Video conferencing technology helps businesses and teams boost their productivity and stay connected. Video conferencing is a technology that lets users in different locations hold face-to-face meetings without needing to move to a single location.
Video conferencing technology is convenient for business users in different cities or countries because it saves time, hassles associated with business travel, and expenses. Many businesses use video conferencing software for holding routine meetings, interview job candidates, or even negotiating business deals.
Key Considerations
- Video conferencing is a convenient use of technology and lets users in different locations hold virtual face-to-face meetings.
- There are numerous ways to utilize a video conference with Vast, including company meetings, addressing board members, or job training sessions.
- You can use video conferencing to connect traditional classrooms with students who take classes remotely.
- The quality and stability of the video conferencing software can fluctuate with the reliability and speed of the data connection.
- There are various ways video conferencing can be conducted, such as using smartphones, tablets, of desktop computers, or TVs. One should subscribe to the best broadband tv deals for this purpose.
How Video Conferencing Works
The main advantage of video conferencing is that users can see each other. This allows participants to develop stronger relationships when video conferences are being held for informally, it is called a video chat or video call.
There are various ways of conducting video conferencing. Participants may use web cameras through their laptop, tablet, or desktop. Smartphones that are equipped with cameras also can be used to connect video conferences. Typically a software-based platform is used to transmit communication over internet protocols.
Required Component of Video Conferencing Technology
The workings of a video conferencing technology include:
- Network for data transfer that typically uses high-speed broadband internet, which uses technology like voice over internet protocol (VoIP).
- Two or more video cameras, webcam or smartphones that provide video input
- Two or more microphones either located on an individual device or device that provides audio input
- Computer screen, monitor, television, or projector that can broadcast video output
- Laptop speakers, headphones, or professional speakers that can use the audio output
- Acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) software which helps with reducing audio delays and supports real-time streaming
Uses of Video Conferencing
Video conferencing processes are split into two parts: transfer and compression. During compression, a person’s webcam and microphone will capture analog AV input.
Data and information collected in the form of continuous waves of frequencies and amplitudes represent captured colors, sounds, brightness, shades, and depth. During the phase for transferring, digitally compressed data is sent through the digital network to the receiving computer.
Below are four ways video conferencing brings teams together:
#1. Streamlines Collaboration
When your team is relying solely on email to solve problems, they can end up spending hours of their day wasted with emailing back and forth, and no conclusions made.
Sometimes, these emails would be better resolved with a face to face conversation. Being able to collaborate with your team in real-time enables your team members to brainstorm, work, and make decisions on the spot.
#2. Improves Communication
With emails, you can’t read tone or see body language over the phone, but both of these items are essential cues to ensure that everyone is working on the same page. With the amount of emails team members get, likely, some messages are only being skimmed or missed altogether.
When team members have the opportunity to exchange ideas and see colleague’s reactions, there are fewer chances for miscommunication or misinterpretations that can hinder decision-making and productivity.
Video conferencing also enables managers or team leads to communicate important information to different groups and departments at the same time, which reduces the need for multiple meetings or long emails.
#3. Connects Remote Workers
A lot of companies are getting into letting employees work remotely from home, especially in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Depending on your team, having a handful of people working from home, there are times when they need to see one another or see something a manager needs everyone to see.
Video conferencing is beneficial for a team working remotely as it allows them to see team members and collaborate face-to-face. Remote workers feel more united to their team when they are included in video conferences, and the more relevant your team feels, the more effective and productive their work will be.
Another benefit of video conferencing is that employees who are not able to join at the scheduled time can still catch up after the fact and include their input.
#4. Boosts Attendance and Participation
When team members are equipped with the tool they need to participate in a video conference effectively, they are more likely going to show up and actively contribute to conversations. Sometimes, it can be challenging to get all team members on the video conference, especially if they are dispersed across time zones.
However, through video conferencing, these members can still catch up on essential meetings after the fact and give their input. Video conferencing helps keep work moving forward amongst the team.
Final Thoughts
Having face-to-face meetings are essential for building a team and collaborations for sales, customer relations, and all other in-person aspects of your business. Video conferencing allows for your team to get together virtually and see each other face-to-face.
For businesses, it can increase productivity amongst employees, improves ways of communication, and increase interactions with employees, colleagues, and clients.