More room for and around video collaboration

HYDERABAD, INDIA: One of every two people using video collaboration hint at the need for more access to video for increased use, as per a latest study.

Very few organisations have broadly rolled out video to desktop and mobile users, and typically have limited availability of video to the larger conference rooms.

Polycom, Inc. has shared the results of a new survey which analyses how video collaboration solutions are currently being used in business. The global study, commissioned by Polycom and conducted by Quocirca, LTD, found more than 90 per cent of those who regularly use video to collaborate are experiencing higher productivity, better teamwork, financial savings and reduced travel expenses. Over 80 per cent directly link their fiscal savings to making faster business decisions and improving employee work/life balance.

Although the survey uncovered the many benefits of using video collaboration, barriers to broad adoption still exist.

"The value of most networking technologies tends to increase disproportionately the greater the numbers of individuals connected,” said Rob Bamforth, of research and analysis house, Quocirca. “Video conferencing is no exception. Moreover, increasing usage also generates more familiarity and comfort with the whole experience. Encouraging a culture of video adoption would therefore seem to benefit both the individual and the organisation.”

About 45 per cent of end users surveyed frequently use their mobile devices, such as tablets, laptops and mobile phones, to join a video conference, and 35 per cent of digital natives—workers who are 25 years or younger and will define the future of work—use video frequently and from anywhere. These numbers are expected to grow as the amount of mobile devices increases and organisations continue to offer more flexible working arrangements.

“The way people work is changing. Mobility, BYOD, social and collaboration solutions like video conferencing combined with the desire to reduce real estate costs are causing businesses around the world to rethink the traditional office setting,” said Jim Kruger, Chief Marketing Officer, Polycom. “We’re seeing the measurable impact video collaboration is having, but with just a fraction of organisations around the globe using video regularly, the results of this survey illustrate its potential in any work environment and across every industry.”

Video collaboration is driving measurable results for organisations across regions and industries, and the Polycom – Quocirca survey validates video collaboration can boost productivity and fiscal savings and highlights some specific findings for APAC  like in APAC, executives (86 per cent) and managers (89 per cent) lead the use of video within an organisation and of those surveyed globally, APAC leads in the use of video for executive management meetings (66 per cent) and recruitment (30 per cent).

Interestingly, travel cost savings is still the number one benefit for video use in APAC with 87 per cent citing it as medium to high priority and 70 per cent of those surveyed in APAC cited an increase in the use of video in day to day business. More than 90 per cent of APAC companies surveyed access meetings through room based solutions