Video conferencing has changed and developed to the point where anyone can now hold a video conference from their mobile phone.
Conferencing platforms have become mobile, accessible, and available everywhere, thanks to streaming and data storage on the cloud.
According to a report published by Grand View Research, the video conferencing market is expected to be worth more than $19billion by 2030.
The report lists big companies such as Microsoft, Zoom, and Cisco among the key players in the video conferencing market.
The Power of Cloud-Based Video Conferencing
Video conferencing was once defined by complex, room-level installations requiring on-premises data storage and IT department input.
Now, as experts spend less time in the workplace and more time on the move, video conferencing services are baked more frequently into mobile work tools through UC&C and UCaaS.
Video is everywhere, from the everyday UC stack to the contact centre environment, and demand is growing thanks to:
- Mobility: The trend of flexible working is driving the need for video. Remote workers need a way of staying connected, and video provides more immersive and intimate conversations.
- Simplicity: Though today’s employees want unlimited options from their communication stack, they don’t want those choices to come at the expense of convenience. The cloud provides a way for video solutions to be accessible alongside the rest of the communication strategy through UCaaS. UCaaS hosts and delivers the same services to a team over the cloud, regardless of where they’re located.
- Collaboration: Videoconferencing allows for better collaboration in the office and on the go, by giving users access to stronger communication with body language and images.
Video Conferencing Platforms
Unlike UC platforms that offer video conferencing in a communication stack, video conferencing platforms focus only on video.
Some of the best-known video conferencing platforms available today include services like:
- Webinars.
- Broadcasting.
- One-on-one video calls.
- Video conferencing.
- Video recording.
- Analytics.
- Toll-free international numbers.
When selecting the right video conferencing platform, you must think about what your employees need to connect with each other.
The top video platforms come with a range of pricing and subscription options to suit almost any type of business.
Video Conferencing Room Systems
Conference rooms are an essential part of the business environment but the nature and size of meeting rooms have changed.
The modern conference room requires more than just a speakerphone that picks up voice signals from employees around a table.
Today’s conference rooms demand HD-quality audio and video, with immersive cameras that can capture the entire meeting space.
They also need collaboration tools, high-quality audio, and even noise-cancelling services.
The best systems deliver instant collaboration and communication environments for businesses that can’t afford to compromise on any project.
Huddle Rooms
Huddle room systems are the solution for a more agile business model.
Most huddle rooms have portable hardware and cloud-based software so teams can change any room into a cost-effective conference space.
Huddle rooms might include:
- Video conferencing services.
- HD audio.
- Monitors/ Displays.
- Interactive whiteboards.
- File sharing and collaboration tools.
What Makes the Huddle Room so Popular?
Huddle rooms can offer several benefits to modern companies.
The huddle room strategy means that companies can offer different locations for smaller teams to use when collaborating on projects.
This means less time waiting around for a bigger conference space, and more time actually completing projects.
Huddle rooms offer smaller companies all the benefits of meeting room environments, without the need for hardware and setup investment.
Huddle rooms are intimate spaces that solve many of the problems that modern workspaces create.
You can outfit a huddle room with the latest conferencing equipment without blowing your budget.
The rise of huddle rooms is about making the most of office space. With teams often not located in the same office, huddle rooms make accessing group video conferencing and collaboration sessions much easier and more affordable.
Video Conferencing Endpoints
As companies move towards the cloud, it’s easy to get caught up in the software elements involved with video conferencing.
However, a video meeting can’t exist without the right endpoints to capture and transmit images to each participant.
Video conferencing endpoints are the hardware solutions companies use to collect and send video and audio through the internet.
Endpoints connect to microphones, cameras, and speakers so that people in a meeting can hear and see each other.
Choosing the Right Video Conferencing Endpoints
Endpoints are named as such because they’re the end of the line for your conferencing connection.
Video conferencing endpoints require codecs such as an “H.264” and support multimedia connections to your IP or ISDN lines.
Additionally, your video conferencing endpoint will require other crucial items: a microphone, a camera, a display, and a speaker.
Your display might be your laptop, or something as large as a monitor with an attached interactive whiteboard.
Similarly, cameras, microphones and speakers can be as complex or simple as you like.
Choosing the right endpoints means understanding what your users need in a meeting room environment.
and how large and immersive you want your conference spaces to be.
