It happened, and almost suddenly the world was turned upside down. A global pandemic hit and offices were forced to either get creative or shut down. Working remotely suddenly became a present part of our everyday life. But working from home (or a private beach in my mind) provides a unique set of challenges, chief among them is the inability to meet with colleagues and have the free exchange of ideas and solve problems. Luckily there’s a solution to the distance of working from home.
What is Video Conferencing?
Video Conferencing or Videotelephony comprises the technologies for the reception and transmission of audio-video signals by users in different locations, for communication between people in real-time. A videophone is a telephone with a video display, capable of simultaneous video and audio for communication between people in real-time.
Video conferencing builds a technological bridge that fills the gap between you and your time – regardless of physical location. Thanks to recent advances in both software and hardware remote teams can now easily collaborate and work on projects just as if they were together in a conference room at the office. Most large-scale businesses are adopting video conferencing at lightning speed. SMEs are also jumping on the video conferencing train as the technological cost associated with it has become more affordable.
When you take a step back and realize that 57% of Gen Z and 47% of Gen X employees are now working remotely at least once a week (according to CloudApp’s 2019 State of Collaboration Report), then you will see why more and more business were eager to invest in video conferencing solutions.
There are two primary types of video conferencing technologies:
- Room-based – Including on-site video conferencing systems with screens mounted to the walls in a meeting room. This can also include mobile screens on carts which can be moved from room to room as needed.
- Cloud-based – scalable, flexible, and easy to manage, cloud-based video conferencing allows you to utilize communication tools from anywhere at any time. The perfect solution for workers needing remote access or clients.
What Equipment do You Need for Video Conferencing?
What makes videoconferencing stand out over regular telephone conference calls is the hardware and software utilized to make it easier to have a conversation that is as close to in-person meetings as possible. Traditional meeting setups usually entail a conference room with the usage of presentation solutions such as whiteboards, projectors, and even video presentations. Utilizing video conferencing solutions from CPT of South Florida, you can replicate that experience using digital whiteboards and video overlays, and screen shares to allow your team to have the same collaborative efforts as in-person meetings.
In order to have a successful video conferencing experience, there are certain things that need to be in place. Knowing how to set up and host a video conference can help your company to operate more efficiently and ultimately save money.
The four essentials of setting up a video conference are:
-
Video Camera / Webcam
Most modern laptops come with built-in webcams but if you have a desktop with a monitor, chances are you may have to add a standalone webcam. Most modern Smart TVs can also be used as monitors by plugging the webcam in and using relevant software settings. If you are a South Florida Business in need of video camera solutions for your remote staff look no further than CPT of South Florida.
-
Microphone
It goes without saying that for a video meeting to be effective, participants have to be able to verbalize ideas and have them heard by all participants on the conference call. For this, you need a microphone. Most modern machines have built-in microphones but some desktops do not. For better sound quality you may want to invest in an external mic, especially if your business records material for distribution on platforms such as YouTube. Also, if you plan on hosting meetings with several people in the room then investing in an omnidirectional microphone will vastly improve the sound quality.
If you plan on hosting a meeting and need equipment and software solutions then contact CPT of South Florida.
-
Internet Connection
When it comes to video conferencing speed is king. To make sure your conference runs smoothly, you need to have a quality internet connection that can withstand all of the data that’ll be used during the call. This goes for everyone joining the call: if someone has a slow connection, it can result in audio and visual lags that can impact the quality of the call.
-
Video Conferencing Software Solutions
The above 3 times are all essential to having an effective video conference but none of them are worth a thing unless there is software in the mix to run and sync them together. While there are free applications on the market, they may have some limitations. If you’re looking for a more robust video conferencing solution, look no further than the video conferencing professionals at CPT of South Florida. We provide video conferencing software solutions with capabilities such as:
- Recording capabilities
- Digital meeting rooms
- File transfer
- App sharing
- Digital breakout rooms
- Best in class digital encryption
Get Video Conferencing Solutions in South Florida
Video conferencing software is a powerful tool for both large and SME. It allows businesses to host meetings with large groups of staff members as well as clients and vendors regardless of where they are located. Picking the right South Florida video conferencing software and hardware is essential to the success of your remote meetings. If you need video conferencing solutions then contact the professionals at CPT of South Florida. We are the team you want to engage to deliver the best video conferencing hardware and software solutions for your company. Contact us today or give us a call at 9549632775 to learn more about our Miami video conferencing solutions.