Videoconferencing and collaboration vendors like Zoom have been reporting a sharp decline in business this year. It’s been a recurring in the industry for decades, a boom followed by a bust. The first spike happened in the 1990s, when Intel CEO Andy Grove invested heavily in the technology then indicated that was one of his biggest mistakes. A second spike took place a decade later when HP rolled out Halo rooms, followed again, by a decline.
Most recently, interest in video shot up (out of necessity) during the COVID-19 pandemic. As it’s waned, so has the rush to video.
There’s a chance the market won’t pull back this time as sharply as it did in the past. But until the industry steps up to address problems it’s known about for decades, fixes that could make the technology sustainable, videoconferencing will never reach its full potential.
The issue? To be successful, videoconferencing vendors need to me several requirements. And yet ,they treat the list as something they can pick and choose from without realizing they need to do all of them.
The main benefit of video
The primary benefit from using these tools isn’t collaboration; we collaborated successfully using mail, telephone, and in-person meetings long before videoconferencing showed up. You could easily skip most video sessions and simply send out a hard copy of the pitch, tell people to look it over while on the phone, and you’d get nearly an identical outcome. Most meetings aren’t particularly collaborative, they’re more like communication sessions with questions. Staff meetings, company meetings, vendor pitches, HR updates, and even meetings on organizational changes and financial performance don’t require real-time video.
In fact, one of the benefits of a phone call is that you don’t have to worry about your appearance. This was one of two reasons desktop video communications failed in the 1980s. (The other: employees feared their boss was…
2023-02-24 19:00:02
Source from www.computerworld.com
The past few years have seen a significant rise in the use of videoconferencing for a variety of purposes, but now it seems that videoconferencing is once again falling out of favor. There are various reasons why people have lost interest in this method of communication, from technical issues to lack of available bandwidth. Here are five core reasons why videoconferencing is once again losing ground.
1. Issues with Connectivity: A major issue with videoconferencing is that it requires a reliable internet connection, which has become challenging for many people given the issues with network reliability. Power outages and signal hiccups can cause an interruption to any video call, making it difficult to complete a successful meeting.
2. Distractions: One of the key drawbacks of videoconferencing is the sheer number of distractions that exist in a typical call. Even the slightest movement, sound or interruption can be enough to pull the participant’s attention, which in turn diminishes the overall quality of the meeting.
3. Lack of Flexibility: Videoconferencing often entails having to stick to a set format and schedule, which can be inconvenient for those on the other end. Furthermore, if a person is late to the call, then it can throw off the entire conference.
4. Technical Complications: For some, setting up a video conference can be challenging, especially when dealing with the various hardware and software needed to make it work. With many companies now working remotely, it can be difficult for them to get all the right equipment in place to hold a successful meeting.
5. Expense: Setting up and maintaining a videoconference can be costly, particularly if a business is using expensive streaming solutions such as Zoom, Webex or Skype. This can be an obstacle for businesses who are trying to stay within their budget.
All in all, it seems that videoconferencing is once again becoming less popular. Though it is still a viable solution for many, there are numerous drawbacks that have caused people to look for alternative methods of communication. With the right combination of technology and proper organization, videoconferencing can still work for some.