For one-to-one meetings, a simple endpoint setup with a basic camera, microphone, and laptop might be enough.
However, for a larger conference, you may need 180-degree cameras, microphones that sharpen voices automatically, and high quality speakers.
Bigger conference spaces also require larger displays to avoid employees huddling around a laptop and may need collaboration tools too.
The Benefits of Team Collaboration Software
Team collaboration tools allow companies to work more efficiently regardless of where their employees may be located.
Collaboration tools are all about delivering communication in real time.
Thanks to presence information, workers can see who is online and set up a video call or collaboration session instantly.
Most team collaboration software comes with:
- Video meetings and Web meetings.
- VoIP calls.
- Instant messaging.
- File sharing.
- Data storage.
- Calendaring and scheduling.
Collaboration for Any Workforce
Many collaboration tools offer video calls through WebRTC technology. This means that people can simply click on a link to join a meeting.
This simple and rapid approach to video technology helps companies to ensure agile communication between their employees.
There’s even a selection of free-tier collaboration tools perfect for freelancers and small businesses. This gives them access to simple one-on-one video conferencing services, along with a host of other productivity tools.
Video Conferencing as a Service vs On-Premises Video
Today, video technology is streamlined and simple enough that almost anyone can use it.
There are two primary options available for companies who want to uncover the benefits of video conferencing for themselves.
The first solution is to choose a “software as a service” or “SaaS” model, using “VCaaS” or “VaaS.”
The other option is to buy and own all the software and hardware you need to facilitate video conferencing.
The SaaS model hasn’t always been the most appealing, thanks to a rocky start for the cloud.
The rise of low-cost storage and computing models, along with more robust and powerful software solutions, has created a case for cloud experiences.
Why Companies Choose VCaaS
Flexible and scalable, cloud technology is changing everything we know about communication.
With the cloud, companies can access simple deployment, cost-effective evolution for their technology stack, and greater mobility.
Video conferencing as a service ensures that your organisation can take advantage of mobile business models.
This creates an environment where fewer employees are shackled to their desks, and more work happens “on the go.”
Cloud services are available on annual and monthly contracts, though many vendors will offer free trials to get you started.
What’s more, the natural scalability of the cloud means that you pay for exactly what you need when you need it.
If you don’t use a particular service, you can switch it off. This means that the cloud has a very low barrier to entry – even for small businesses searching for video.
Why Companies Choose Video On-premise
As video conferencing has become an option for modern companies, most deployments have taken place on-premise.
This meant that only large companies could invest in video conferencing because of the hardware and IT specialty required.
Today, video on-premise is still a popular option for highly risk-averse companies like government organisations, and the military.
Many highly-regulated businesses prefer the comfort that comes with knowing their software and data is available on-premise rather than hosted by a third party.
Choosing the Right Deployment
The cloud is paving the way for all companies of any size to access video conferencing services.
While fans of on-premise prefer to keep their services “in the closet,” many modern organisations recognise the value of moving to the cloud
In an agile environment where technology is constantly changing, it pays to be able to pivot and evolve at the same pace as the market.
Some firms are even exploring the best of both worlds with their deployments, through a “hybrid” option, which allows them to keep some of their data on-premise, and some in the cloud.
This solution can be ideal for larger companies who want to slow down their transition to cloud technology.
What is WebRTC Technology?
WebRTC is a term that stands for “Web Real-Time Communication.”
It allows users to join a video meeting through any browser supporting the same technology.
Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Opera, and iOS all support WebRTC video conferencing.
There’s no need for external plugins, as the communication capability exists within the browser.
Instead of sending a meeting request to your client and asking them to download an application to connect with you, you can send them a WebRTC link, and they can launch the meeting immediately.
The Benefits of WebRTC
Many people rely on WebRTC conferencing technology to help them to connect with people both inside and outside of their company.
In the agile work environment, WebRTC is:
- More cost-effective: If you decide to use WebRTC internally, you can avoid paying out for extra software licenses and any IT assistance that may be required to help your employees leverage your video conferencing services.
- Simple and easy to use: Thanks to click-to-call links, users need to tap on a single URL and enter their username details to join a meeting.
