In the corporate world, video conferencing has been popular for years, especially amongst remote workers, digital nomads, and large corporations. Industries such as IT and tech, human resources, designers, and more have relied on group communications as a way to stay connected.
For a lot of people, however, video conferencing may not have been on the radar as much – until 2020 happened.
With a pandemic that took hold of the world, video conferencing exploded to include and transform many industries and households. If your workplace was on the brink of upgrading their workflow with video conferencing solutions or have had to pull an emergency stop and completely make the virtual leap, it immediately became apparent that the way of the future (for now!) was taking your business online. Suddenly, industries like education, media, and healthcare that haven’t had a focus on video conferencing, have had to jump on the bandwagon and adopt a more video-first approach.
Video conferencing as the go-to and the second best thing to being in person shouldn’t come as a surprise. We’ve always been told that video would replace telephone calls (ever hear of a telephonoscope?) and right now with a very obvious increase in video conferencing, that fiction has become a reality.
The age of video conferencing is here and it’s present in most households and palms of the hands around the world. But what’s next? How will video conferencing continue to unfold and shape the way we operate a business, meet new people, and connect with loved ones?
(alt tag: Happy woman sitting on floor by a sunny window, cross-legged with an open laptop, drinking tea and working from home)
The Future Of Video Conferencing
What was once considered a figment of the imagination (The Jetsons, anyone?) that then turned into a perk of the job mostly for high-level execs and VIPs, video conferencing has now secured its position as a necessary mode of communication for everyone.
Already on the up and up, it’s apparent that the pandemic became the catalyst to the acceleration and adoption of video conferencing not only for c-level execs in enterprises but for burgeoning online businesses, remote workers and even grandparents! It’s become the virtual bond that creates cohesion, forges collaboration and is the platform that workers are relying on more and more.
Let’s dive in a little deeper:
Web and video conferencing for business have increased by 500% in buyer activity since the beginning of the pandemic at the end of 2019. Seeing the need to shift towards a more video-first strategy, approximately 67% of companies have increased their spending to accommodate video conferencing.
A quick video conferencing industry analysis demonstrates that the need and demand for the technology have snowballed over the years. Especially with free video conferencing solutions that offer a range of free features plus paid and premium products, brands made the move and the investment.
Naturally, this has supported remote work with a focus on meetings made “global.” Wherever you are physically located, you can show up virtually. Business costs are cut by 30% with video meetings that happen online instead of in-person. Once airfare, hotels, on-ground transport, and per diems are cut, consider just how much gets saved by hosting online meetings instead!
Furthermore, video supports and nurtures collaboration. Even on a remote team, 87% of members “say that they feel more connected to their colleagues with video conferencing.” By keeping up with a routine that involves online meetings, both office, and remote workers can continue to strengthen their working relationships while moving company culture online, proving that a remote landscape doesn’t have to be a business buzz kill!
Enhanced collaboration organically improves engagement. Video helps to keep participants present and in the moment. In a poll of 2,610 respondents, the following data is as follows:
- 56% of people admit to multi-tasking while on a phone conference
- 16% confess to being distracted during an in-person meeting VS. 4% during a video conference
- 63% said they are more prepared on the item to be covered when it’s a video conference
- 66% use video conferencing for all hands on deck and team meetings
- 27% use it for one-on-one meetings
- 18% use it for company announcements
In short, video conferencing has the power to form a virtual collective while maintaining company culture, and staying on track with performance, enhancing collaboration, and improving engagement. Sounds like a step in the right direction, don’t you think?
(alt tag: Team of four sitting in loft-style office at a boardroom table, discussing and pointing at an open laptop)
Why Video Conferencing Is The Future
The guiding points in which video conferencing continues to enhance the future success of your business is by providing teams with:
- Flexibility:
Free video conferencing offers the utmost flexibility for workers who value work-life balance. Team members who need to work from home can still participate in discussions whether they are across the boardroom table or sitting at home in their kitchen. With a focus on flexibility, employees feel that they are more in control of their lives, and therefore showcase a higher level of job satisfaction which then leads to better job retention. Homeworkers are proven to work harder and smarter, producing 13% more while still working the same hours! - Mobility:
The feeling of not having to be chained to a desk is truly a sign of the times. Rather than being strapped to a chair and keeping an eye out for emails, notifications and physically being present in the office to attend meetings, with video conferencing solutions, everything is moved online for added convenience. You can always record now and watch later, or attend a meeting from wherever you are at the time. Mobility is further enhanced with a mobile app that allows you to schedule and attend online meetings from your mobile. The best video conferencing app gives you conference calling and video conferencing capabilities via Android and iPhone, so you can still get work done wherever you may roam. - Collaboration:
As part of a big or small group, collaborating on presentations and discussions happens mostly from a stationary camera. But as we move into the future and head towards a “work from home” agenda, it’s becoming apparent that convening in 3D is on the rise. From green screens, to screen filters, VR avatars, and more, the idea is that video conferencing is working to make the virtual experience more real. Video game-like characters, more expansive views, and integrated face-to-face interactions will affect collaboration positively and more effectively.
The Future Of Video Conferencing Is All About Productivity
In terms of work and online meetings, productivity happens when communication is streamlined, focused, and made possible across multiple devices with greater speed, accuracy, and delivery.
Step into tomorrow by implementing video conferencing that promotes productivity with:
- Browser-based, zero-set up technology
- A mobile app on your Android or iPhone
- Video conferences that show body language and tone of voice
- More engaging presentations that use screen sharing
- Easy access and retrieval of media, links, and files
Forget the heavy-duty hardware and equipment that once came with video conferencing. Not only did that make the technology expensive, complicated, and add an extra layer of set up, now getting connected is simple and only involves a device, browser-based software and an internet connection.
Let FreeConference.com prove why video conferencing is the intelligent path that leads to the future success of your business. Ensure your workspace is future-ready with free video conferencing that offers a robust two-way communication platform, complemented with a wide variety of features that gives your business the upper hand. When features are free – like a free conference call, free video conferencing and free web conferencing – it makes staying connected that much more feasible.
