With the pandemic forcing entire workforces to switch to remote working, video conferencing has become a central part of working life for many people. From being one of a suite of communication options available – a convenient alternative to in-person meetings when distance or costs were prohibitive – video conferencing has become a mainstay of business collaboration, both internally and externally.
The rapid growth in video conferencing has led businesses to take a keener interest than ever in the technology available to make digital collaboration as seamless, reliable and inclusive as face-to-face meetings. That’s why the findings of recent research by IDC into the future of video conferencing will be of great interest to many businesses, as they adjust to ways of working that are expected to persist for the long term.
IDC’s Future of Video Conferencing report, sponsored by LogMeIn, presents findings gathered from IDC data and interviews with organizations across Europe. It confirms that working from home looks set to remain the norm even after the pandemic has passed. The report examines levels of investment in video conferencing and other collaboration applications, and explores the benefits that have been experienced by businesses adopting these technologies. It looks into the growth potential for video conferencing, the factors influencing its uptake, and the opportunities to capitalise on its capabilities.
IDC found that, to date, most organizations have only scratched the surface of video conferencing features and capabilities. However, as video conferencing becomes permanently entrenched as a core collaboration tool, IDC expects it to become integral to the delivery of long-term business outcomes.
Teams and departments will rely on video conferencing and collaboration technology more than ever to enable the co-creation and co-innovation that are vital to success. Consequently, the IDC report found, individual lines of business are likely to take a greater interest in the IT buying process for collaboration technology. To date, such purchases have largely been carried out by IT departments independently.
To meet growing demand for more sophisticated and universally compatible video conferencing, the report concludes, vendors will need to promote innovations that enable more productive and immersive meeting experiences – replicating the engagement, inclusivity and interaction of real-life collaboration.
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You can download the full IDC report to find out more about the future of video conferencing, and how your business can embrace its capabilities to help achieve your goals.