The rise of Video Conferencing:
What does the future hold for VC?
June 23rd, 2023
Video conferencing (VC) continues to be a crucial tool for allowing organisations to communicate and collaborate effectively. The increased demand for hybrid meetings has meant that virtual meetings have become an integral part of business operations, seamlessly connecting individuals and teams across the globe. As hybrid working continues to expand, video conferencing is expected to play a highly significant role in shaping the future of team collaboration.
Exciting new developments in video conferencing
The integration of environmental and sustainability initiatives in VC solutions is an exciting development in the video conferencing industry, with manufacturers like Cisco committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. In line with this commitment, Cisco have integrated environmental controls into its collaboration endpoints allowing organisations to monitor and regulate air quality, temperature, and lighting via the Webex Control Hub, eliminating the need for separate components and detectors. It also provides reporting on meeting room usage across VC estates.
What’s particularly exciting about these features for the future of video conferencing technology is that they offer both sustainability and financial benefits. When rooms are unoccupied, lighting and temperature controls can be turned off, resulting in energy savings. This is further exemplified with Cisco’s ‘Office Hours’ feature which can easily be configured to ensure meeting room devices remain idle during off hours. The intelligence built into these solutions also enables organisations to optimise meeting room use, informing teams of better-suited spaces based on the number of participants in a meeting. By providing this bird’s-eye view of meeting room usage organisations can now make more informed decisions about how to allocate resources within a larger estate. For example, if most of your meetings consist of 10 or less participants, you have the intelligence to repurpose larger spaces and have more accurate information when it comes to office relocation projects.
The role of AI and technical integration in the evolution of video conferencing
One of the notable changes in VC products in recent times has been the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies within collaboration platforms. We are already seeing the benefits of this integration in the form of suggested responses, transcribing and translation of voice and video communications as well as the ability to distinguish between voice and background noises.
As AI continues to develop in the context of VC solutions, it is likely the considerations around security will increase too. AI is starting to be used to summarise meetings and conversations, providing more intuitive, contextual information rather than straightforward word-for-word transcriptions. As these capabilities become more commonplace, there are likely to be concerns about how and where this data is being processed and who has access, especially when meetings and conversations are of a confidential nature.
Current uptake of VC
As the uptake of hybrid working continues to generate an increase in video conferencing, another point worth noting and something we regularly come across is the evolving definition of Unified Communications (UC). We find that many companies believe that platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom are able to fulfil their UC requirements alone, however, UC encompasses more than just messaging and video calls. Other critical elements include CRM system integration, the ability to call mobile and landline numbers directly from the system, and more. As companies’ needs extend beyond traditional video conferencing to encompass the broader realm of UC, it is important that they seek expert advice. Failure to do so could lead to unnecessary expenditure.
The uptake and usage of conferencing and collaboration has significantly changed due to the global pandemic and subsequent rise of hybrid working. Small and medium sized business are embracing platforms such as Webex, Microsoft Teams and Zoom to facilitate collaboration among employees. Whilst the initial emphasis focused on providing essential devices such as laptops, headsets, and webcams, as we transition into the ‘’next normal’’ organisations are now offering advanced work from home packages. These packages include dedicated internet connections and specialised routers to replicate the office experience at home, prioritising video call quality whilst addressing security protocols and connectivity requirements.
The future of video conferencing and expected trends
In the coming years, we can expect to see the adoption of video augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies in video conferencing to enhance remote collaboration. While some VR headsets support virtual meetings, wider adoption would require improved comfort and affordability. Organisations who provide high-speed internet connections for remote workers have benefited from continuous improvements in the quality of current video conferencing calls, therefore, the costs and benefits of adopting AR/VR should be carefully considered before implementation.
The rapid evolution of video conferencing and collaboration platforms has enabled organisations to bring several advantages to them and their end users, offering immersive and interactive virtual meetings and creating an environment where everyone feels connected and engaged. If you would like to find out more about VC for your organisation or business, get in touch with our team of experts today.
