An increasing number of workers believe that video conferencing is becoming the choice mode of business communication. Compared to a teleconference call that can hold an attention span of only 23 minutes, a video conference call can prove beneficial for as long as 35 minutes. With that in mind, businesses are now choosing equipment that will enable them to maximize on video conferencing.
Deciding on the right conference call equipment for your business is not an overnight decision, it takes time. To help you make the right choice, below are a few tips to add to your decision matrix.
Estimate the Usage
User requirements play a critical role in the selection of conference call equipment as businesses, customers and staff are the primary operators. Before starting the shopping process, find out from your clients and employees how they ordinarily hold meetings and the number of participants who join in per session. It also helps to find out the approximate length of the meetings, whether they take place spontaneously or are planned, and whether they are recorded.
Collaboration Technologies
If you want to utilize modern, sophisticated techniques for further interaction and brainstorming, getting advance collaboration technologies from trusted companies such as the Video Conference Store can assure you of excellent features like whiteboarding and desktop sharing. On the other hand, if you are merely looking for face-to-face communication, buying a simple video conference device may be sufficient.
Compatibility with Other Devices
There is no point in buying conference call equipment that operates in isolation and cannot integrate with the available endpoints. Your client may not be using the same mobile devices and desktops as you are and therefore you must make sure they can connect seamlessly with your video conferencing system. For high-quality video conferences, you should choose conference call solutions with stereo sound systems, voice locating cameras, and HD monitors.
Network Support
Before investing in conference call equipment, ensure that your existing network system supports the solution you are planning. If this is not the case, you may have to upgrade your system with the appropriate bandwidth. In your network planning, you should also factor in additional traffic through the internet and across the local network which can have an impact on the current infrastructure. For quality service technologies that support call conferencing, you may have to upgrade the devices within your network. This will come back to your budget and how far it can stretch.
New Components
At times, it helps to get a total conference call solution complete with new components. For instance, in video conferencing, there are two significant protocols: H.323 and SIP. Systems that have these protocols can be connected seamlessly with each other. Major players in the industry have adopted the H.323. You should, therefore, find out in advance the protocols your vendor is providing before choosing the service provider with which you will work.
Ultimately, the decision rests on you. You may decide to go cloud or hardware as you minimize upfront infrastructure costs. Whatever you do, always look for the option that will give you the maximum possible benefits, while being able to work seamlessly with your clients.
