate a group chat.
Whether you want to connect with 10 or 10,000. Teams allows users to host audio, video, and web conferences with anyone inside or outside an organization.
Cisco WebEx
Cisco WebEx is a video conferencing software designed for all types of business. If you have an existing infrastructure with phones and video conference hardware from Cisco, WebEx is a great option. Traditionally, Cisco has focused on hardware for larger conference rooms. However, Cisco has started making more devices for collaboration rooms and small conference rooms.
While Crestron does provide modules to interface with Cisco hardware it is not a partnership like Zoom or Teams so updated controls/interfaces take a little longer to release.
Users can organize or join conferences via cell phones, tablets, desktops and laptops. They can share screens in meetings to help all employees to get on the same page.
Employees can record conferences and share with those who were not present for the session. On completion of meetings, users receive an email containing an MP4 recording file, making broadcasting, sharing and reviewing meetings possible.
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Our team would be happy to answer any additional questions or provide demos for home, business or industrial applications.
It’s too early to say whether the current demand to work remotely will lead to more organizations choosing to have more employees work from home following COVID-19. Many of the new remote workers say they miss the creativity, ideas and collaboration of the congregate workplace, as well as the social connections. At the same time, they may celebrate the absence of a time-consuming and draining commute, or travel-required meetings outside the office that video conferencing alleviates.
In meantime, working from home is skyrocketing, and more organizations are emphasizing video conferencing technology as an essential part of their firms going forward.
Over the last 17 years of our business relationship, Fearing’s has been involved in the early stages of project planning to help us develop the best possible product while helping to avoid pitfalls that are common in large scale developments. Fearing’s has consistently accommodated the changes that happen on the fly as a project is perfected and their work has always been on time and most importantly, on budget.
I’m confident Fearing’s will provide your project the same level of expertise and service my businesses have enjoyed over the years.
Todd Nelson,
President of Kalahari Resorts
