It’s official: We spend a lot of time dealing with emails. In fact, research from Bain & Company shows that executives receive, on average, about 200 emails a day. The typical supervisor spends an entire day each week handling emails. This type of communication won’t go away anytime soon – and it can definitely support collaboration – but what other options are out there to improve efficiency and productivity? (And help you get some of this time back?)
As videoconferencing has morphed over the last few years, becoming mobile and relying on the cloud, it has quickly created a way to maintain strong communications with coworkers (onsite and remote), clients, partners, and anyone else you work with.
Employees no longer expect (or want) big, fancy, over-the-top videoconferencing systems. They want an easy-to-use option that can be deployed on whichever device they want to use: laptop, tablet, phone, desktop, etc. And younger employees now entering the workforce expect this service to be available. They’re already using Skype, FaceTime, and Google Hangouts to videoconference with friends and family members – so it makes sense that they’d want this service at work, too.
They also want a service that can be used anywhere – not a videoconferencing solution that must be used inside one specific room and connected to your enterprise network. Videoconferencing is no longer limited to scheduled meetings in large conference rooms. Thanks to the cloud, it has become mobile and now offers flexible, ad hoc calling. Workplace efficiency is at its best when people can participate in video meetings no matter where they are – at home, in an airport, or down the hall in a huddle room.
Appoint a Project Manager
Find someone willing to learn the basics who can also administer user accounts on behalf of your company (and provide training and onboarding when necessary). This project manager could be an individual or a small group of people.
Choose a Platform that Lets Everyone Join
The right platform supports a fantastic video experience regardless of the device or software being used – and regardless of whether the user is on your company network or not. Your cloud video provider should:
- Support mobile devices and traditional devices/systems
- Offer the ability to join through a regular browser
- Be compatible with other video software
- Offer audio-only if individual users can’t (or don’t want to) join using video
Create a Training Plan
Arrange quick, in-person training sessions or put together easy-to-use, how-to guides. In some cases, your service provider may be able to help onboard employees. During this training, make sure to let employees lead “practice meetings” so they can try things out in a low-pressure environment.
Track Progress
With cloud video, you can easily track usage and call history. This data can help you:
- Track overall usage to see who may be struggling with technology adoption
- Determine whether you have enough equipment and users
- Determine whether you need to add more user licenses
If you want to learn more about using cloud video, and how it can easily become part of your day-to-day communications, login to www.nsca.org to watch a free archived webinar, Why Cloud Video?, presented by NSCA Business Accelerator Videxio, managed by Visitec.