With 52% of people working remotely at least once a week in 2019 and strict social distancing rules, video conferencing systems should be more than something you might acquire if the need presents itself.
For many small and medium-sized businesses, the need came in the first half of 2020. And, as expected, they weren’t prepared. This opened the door to low-quality free platforms, lowered productivity, and even costly data breaches.
So, in light of the current situation, here are five reasons we think that a high-quality video conferencing system should be among those startup resources that are mandatory for success.
#1: Remote Workers Are Here To Stay
The number of people who would rather work from home was on the rise before social distancing became a trend. In fact, as the current generation of workers is retiring, Millenials are taking over and they love freedom and technology.
The workplace paradigm is changing quickly and businesses that want to keep up must find ways to accommodate remote talent.
#2: It Saves Time & Resources
The access to new technologies and a more open world (due to broad access to the Internet) allowed businesses of any size and type to exceed the limits of their geographical location. Still, if you want to conquer abroad markets, you will have to take a few trips, find local partners, or at least make an idea of how things work.
This translates to costly trips, accommodation expenses, and more. But, with the right video conferencing system, part of these expenses can be eliminated. Once you find the right partners, you can have online meetings during which you can address sensitive subjects like finances, mergers, intellectual property, and more.
However, all this couldn’t be possible without a platform that guarantees a safe and private connection.
#3: There Are Lots Of Affordable Tools
While no network is 100% unhackable, there are tools that proved effective in keeping people in touch safely. Platforms like Hangouts Meets (from Google), WhatsApp, and Skype use encryption methods to keep meetings away from prying eyes.
In addition, each of these tools has a diverse offer, with packages that accommodate the needs of various-sized businesses.
#4: Access To Customer Support
Once you pay for a service, you also get access to customer support. This means that you won’t lose hours (or your sanity) trying to figure out why you can’t unmute your mic or why the video feed is lagging (among others).
However, we recommend reading the reviews that describe the promptness of customer service representatives for each platform. You want a company that’s open to communication and tries to solve problems as quickly as possible. After all, you can still lose hours with a poorly-designed customer service system.
#5: Collaboration Is Encouraged
Modern video conferencing platforms come with features that make you forget you are not in a face-to-face conversation. For instance, some platforms allow users to make real-time edits on a document or share presentations while inviting other members to join in.
Plus, video conferencing is not just for large meetings. Employees can also use it for conversations with their managers or project partners. There are also features that allow recording, to avoid lengthy and complicated emails that are difficult to understand.
Overall, a professional video conferencing system is the perfect tool for businesses that want to embrace the new workplace paradigm. It is cost-effective, easy to implement, and safe to use. For many small and medium-sized businesses, it can also be the first step in the direction of fully remote operation.
