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Video conferencing is becoming more and more of a common occurrence within organizations as more businesses appear to be realizing its potential. Video collaboration is projected to grow more than 30% annually. For many companies across the world, video conferencing solutions are important tools for communicating effectively and smoothing out processes such as cutting down on travel time and cost. It has been said that the average attention span on a video conference call is 35 minutes, compared to 23 minutes on a phone call.
However, deciding on the right system for your business can be the tricky part as so many have various features and capabilities. It’s important that your company understands its requirements before investing in a video conferencing system, or you may risk buying one that doesn’t suit your business! But what are the important steps to consider, and where should you start if you’re looking to invest in video conferencing?
Consider the Cost
While many may complain that video conferencing is an expensive industry to get involved with, it is important to remember that a lot of investments will pay off. If you carefully consider who is going to use the system and how much use it will get, you’ll be able to see clearly if it’s worth buying.
On top of this, whether your budget is high or low, you need to ensure you’re getting as much as you can for your money. There are both free and costly solutions available that have their respective features and capabilities, depending on what you need.
Network and Compatibility
If you’re expecting a lot of different users to take advantage of the system you choose, you must consider that people may be using it with different devices. Various kinds of tablets, phones, and desktops would all have to be supported to allow everyone to use it seamlessly. Any technology you decide to use in your office should be compatible with your existing hardware or other brands.
Likewise, your existing network should support the video conferencing solution you choose, otherwise, you may have to upgrade to the necessary bandwidth.
Security
This is a crucial factor to consider when you’re investing in any sort of technology — with the ever-present risk of being hacked. You should know before you invest in anything what sort of security software you’ll need or what encryption is necessary in order to keep everything safe and protected.
It has been said that cloud-based video conferencing solutions are equally or even more secure than on-premise options, so it’s really up to you to research which option you would prefer for your business.
Usability
It’s worth considering how easy the various solutions and tools are to use. Not everyone in your organization is tech savvy and they may struggle making calls, which could put them off using the technology altogether.
Many systems are simple to use and will only require a minimum amount of steps or clicks to reach the call function, but it’s worth asking for a trial or demo of your chosen video conferencing solution to ensure it’s right for you.
Hopefully after remembering these crucial steps, you’ll end up with a video system that works seamlessly among your staff and between offices and clients. When you need a high quality video conferencing solution, do your research and choose an established provider like Viju that can meet your requirements.