What Is VoIP Video Conferencing?
Video conferencing is a feature often available with many cloud hosted VoIP phone systems that allow you to connect with clients or employees in real-time through audio and visual communication over broadband networks. VoIP video conferencing can’t replace face-to-face meetings completely, however there are many advantages to using this feature.
For businesses that are looking to reduce travel expenses, increase productivity, and foster stronger relationships among colleagues, clients and vendors, VoIP video conferencing might be the solution for you. It is these benefits, among others, that have helped this technology soar to new heights and has greatly transformed the business and communication world.
With remote working becoming the “norm” you can bet that the benefits of VoIP are here to stay, and VoIP video conferencing brings you as close as you can get to feeling like you’re in the office. We’re outlining four major benefits you can expect when using video conferencing:
1.Face-to-Face Communication
Face-to-face meetings are one of the most effective forms of communication. However, in a growing business, traveling to meet with customers and team members is not always feasible or economical, not to mention difficult when travel precautions and restrictions prevent you from getting where you need to be. Video conferencing allows you to enjoy many of the benefits of in-person meetings. For example non-verbal cues, which may not be communicated effectively over the phone or through e-mail. Experts say that over 90 percent of how we communicate is through nonverbal cues like gestures and facial expressions. This face-to-face environment helps employees and clients connect and create a long-lasting relationship.
2. Cost-Savings
One of the biggest benefits of using VoIP video conferencing for a small business is that it can reduce your operating and traveling costs. For small businesses still struggling to juggle their cash flow, paying for your employees’ travel expenses, such as airfare, train tickets, staff meals and hotel bills, can become a hefty expense. Though face-to-face interactions with your customers, partners and colleagues will never be replaced, the huge leaps in quality, availability, and ease-of-use, make video conferencing the closest thing to being there.
3. Increased Engagement
Maintaining employee engagement is a struggle for many small businesses, with Gallup finding a mere 13 percent of employees engaged at work. When you utilize video conferencing features, such as screen sharing and interactivity, employees are more likely to stay alert and focused on what is being discussed. Video conferencing provides higher employee engagement, with only 4 percent of employees found unengaged during these video meetings. Companies with higher levels of employee engagement report significantly higher productivity, profitability and customer ratings.
4. Enhanced Productivity
Recently, there have been significant improvements in technology, which has seen the benefits of VoIP video conferencing grow from the simple concept of “talking heads” on a screen to various capabilities such as sharing media, documents, and many other types of information. For this reason, it offers multiple channels for a small business to create and maintain its competitive advantage. Teams can easily share information over video calls in order to facilitate faster decision-making. It also provides the opportunity for remote workers to communicate in real-time with more accuracy. As a result, projects are completed faster, productivity increases, and participants feel more in sync with each other and the message you want to convey.
Video conferencing isn’t just a feature on your cloud hosted VoIP phone system. It’s a valuable tool that can improve your overall business operations by allowing face-to-face communication, reducing costs, increasing employee engagement and enhancing your business’ productivity.