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Determine Your Video Conferencing Requirements with These Questions

September 23, 2021 by Jackie Morgan

Integrating video conferencing into your organization is quickly becoming essential. However, a top quality video conferencing system can be expensive. Therefore, in preparation for deciding on a provider, and choosing a plan for your company, it is well advised that you define your video conferencing requirements well before you begin to draft any contracts with vendors.

The following list should help you narrow down which types of video conferencing systems and equipment you should consider adopting when moving forward with your purchase. Make sure you consult both your management and IT departments in order to cover all bases.

There are three broad areas you should take a look at with regards to your video solutions.

The first is business requirements – the direct business goals that video conferencing should be looking to facilitate.
Next, there are functional requirements; specific details such as number or users and/or overall functionality that feed back into the business goals.
The final requirements to consider are technical. This may include any limitations you have in regards to space, systems, and bandwidth. Take advantage of the deep knowledge your IT team has in these areas before moving forward. Then ask yourself the following:
What is your organization looking to achieve with video conferencing solutions?

This is first and foremost the most important question you must ask before going forward with a video conferencing solution. The wider strategy your team outlines will be a fundamental help in determining the type of video conferencing solution you choose.

What is your budget for video conferencing solutions?

Your budget should be determined by assessing how valuable the solution will be to your operations. In addition, look at where the solution will reduce costs and improve productivity i.e. travel costs, scaling knowledge, connecting remote workers etc.

How many users does your video conferencing system expect to support?

Knowing how many users your organization will have can help you with issues such as bandwidth and pricing plans. However, knowing how much you are likely to grow in the future is just as important.

Where will your users be located?

Will your users be based in the main office or will they be remote? Remember to look to align your bring-your-own-device (BYOD) strategy with the solution to make it simpler for remote workers. Also, look at how many meeting rooms you wish to convert into video conferencing suites and, of course, don’t forget to look at all of your office and subsidiary locations.

Do you have in-house IT support or will you need to outsource?

Most vendors should be able to offer you IT support, though this will be at an extra charge. If you are fortunate enough to have onsite IT staff members, they must familiarize themselves with the solution.

Cloud or on premise video conferencing?

It’s not just applications and storage that are offered from the cloud, it is now possible to dispense with expensive video network infrastructure and have video conferencing and calling delivered as a service. This option is by far the most scalable and affordable. In very few cases, organizations prefer to have on premise infrastructure deployed behind firewalls. Therefore, engage with your IT to understand the pros and cons of both environments.
When you are going to implement a video system, follow these questions and assess your business goals to find a video conferencing solution that best suits your company.

At eVideo, we have a complete range of cloud video conferencing services and a portfolio of hardware for meeting rooms systems and software for desktop and mobile devices.

To find out more visit us at www.evideo.com.au or 1800 11 387

Huddle Rooms and Cloud Videoconferencing

September 23, 2021 by Jackie Morgan

Make Your Business More Productive, with Huddle Room Equipment, Products and Software

If you haven’t been seeing the productivity you want out of your employees and your business as a whole, consider that the layout and design of your office space might be to blame. In recent years, many companies have started trying to innovate their office designs to pursue the look and feel of a modern office.

In many cases, this idea of a ‘modern office’ results in an open concept design where most employees work side by side or across from one another, clustered together in one big main room. Maybe there are a few standalone offices for senior members of the staff, or a few conference rooms for meetings, job interviews and the like. For the most part, though, the office is designed as an open floor plan.

The Problems with the Modern Office Layout

There are two core problems with this kind of office design, and you can solve both of them (at least partially) by investing in huddle room equipment for your business.

The first issue is that open workspaces, while they can drive collaboration and promote a teamwork mentality, can also create loud, distracting environments where very little actual ‘work’ gets done. There is too much chaos and not enough direction.

The second issue, meanwhile, is that the office’s open concept design means that there aren’t many other rooms for team meetings or collaboration sessions. There are a couple of larger conference rooms or boardrooms, but those are intended for more important meetings—not for gatherings of smaller teams or segmented departments.

The Benefits of Using Huddle Room Equipment

Investing in huddle room products is an effective way of reversing these negative impacts of an open concept office. Huddle rooms are smaller rooms in an office space that act as less formal conference rooms. They are maybe the size of a traditional office but come equipped with key electronics and software to allow for video conferencing, Power Point presentations, idea brainstorming and more. Best of all, the size of these rooms makes them perfect for smaller group meetings.

Having huddle room equipment and software in your office helps restore the sense of collaboration often lost amidst the madness of an open floor plan office. When your individual teams can regularly go into smaller rooms to have meetings or conversations, it removes some of the noise and chaos from the central work area. It also keeps the conference rooms and boardrooms open, available for larger gatherings.

