For many right now, the scale of the coronavirus crisis calls to mind the last 2008 financial crisis—an event that reshaped society in lasting ways, from how we travel and commute to work, to the level of security and surveillance we’re accustomed to, and even to the language we use. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, a radical shift occurred in how much people worked from home. Almost overnight, the majority of white-collar workers began working from their kitchen tables, garages, and home offices to avoid the risk of getting the virus and to comply with stay-at-home measures. While employers perceive the productivity of working from home (WFH) to be lower than productivity of work at the office in normal times, social distancing reduced the productivity of work at the office so drastically that WFH became more productive by comparison.

Technology is in for a rescue. Some of the most sold technology solutions by Alida Networks during these tough times are as follows:

Web Conferencing Platforms

Web conferencing software allows participants to conduct or attend meetings via the internet. This is also known as online meeting software or sometimes simply video conferencing itself. It enables remote meetings based on VoIP, online video, instant messaging, file sharing, and screen sharing.
Web and video conferencing tools have become fundamental to how many organizations conduct business during the pandemic. The software enables remote employees, customers, and partners to connect easily and often. Specific uses for web conferencing software include:

• Presentations or webinars
• Conference calls
• Video meetings with multiple participants
• Running product demos and training
• 1-on-1 meetings with remote employees
• Face-to-face customer support

The top three benefits of using web and video conferencing software are:

• Enhanced communications
• Reduced travel costs
• Increased efficiency
• Work from home or anywhere model.

Alida Networks has been actively selling these web and video conferencing tools including but not limited to Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Cisco Webex.

We’re looking at three very capable video conference apps: Microsoft Teams, Zoom Meetings, and Cisco Webex. All three of these apps have a free version that will be satisfactory for many people’s needs. Let’s look at Zoom first.

Zoom

Zoom has become a household name with how broadly the technology has been adopted since the outbreak of COVID-19. While Zoom was initially designed for business use, it works like a charm for everyday interactions as well – the ability to quickly set a meeting up, share screens, live chat, and record is intuitive.

Be aware that Zoom will require you to download its software – you can’t connect to a meeting from your browser alone.

This ease of use, however, has also led to security concerns. This is understandable since Zoom went from 10M to 300M active users in a matter of weeks. “Zoom-bombing” has become a common occurrence, with unauthorized users accessing meetings and causing trouble. Zoom has said it’s working on security issues, and has brought on former Facebook CSO Alex Stamos as an advisor.

Overall, Zoom is a solid option for those looking for a reliable video conference app with little setup.

Microsoft Teams

If you’ve never heard of Microsoft Teams, you’re not the only one. Teams is a great Zoom alternative, particularly if you are already in Microsoft’s software ecosystem. If you have Office 365, Microsoft’s cloud subscription service, you will be able to integrate your Office apps with Teams. This provides a seamless experience for businesses that are heavily integrated into Microsoft’s ecosystem.

Teams isn’t purely a video conference app, leaving it lacking in some areas when compared to dedicated apps like Zoom. However, it’s no slacker, as it packs a real punch when it comes to group collaboration, file sharing, and integration with the Office suite. You’ll find teams as part of the 365 Business packages.

Furthermore, Microsoft Teams has a better video conference security track record than Zoom. Part of this is because it’s backed by a large organization, but in addition, Teams has focused more on integrating enterprise-level security into its software, instead of relying on client IT departments to configure settings.

If “getting things done” and collaborating with your team is most important (especially if you use other Microsoft solutions), go with Teams.

Cisco WebEx

Cisco WebEx has been around for a while longer than most video conference apps. It is best-known by enterprises that already use Cisco technology. Similar to Zoom and Teams, WebEx incorporates most of the features you would expect to see in any video conference app.

With that being said, the user experience is generally not as straightforward as those other apps – unless you are someone who is already familiar with the Cisco environment. Cisco WebEx comes with a free version for up to 100 participants – similar to Zoom’s free tier. At the end of day, WebEx is a great choice for companies and enterprises already invested in – or planning to transition to – the Cisco technology ecosystem. It is also widely used by enterprises and is more of a professional option when it comes to web and video conferencing solutions.

Conclusion

The world that we know might not be the same and companies are using technology to transition into newer business models to go by without being much effected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This article has briefed the readers on some of the WFH tools available specially in terms of their requirements related to web and video conferencing solutions.

Each of the video conference apps discussed in this article is a viable option for your WFH needs. Still, each one brings its unique strengths and weaknesses to the table.

Our favorite for internal use is Microsoft Teams because of its collaboration and security features. However, if you need a more professional solution with a bigger audience and more sophisticated features Cisco WebEx is your go to solution.

Zoom is our favorite for external use (when folks from outside of our team are joining us). The ease of use lessens headaches for people who may still be new to video conferencing, and the large meeting controls make the experience as host seamless.

No matter your situation, we hope your video conference app keeps you productive and connected in today’s ever-evolving workplace!