- Better video conferencing experiences: The right WebRTC technology provides you with the high-quality video systems and audio quality you need without the extra stress of implementation and deployment.
Accessing Security and Simplicity with WebRTC
If you’re meeting with a customer or another contact, WebRTC allows the conference to take place without you both having to find the right video software.
At the same time, many WebRTC solutions available today come with well-documented SDKs and APIs that simplify the process of integrating your solution into your existing UC stack.
This means that you can get flexibility from your video conferencing service without having to compromise on a streamlined and connected communication network.
WebRTC offers a greater level of security in today’s environment as it uses secure RTP to offer encryption, authentication, and integrity in your calls.
You can connect with people inside and outside of the business without putting your data at risk.
Quality Management in Standards-Based Video Conferencing
Standards in the video conferencing world can be complicated to understand.
Most companies today rely on solutions like SIP for video management, though older systems turn to H.323.
Gateways are the services that allow for interoperability between these standards, so you can have older endpoints working with newer video services.
Often, video conferencing standards and codecs are the base for interoperability in the communication world.
Some vendors have their proprietary options for H.264 that allow for scalable video coding, which improves quality over “lossy networks” like phone-based services and public Wi-Fi.
One of the biggest challenges that companies face when it comes to interoperability and quality is working out how to implement a new video conferencing strategy when they already have a large infrastructure in place.
For instance, organisations who want to tap into the benefits of Microsoft Teams for communication and collaboration don’t necessarily want to give up on their standards-based infrastructure.
Fortunately, many video vendors can offer solutions like H.264 SVC or RTV to SIP to ensure that modern companies get the best of both worlds.
Multi-Vendor and Multi-Device Interoperability
Interoperability in the video conferencing world comes in many different forms.
As the business world continues to search for technology that works well together in the communication stack, many vendors are beginning to explore communication services that provide “multi-vendor” interoperability.
This means that everyone can connect regardless of the platform they choose.
Alongside software interoperability, vendors are also offering new ways for users to access video conferencing from the device of their choosing too.
WebRTC means users can connect through a web browser, while SIP allows connections to on-premise room systems and conference phones.
Why We Need Interoperability
Interoperability plays a huge part in our lives – allowing us to create and share information across multiple pieces of software and hardware.
Interoperability also ensures that users from any background can enjoy the same level of quality in their conversations, regardless of the device or system they use.
Maximising User Adoption
Without adoption, no communication strategy can succeed. Ensuring the usage of your newest business investment is critical to ensuring ROI for your video conferencing strategy.
Convincing users that they can benefit from accessing a new type of technology isn’t always easy – particularly in today’s multi-generational workforce.
The question is, how can you reduce the friction involved with introducing a new technology, and maximise adoption?
1. Deliver Simplicity
The rise of things like huddle rooms and cloud technology means that video conferencing services can be much more straightforward. WebRTC means that your users can click on a link to join a call.
Adoption relies heavily on simplicity. The easier it is for someone to use your video conferencing technology, the more likely you’ll see the ROI you need.
2. Ensure Interoperability
If your employees are already comfortable using other forms of technology in their communication stack, they won’t necessarily want to adopt an entirely new network to embrace video.
Choosing a video conferencing service that delivers interoperability is crucial to making adoption as streamlined and simple as possible.
Choosing manufacturers with standards-based technology for your endpoints and ensuring compatibility between features ensures that everything in your interface works seamlessly together.
Standards-based solutions can also stop you from being locked in with any specific vendor.
3. Ensure Quality
No one wants to learn to use a video conferencing system that doesn’t give the same call quality as a VOIP strategy.
Quality is a critical component of adoption, so ensure that your chosen technology is reliable, consistent, and accessible.
Whether you choose on-premise or cloud-based video conferencing, good connectivity and high quality conferencing are crucial.
It’s by far one of the most important factors in ensuring that users continue using a conferencing service.
4. Know the Challenges you Want to Solve
Make sure you work backwards with your video conferencing services from the issues you want to solve for your employees.
Whenever you invest in a video conferencing, it’s important to make sure that you’re solving specific problems in your business. Don’t just deploy solutions because your competitors are doing it.
If your staff see that the benefits that video conferencing services bring, then they’ll be more likely to adopt them.
If they can’t see the value of their new technology, they’ll struggle to understand why it’s worth their time.
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