From major companies to small or medium enterprises, video conferencing is the new norm for business meetings. Video conferencing is fast becoming an extremely popular mode of communication, with many advantages over traditional audio conferencing.
If you have lately planned to conduct a meeting through Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, etc., you should understand the pros and cons of video conferencing.
Video conferencing tools for business encourages people to interact more easily, allowing them to exchange information smoothly. There are many ways you can share information through VC that are simply not possible through phone calls or even face-to-face meetings.
There are also several pros of video conferencing related to cost savings, environmental impact, employee motivation and improved intercultural understanding.
Using video conferencing to conduct interviews and team meetings saves on travel time and expenses. With the ability to communicate from almost anywhere globally, your employees can feel as if they are located closer together even if they aren't.
Video conferencing is a convenient communication method for companies these days with many remote employees.
Video conferencing allows employers to improve communication between teams across departmental boundaries, which may become increasingly difficult when working via phone or email only.
Employees feel closer and more connected to each other through this technology because it's possible to see facial expressions and non-verbal cues that just don't come up in written communication.
One study showed that workers who used video conference software increased their productivity levels by 21%. This allows teams across different locations to communicate more effectively and efficiently, moving towards a common goal.
Workers feel more motivated to contribute their ideas and receive credit for them when they can see the impact of their actions on a project.
With every expense saved on travel, employees save energy resources which is one of the greatest pros of Video Conferencing technology. This new technology also helps companies be environmentally conscious. It encourages employers to have fewer face-to-face meetings that require travel, cutting down on carbon emissions from business trips.
In addition, those employees who would otherwise be travelling for work purposes can stay home instead and use the time productively handling other tasks.
There's increased opportunity for international business collaboration through video conferencing as well as a better understanding of other cultures. Many companies with overseas clients and partners have found that they can increase understanding between teams who speak different languages using video conferencing technology.
There's a reduction in miscommunication and a more successful collaboration overall when this technology is used for meetings rather than only phone calls or written communication.
Video conferencing is an excellent tool, but it isn't flawless. Despite the numerous benefits of video conferencing software, these platforms continue to pose problems for businesses, especially content managers and compliance officers. Here are some of the situations you may experience cons of Video Conferencing tools.
One main drawback to video conferencing software is the quality of the streaming connection. If you're experiencing poor quality, your connection will likely suffer as well, which means delayed or dropped audio/visual feeds, lagging time codes and pixelated images.
The best way to avoid this issue is to make sure you choose high-quality video conferencing software that offers several advantages.
Another disadvantage of video conferencing is the potential for employees to feel uncomfortable with the fact that they are being recorded. For this reason, you should ensure your employees are aware of how their images might be used.
You can also ask them to sign a waiver confirming their participation in training videos or meetings before proceeding with future video conferences.
Many companies choose to use dedicated meeting rooms for video conferencing as there appear to be fewer privacy concerns when not using personal laptops and other devices on home office desks or coffee tables.
For those who like to meet face-to-face via webcam at the start and end of each day, choosing a software package that works with all devices and operating systems is vital.
If you have employees working on different platforms, this can be a challenge as there may be compatibility issues. You should consider which devices and Operating systems your employees will generally use before purchasing your video conferencing software.
If possible, ensure you buy software for the platform(s) that your company uses most often.
Video conferencing requires both desktop and laptop computers (with built-in webcams), high-speed internet access, and training and support from IT consultants to run smoothly.
This can make the initial set-up quite costly regarding time and money; you need to weigh up the advantages against the initial and ongoing costs before purchasing this software.
Though employees might feel more comfortable during video conferencing with the knowledge that their image is being recorded, it's important that they also know that these images may be used in training videos or shared among other departments - including sales and marketing. You should obtain written consent from each employee before recording them for any reason beyond simple face-to-face meetings.
Video conferencing can be disrupted by poor network connections, and the software must have the ability to adjust accordingly.
This means you should choose video conferencing software such as Skype, which includes automatic reconnection, calling via phone and local network, call recording and more.
It may be useful for your IT department to include these features in their support package so they can minimise downtime when technical issues arise outside of normal working hours.
Final Comments on The Pros and cons of Video Conferencing
Video conferencing is a great way to connect with your colleagues and clients. However, there are some drawbacks that you should be aware of before using video conferencing for all communication needs. The pros outweigh the cons of video conferencing; however, it may not be right for everyone or every instance. If you are likely to install new equipment, train the staff, and access premium features, it’s certainly significant to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of video conferencing tools in terms of costs and time.
1. There may be a lack of genuine interactions.
2. Video conference meetings might come across as formal.
3. Network connection difficulties can cause problems.
4. Keeping track of appointments.
5. Complying with legislation and guidelines
6. Organizing data that has just been created
7. Creating rules
Video conferencing increases productivity, saves time, reduces transportation costs, and promotes collaboration in general. The benefit of video conferencing is that it allows you to provide all of these benefits without traveling for face-to-face contact regularly.
The best open-source video conferencing software solution for online learning, according to some experts, is BigBlueButton. It's challenging to set up compared to most video conferencing solutions. Still, it's free and has all of the costly commercial online learning video conferencing software features, and performance is excellent.
Zoom is the go-to video conferencing software for the masses, according to PCMag. But Teams may be catching up. In 2020, 19% of employees in the United States used Teams, with 44 million daily users.
