Choosing the right solution for your small business
With the advent of widespread remote work, collaboration has become more complex. Instead of gathering in a physical conference room, meetings are now virtual. How do you choose the right solution for your small business and give your teams the tools they need to succeed?
Unproductive meetings are a waste of time and energy. When conducted from a distance, they have the potential to be even more disorienting. The right video conferencing solution can make meetings productive again.
5 things to look for in a video conferencing solution
Before purchasing a conferencing solution for audio/video calls and meetings, there are a few questions that need to be answered. Carefully review each of your potential solutions to see if they support these must-have features.
1.In-browser functionality
Many video conferencing solutions require users to have an account or download an app. It’s just another hoop to jump through and another connection to remember. Look for options that support in-browser use and have fast availability instead.
When you can simply invite people to a meeting with a quick email and they can jump straight into the meeting by clicking a link, you reduce the time people wait for people to find their connection or request a new one. password, or download and launch a .
Cisco Webex Meetings has a fast browser-based interface, providing easy access for desktop users. Your participants can also participate via tablet, phone or any other standardized video conferencing system. The goal is to deliver unparalleled video quality from anywhere your team member is, on any device they choose to use. You can easily customize the meeting layout for better viewing and usability.
Best of all, there’s no download or setup required, and users can easily join meetings over the phone with the Call Me feature. You can schedule, start, and join new meetings right from your toolbar for added flexibility and convenience.
2.Collaboration features
The ability to actively share and collaborate during a conference can improve video calls and teamwork. Look for solutions that enable the following features:
Screen sharing: Being able to show, not tell, can streamline training processes and make it easier to follow groups when demonstrating how to use a new tool or app.
File Sharing: Dropping a document into your meeting for everyone to access saves time and effort on creating and sending an email with the attached file or link .
Instant Messaging: Having a built-in chat allows attendees to ask questions without interrupting the flow of a presentation and helps keep a record of attendance.
Webex Meetings facilitates screen sharing, file sharing, and real-time chat during video conferencing calls to foster collaboration and build stronger teams.
3.Speech-to-text capability
Being able to review what happened on a conference call can give your video conferences a lasting organizational impact. Look for features like audio/visual recording, closed captioning, real-time transcription, and note taking. Being able to share a past video conference with someone who missed it is easier than trying to recap it later.
Webex Meetings can record every conference, provide closed captions, facilitate note taking, and provide accurate transcripts that you can download, save, and share as needed. When you need to revisit an older lecture, you can use targeted keywords to search the transcripts for sections that interest you.
4.Cost vs. value
While cost is certainly a factor for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), it shouldn’t be the deciding factor when deciding how to handle your video conferencing calling needs. Not all options are created equal, and it’s worth paying a little more for a video conferencing solution that meets your team’s needs.
- Quality: Read reviews and find out which solutions are consistently praised for clear audio and smooth video streams.
- Resolution: Does image quality suffer on some devices? You need a solution that doesn’t just work on desktop or mobile.
- Security: How are your calls encrypted? Who manages the text-to-speech function and provides recordings, transcripts and closed captioning?
- Support: When you run into issues, waiting in a queue or emailing a support team is not a viable solution. You need help available and accessible in real time.
Webex Meetings video conferencing provides clear audio and high-resolution video, plus in-house encryption, recording, captioning, and transcription for a secure experience. The support team is always available to solve any potential problem with you in real time.
5. Integrations
How well will the video conferencing solution integrate with the tools you already use? Ask the following questions when considering adding video conferencing to your suite of small business solutions:
- Can you seamlessly merge your contact list, email client, and calendars for easy meeting invites?
- Will you be able to easily access files from your favorite file sharing and storage locations?
- Is the solution compatible with Microsoft and Apple tools and applications?
- What about chat and communication platforms?
- Can you use the video conferencing solution in your favorite small business customer relationship management (CRM) platform?
Being able to continue using the other solutions your team is familiar with will make video conferencing easier and more intuitive.
Webex Meetings seamlessly integrates with Google Cloud, Microsoft, Apple, Box, Salesforce, and Slack to complete your suite of small business tools while driving scalability and adoption.
