Table of Contents
Introduction
The current Coronavirus pandemic has caused stocks to crash, a sharp rise in unemployment, and tragically the loss of life of hundreds of thousands of people at the time of writing. The tragedy of the scenario can be all-consuming and overwhelming. Looking for silver linings can be difficult but lessons will be learned moving forward that will help unlock a better future.
One of the places the world has seen improvement is in the field of technology that enables work. Technologies like video conferencing have enabled businesses to keep on operating albeit at a reduced rate. This has saved countless jobs. The video conferencing market has taught us that it has much more to give especially in times of crisis. Here are five more advantages the technology has unlocked.
The technology is scalable
From the biggest multinational Fortune 500 to far smaller SMEs, there is a way to incorporate the technology without having to speak to your bank manager about a loan. Further, because it is scalable it can grow with your business and adapt to increased demands. The coronavirus forced large sections of the existing workforce to adopt remote working, while there were a few hiccups regarding its rapid adoption, primarily security-related, the technology as a whole was ready to meet demand.
More personal
Compared with voice calls and voice conferencing the ability to see each other’s faces do make the technology more personal and helps adds a human touch to communication. The practical result of this on communication cannot be underestimated, this is particularly true with any HD conferencing API solution.
Communication can fail over voice calls as the parties to the conversation lack the facial cues we’ve come to expect that express meaning. This level of interaction can leave both businesses and clients happier with the results of meetings as the chance of a misunderstanding is greatly reduced.
Time saved is money saved
Before the coronavirus, companies had dedicated significant portions of their budget to travel costs. With travel bans been placed on employees for many travels, it became an impossible task. Employees had to rely on remote work technology and principles to get the job done. This directly results in travel savings for the company as well as time saved by employees not forced to travel.
Mistakes averted
One of the big advantages presented by video conferencing is that many platforms offer the choice for meetings to be recorded. Making a massive mistake due to a sales percentage being forgotten can be avoided simply by watching the meeting back again.
Currently, artificial intelligence and machine learning technology are being rapidly adopted by platforms to make recording and finding certain parts of the meeting far easier to find. Further, many platforms already allow for timestamps to be added at pre-set intervals making it easier for employees to make comprehensive summaries for stakeholders.
Better accessibility for all
As artificial intelligence technologies receive greater integration so will the accessibility to all the users including those with disabilities. Currently, platforms offer live captions as well as much improved transcription add-ons. For those with a hearing disability, for example, these features help promote equal participation despite their disability allowing for meaningful contribution to meetings.
Conclusion
Looking for advantages or silver linings amid a crisis may seem tactless and not appreciative of the human cost. However, the advantages offered by video conferencing have allowed businesses to operate still as human operations rather than the cold nature presented by numbers. Video conferencing has allowed us to still share a smile or laugh during a business meeting.
