– Simon Davis, business writer, says:
In a recent article published by Beta News, the author notes that what all successful enterprises share is a time-honored communication system that is fully capable of connecting the company to both its employees and customers. While technology in the last decade made video chats plausible, the system wasn’t at its optimum best. Some were too unwieldy and had complex log-in procedures that deterred rather than encouraged communication among users.
Through emails and text messaging, while connections were instant, there was also a decided lack of face to face interaction. The ‘human factor’ was missing.
Better Video Technology
With the arrival of better and more accurate video conferencing technology, the use of video has provided companies with ways to connect to teams and clients in a way that allows users to experience meaningful face to face interactions. Because of options that include video conferencing through the Blue Jeans Network, it’s now easy for users to get a read up on the facial cues and bodily gestures of whoever is on the other end of the connection.
With cloud-based solutions like Blue Jeans, the connections are easy to set up and simple to use. The technology is also a wonderfully low cost measure to ensure the communication needs of a company, both externally and internally, are met.
There’s also the decided plus of cost-savings since video conferencing effectively puts more than half of a company’s travel bills—along with all the other associated costs—off the table.
But what really stands out is the way it provides real value to its users, in terms of collaboration. Here’s how that happens:
- Room to Remote
With reliable cloud-based video conferencing solutions, users can simply go to a room where the technology is already set up in a way that allows ready use at any time of the day and start a video conference to anywhere. The connection could link up to a customer, who could be in a different state or country. Or, to an offsite employee who is working on the go. Another possibility is a remote team—with geographically dispersed members the world over.
The sheer convenience of being able to connect to clients or to share data and discuss plans and strategies with other teams in such a fast and meaningful fashion improves the way the company does business. No need to bop over to cities and states, to countries and continents.
Fast connections mean speedy results. Better communication means accurate decisions. With room to remote capabilities, businesses can look forward to spending more on other core business and less on worrying about flaws or holes in its communication system.
- Face to face interaction
The high-fidelity video face to face interaction in many businesses is critical. For one, it helps users to see, not just the data or information being shared, but also the way it’s being shared. A frown could be an indicator that something is off. Facial cues and body language provide another dimension to the exchange. For companies looking to hire by interviewing applicants in a video conference, such tells are crucial. A nervous hand habit can lead to an unfavorable result. A confident smile, on the other hand, can lead to a new job.
In case of meetings, being able to see your team’s reactions to what is being said, to the data being delivered, is essential in helping managers and top level executives with how to act on company initiatives and plans. A dispirited reception could mean an initiative needs to go back to the planning table. A cautious, but receptive audience, though, could be a sign that a project might have some promise.
- Rapid communication
While we all know how important rapid communication is to maintaining customer service efficiency and keeping internal processes going, the business industry isn’t the only one taking advantage of the technology. According to a Global Services article, the rapid response time for video chats has urged the health sector to turn to video conferencing as tool in improving communication modes between medical staff and patients.
A group of hospitals now have the technology installed, including video conferencing units, along with cameras, screens and microphones. So when a particular consultant is needed or has time in their schedule for a consult, they can use the system to link up to the bedside of a patient through a secure broadband connection.
The educational sector has also adopted the use of video conferencing in the classroom, encouraging long distance learning and content sharing via video conferencing. First, it serves as a way to supply classrooms across the world with educators and second, as an effective stay against closing education programs that have low to zero enrollees. Through video conferencing, schools can put together three students in one campus, five in another—along with the teacher—and end up with a nice class or seminar.
