Buying technology and establishing a connection is not enough when it comes to remote collaboration across multiple locations. Just because the video conferencing technology works doesn’t mean the experience is ideal for the people who are participating.
The best video conferencing systems create a seamless room-to-room experience across multiple locations – even locations across the globe. The technology looks and functions the same way for a user in the United States as it does for someone in Japan. An employee or student in New York has the same experience as a participant in California.
Why Is Room-to-Room Continuity So Important?
Room-to-room continuity is crucial for creating an environment that fosters good communication and collaboration. It reduces the likelihood of technology roadblocks, and it ensures that all users experience the meeting, lecture or presentation the same way.
Equipment that functions the same way across multiple locations ensures that users traveling from one location to another won’t have an additional learning curve when it comes to using the technology. It eliminates technology hassles that can delay or interrupt meetings – leading to lost time, productivity and poor communication.
The same technology across multiple locations also ensures that participants are seeing and hearing the same things – at the same time. This is absolutely critical for productivity, and for making sure the message is clearly communicated to all users.
How Can I Achieve a Seamless Room-to-Room Experience?
- Think big picture – When you’re planning the next video conferencing addition or upgrade, think about your organization as a whole, not just a single location. Even if you’re not planning to immediately buy all new equipment, work with your vendor to come up with a long-term plan that addresses the needs of all locations.
- Evaluate your needs – Before you approach a video conferencing vendor, spend some time thinking about your needs and priorities. It is crucial that you have a clear idea of what is most important when it comes to the technology. Who is your audience and how do they need to be able to interact? Do you need multiple cameras to capture the room from different angles? Do you need the technology to be able to capture images without the instructor or meeting leader manipulating the camera? Is your collaboration going to be internal, external or both? How many people will you be communicating with at once? Is your communication one-to-one or one-to-many?
- Choose the right vendor – You’re thinking about the big picture, so you need to choose a vendor that does the same. Not all do. Does the vendor have experience working with organizations across multiple locations? Have they successfully implemented video conferencing systems that work seamlessly across locations? Don’t be afraid to ask for references or case studies to verify this. Also keep in mind that a reputable vendor should be asking questions about your needs upfront.
VSGi and Polycom have partnered to provide organizations with outstanding and seamless collaboration solutions. Using Polycom’s industry-leading collaboration technologies, VSGi designs, sells and supports video conferencing and AV integration for conference rooms, board rooms, offices, educational facilities and more. The partnership between these industry leaders offers organizations the most advanced technology at an affordable cost to foster true collaboration, even across multiple locations.