Because huddle rooms are smaller than standard conference rooms, they cost less to outfit with key technology and software products. As a result, turning three or four smaller rooms or offices throughout your workspace into huddle rooms might be more affordable than you realise.

At eVideo Communications, we specialise in huddle room equipment and huddle room software in Australia. We can help you design and implement a huddle room strategy in your office. We predict you will start noticing the benefits right away.

To start collaborating with the eVideo team, call us today on 1800 111 387

Ultimate guide to Zoom-Microsoft Teams room solution.

September 14, 2021 by Jackie Morgan

Face-to-face interaction is critical in business communications but teams are becoming increasingly dispersed. The Video Conferencing systems on the market now are designed with smaller huddle rooms in mind

Our Team are

Highly experienced Unified Communications, Videoconferencing, Collaboration Solutions Specialized
Offer a consultative approach
Highest product and application knowledge
Totally technically proficient
Superior level of networking competency, service, support & customer satisfaction

Our Video/Audio/IP telephony/Unified Communications solutions include:

Cisco, Logitech, Crestron, Poly, Yealink Video Conferencing endpoints for Meeting Rooms, Cloud, On-premise and Hybrid Solutions, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google meet.
Integrate your Boardroom solutions
Professional services, Managed Services.
Audio Visual solutions (Touch boards, Projectors, Trolleys etc.)

Please let me know if you would like one of our team to discuss with you and provide the latest Communication solutions you and your organisation.

What is a MUST to include Todays latest Visual technology.

September 2, 2021 by Jackie Morgan

eVideo communications

Video Conferencing and high-impact audio-visual technology is the Answer.

Today’s organizations thrive in a creative, agile and responsive working environment, where people want to engage with each other in real time – wherever they are.

Our forward thinking customers require not only specific technology, but innovation, transformation and a cultural shift towards a new way of delivering, and interacting with, information.

Implementing this type of environment can prove to be challenging due to the complexity and financial requirements of a flexible Workspace.

Business Benefit

Working environments are no longer standalone rooms with simple display screens or a flipchart. They are areas where we collaborate to create an environment where people can deliver more value to the business.

Business benefits include tangible cost savings, savings in time and office space, along with increased engagement. Video Conferencing and VCaaS (Cloud) reduces complexity of multi-manufacturer video equipment and make booking a VC as easy as a meeting, driving utilization.

Today we demand interaction and collaboration tools that engage with our customers, staff, partners etc. that provides a multi-layered experience and brand awareness.

Boardroom Management, potentially linked to room integration, automates the environment for whatever type of meeting is taking place.

Tangible Savings

We help you transform your business through the implementation of innovative audio-visual and video solutions with the ability to achieve tangible cost savings or drive customer engagement.

Virtual teams enable collaborative working, increasing the efficiency of your business and reducing the time to market.

More and more businesses are using digital signage as part of their communications and information strategy. Deployed in prominent areas such as receptions, staff restaurants, office spaces, digital signage enables engaging, dynamic and tailored content.

Video Walls and large format screens are becoming common, centrally controlled and distributed across a geographically dispersed estate.

Our Capability

Our team works closely with customers to design and implement a variety of technology solutions, including:

Video Conferencing – Our Professional Services team of consultants, project managers, engineers and support operatives integrate existing Videoconferencing or deploy additional endpoints.
VCaaS – Hosted Virtual Meeting Rooms provide access video endpoints, along with software based systems such as Microsoft Lync, to a single Video meeting room. Additionally we provide concierge service and video eCare helpdesk to assist with setup, activation and troubleshooting.
Audio – Boardrooms, Meeting Rooms, Huddle rooms, Executive offices.
Digital Signage – Enabling the projection of brand messaging, information and targeted adverts using a series of media displays or video walls;
Control Systems – Including LCD displays, projectors, videoconferencing systems, lighting.
Display – Projectors, LCD, LED and plasma displays can be used in a wide range of environments, from corporate board rooms, meeting rooms, command and control centers;

We are leading the way in providing a focus on design, implementation and management of Video Conferencing and high-impact audio-visual technology throughout Australia and Globally enabling our customers to be ahead of their competitors.

TIPS AND ADVICE ON SUCCESSFUL VIDEOCONFERENCING

January 5, 2021 by Jackie Morgan

Adjust your camera appropriately, try to fill the screen as much as possible with people rather than with the table, chairs, walls or the floor

Place the microphone in the centre of the group, preferably on a soft surface, eg mouse mat or thick book; this will help absorb some surface noise.

Avoid tapping on the microphone and rustling papers near the microphone – this noise will be very loud at the remote site(s). (This also applies for tapping pens on desks, rattling cups and saucers and chairs bumping into table).

