How Has Video Conferencing Changed Business?

Video conferencing has become an essential technology for companies. According to Wainhouse Research, between 2013 and 2015, 71 percent of companies added more video conferencing spaces to their offices. Why has video conferencing become a must have? There’s several reasons, including:

• Better connections between coworkers – Video conferencing helps employees feel like a part of their team, according to a study published by GigaOm. In that study, 87 percent of remote employees prefer video conferencing over other communication methods because it helps them feel better connected to their team and to the company’s processes.

• Reduced travel expenses – This was one of the first major advantages that drove businesses to adopt video conferencing. Modern video conferencing solutions can facilitate meetings that are just as effective as a face-to-face conversations. In fact, immersive telepresence solutions are so streamlined and efficient that companies may go out of their way to host meetings via conferencing.

The impact on a company’s travel expenses can be staggering. There’s no need to pay for an employee’s gas, airfare, meals and accommodations when there’s a video conferencing room available down the hall. Any business that relies on travel may recoup their costs on a new video conferencing solution before long, and continue to reap value from it for years after.

• Improved work and life balance – Many professionals prioritize home and life balance, to the point where many would rather work from home than get a raise. In an industry survey of 1,500 IT professionals, 37 percent said they would take a 10 percent pay cut if it meant they could work from home. Video conferencing makes this possible, so it’s easy for businesses to use their AV solutions as a way to attract top talent.

Adding telework benefits can help companies retain their star employees, too. According to a July 2017 Forbes article, about half of surveyed businesses confirmed that video conferencing helped reduce attrition rates. Professionals want more control over how they work, and companies need to keep their best employees happy. Video conferencing is a win for both sides.

• Enhanced productivity – In the past, the belief was that remote workers couldn’t keep up with their in-office coworkers, due to distractions at home. This idea has been soundly proven untrue, according to another survey published in Forbes. That survey found that about 65 percent of employees are more productive when they work remotely. Many of the respondents cited things like loud coworkers and frequent interruptions as reasons why they could get more done at home.

If there’s hidden productivity waiting to be unlocked among your employees, a video conferencing solution may do more than save your business money. It may boost the bottom line.

With so many compelling reasons to embrace video conferencing, the technology has found its way into nearly every industry. Before your company invests in a conferencing system, though, you’ll want an experienced AV integrator providing the knowhow and technical expertise.

Every video conferencing solution needs these components

Video conferencing systems consist of several components, and they must work together efficiently to guarantee a reliable, high quality video call. Those components include:

• One or more digital displays, which provide the video output.
• A camera to capture video input.
• Microphones to capture audio input.
• A set of speakers to output sound. In smaller conference rooms, the display’s onboard speakers or a USB video bar may provide adequate sound.
• A codec to maintain the call and facilitate data transfer between endpoints.

An AV integrator will help their clients select the right set of hardware and software products to ensure maximum intercompatibility and usability, so the solution works as intended from day one.

AV integrators also support video conferencing solutions long term

Once your company has a video conferencing solution in place, it’s likely that it will become one of most used technologies in the entire building. It’s important, then, to have an expert on hand in case the system requires maintenance or if it’s time to consider an upgrade. Although many AV companies are only focused on selling equipment, a reputable integrator can provide an extended maintenance agreement with its products and solutions. With a maintenance plan in place, if the system suffers from any issues at all, they can be resolved before there’s significant downtime. The peace of mind is worth it if your business relies on video conferencing to interface with potential clients and partners. An unreliable conferencing system may be perceived as a lack of professionalism, even if it is just a one-time occurrence. Partnering with an AV integrator ensures that technical issues won’t affect the system’s effectiveness. Video conferencing has been enthusiastically adopted by many industries, to the point where companies need it to keep speed with today’s economy. It’s more than just a business tool, though, because video conferencing can facilitate better teamwork and collaboration. That means greater productivity, sure, but it also means building a work environment people want to be a part of.