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Video collaboration helps organizations increase efficiency and report higher ROI. It does this by adding a deeper level of understanding to our conversations. Your organization will benefit from deploying solutions that enable nonverbal communication.
UCLA Professor Albert Mehrabian divided communication into three main pillars: nonverbal cues, tone of voice, and spoken words. After multiple studies, he concluded 55% of our communication is conveyed through non-verbal cues. These include things such as facial expressions and body language.
It's important to note Mehrabian's studies applied to conveying emotions rather than messages. His goal was to determine how a person could say something while making it clear they felt the opposite. This distinction may make it seem as though the Mehrabian model isn't applicable to business collaboration. However, emotions still find their way into our business conversations.
Many organizations rely on email and other text-based communication channels. These are, by no means, obsolete or ineffective means of communication. Most situations in day-to-day communication are practically accomplished via email or instant messaging. Their flaws are in conveying nuanced feelings that ultimately make their way into our conversations.
Video collaboration leaves little information up for interpretation. It's also a more inclusive and engaging form of communication. It helps users feel as though they're together in the same space, even if they're actually thousands of miles away.
The modern workplace increasingly has to accommodate a hybrid workforce. According to the New York Times, “43% of employed professionals are spending some time each week working from somewhere else.” These employed professionals get their work done in a virtual office.
A virtual office lends flexibility to its users. This lends organizations a competitive advantage while recruiting. They offer their employees opportunities to work remote and still be as efficient as their in-office colleagues.
Many organizations struggle with using multiple communication platforms. They may use Zoom for meetings, Slack for messaging, DropBox for file storage, and a legacy voice system for calling. A system such as this causes users to waste time switching between applications. It also creates a frustrating experience as they struggle to manage multiple channels.
Video collaboration platforms such as Microsoft Teams create unified collaboration experiences. They save users time otherwise spent switching between applications. If properly integrated, they also allow their users to decommission redundant platforms and save money.
Teams allows its users to co-author documents, share files, and collaborate in real time. It benefits from integration with other apps in the Microsoft 365 suite such as SharePoint and Outlook all on one license. Its advanced recording and transcription features help users retain information as they move their projects forward. This also means it's an accessible and inclusive platform.
Modern video collaboration helps bring teams together, no matter how far apart their members may be. It helps them feel as though they're all still a part of something bigger. They're more engaged and more efficient.
Proper integration is key to getting the most out of video collaboration. An integrator will help you implement a video collaboration solution to maximize your investment. They come alongside you as an extension of your team to learn what works best for your organization.
Continuant is one such integrator. For more than 25 years, we've helped organizations increase value in their communication systems. We'll design, deploy, and manage a video collaboration solution that will create the ideal virtual office for your users.
Ready to take your video collaboration to the next level? Schedule a call with one of our experts today.
* Editor's Note: This article was originally published in April 2019 and has been revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