Avoid covering the microphone with documents, laptop covers etc – this will mute the sound and remote site(s) will not hear speaker.

Mute the microphone before moving it so that the remote site(s) doesn’t hear you moving it.

Speak in your normal voice without shouting and use natural gestures.

There is no such thing as a private conversation during videoconferencing – the microphone is very sensitive and will pick up any whispering so avoid any side conversation and ensure that only one person speaks at any one time.

Press mute button if you require privacy.

If more than three people in meeting, nominate a lead person to manage the videoconference. This lead person should control the camera, microphone and ensure smooth running of the videoconference

Once connection has been made lead person should Introduce themselves and ask remote site(s) if they can see and hear you.

Confirm that you can hear and see remote site(s).

On commencement of videoconferencing meeting all participants should be asked to introduce themselves – if participants are unknown to each other, then it is helpful to raise your hand during your introduction so that remote site can recognize who is speaking.

Sometimes there may be a slight delay between site(s), consider pausing briefly for others to answer you or to make comments

As with any meeting, try to limit side conversations and ensure that only one person speaks at any one time

During multipoint calls, lead person should ask sites to select mute when not speaking.

During multipoint calls, lead person should ensure that all sites are given the opportunity to participate or ask questions before moving on to each agenda item. This will ensure involvement of all sites.

Arrive promptly for videoconference meetings. Doors opening and closing and chairs being moved once meeting has started is distracting.

If you have to leave the meeting, ask the lead person to announce that you are leaving.

If point to point call, agree beforehand who is making the call and likewise at end of meeting agree who will be hanging up the call.

Security

Do not leave videoconferencing equipment unattended or “in conference” in locations that are isolated
Only videoconferencing with known and approved site(s)s and with location’s permission
Ensure the videoconferencing equipment is secure
Ensure room and content security, eg do not leave confidential information on whiteboards, documents etc which could be viewed by the subsequent videoconference held in the room.

Business Benefits of Video Conferencing

January 5, 2021 by Jackie Morgan

Video conferencing has come of age and is used in every industry. Recent developments in mobile devices and wireless networks have propelled further interest in being able to video information anytime, from anywhere. Generic applications of video conferencing are too numerous to mention. Any department of any organization where meetings take place—finance, engineering, human resources, manufacturing, marketing, product development, sales, training—is an appropriate place to use video conferencing to:

• Connect dispersed staff without travel
• Bring in remote experts for consultation or training
• Interview job candidates or witnesses
• Make a presentation to a vendor or customer
• View data and presentations on an on-demand or real-time basis
• Receive information at any time or place

The use of video conferencing has the potential to increase productivity and efficiency by reducing unproductive travel time, preventing meeting delays, creating shorter and more structured meetings and allowing for greater reach of a message. Video conferencing also allows for an increased number of participants. It is often difficult to get information to everyone at the same time, but with video conferencing, all individuals who need data can get the information when it is easiest for them.

BENEFITS:

The initial perceived and quantifiable benefit of video conferencing was reduction in travel costs. Initially, many organizations paid for the deployment of video conferencing with the reduction in travel budgets. While travel savings have been a recognizable benefit of video conferencing, there are many more qualitative benefits. Three
other major benefits of video conferencing are increased productivity and efficiency, improved management communications and enhanced business opportunities.

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY

• Reduced travel risk
• Reduced unproductive travel time
• Prevented meeting delays
• Shorter meetings
• Structured meetings
• Larger participation
• Optimize attendance
• Immediate information exchange
• Faster response
• Access to experts
• Time-share scarce talent
• Quicker decisions

IMPROVED MANAGEMENT COMMUNICATIONS

• More interface at all levels
• Increased flexibility

ENHANCED BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

• Customer service
• Competitive advantage

Generic Applications

The top four applications in which video conferencing is used are:

• Management meetings
• Sales and marketing meetings
• Engineering, manufacturing, or production
• Training

This does not preclude other groups from using the technology (i.e., the HR department, the legal department, finance, etc.), but studies conducted by Telemanagement Resources International Inc. (TRI) have shown that the primary reasons that firms install video conferencing relate to the top four applications noted above.

Video conferencing has also been used for a variety of other applications, including product demonstrations to new customers, “town hall” type meetings and HR training. Given the longevity of video conferencing usage, all industries have developed useful applications for video conferencing. It is no longer a matter of if you will use video conferencing; it is only a matter of when.

Conclusion

Video conferencing provides tangible benefits to any organization. Devices that can handle video now range from handheld devices (i.e., phones and tablets) to high-end conference rooms. The technology is easier to use, cost is no longer an issue and connectivity happens almost anywhere. Video conferencing improves the way we work and provides us more time to spend with our family and friends.