3 min
Among the increase in the use of different technologies promoted in 2020, videoconferences has been placed in the center of attention. Before the pandemic, video meetings were often considered a last resort, as face-to-face meetings were still the gold standard.
All that changed with the arrival of COVID-19, when, in just one week in March, at the beginning of the lockdowns, users around the world downloaded record 62-million videoconferences applications.
Of course, email is still one of the preferred methods of communication in the workplace, aside from the phone and WhatsApp messages. Even so, various studies show that today the vast majority of companies and employees are opting for videoconferences for team meetings.
Why Is Videoconferences Here to Stay?
1) 93% of Communication Is Non-verbal
There are many aspects that words alone cannot express. Being able to hear tonal inflections and other vocal nuances can make the phone more effective than text-based communications, but a large part of the image is still often missing, specifically body language.
Experts estimate that up to 93% of the meaning imparted when we communicate comes from non-verbal cues. While vocal tone is indeed part of that, the greatest understanding stems from body language, including facial expressions, posture, and other visual information.
When we can see the person we are talking to, psychologists say that we unconsciously interpret signals such as the agreement between a person’s voice, face, and body language more comprehensively. In combination, these sources of information make it easier to discern what is really going on, helping us respond appropriately or seek clarity when signals conflict.
2) 87% of Employees Feel More Connected to Their Teams
The need for social distance has made 2020 and so far 2021 a period of time of isolation for many people, and disconnected from the center of office life; therefore, relationships with co-workers are an area that has been affected.
This lack of connection is not only detrimental to employee satisfaction and well-being. When you consider that collaboration depends on the interpersonal magic of teammates working together, you could run the risk of eroding productivity and innovation.
While there is a natural trust and understanding that comes from working in close personal contact on a regular basis, turning on the camera can be an essential way to overcome physical distance. In fact, 87% of workers report that they feel more connected to their teams when using videoconferences applications.
3) 66% of Candidates Prefer an Interview Process That Includes Video
Videoconferences aren’t just for collaboration. The same things that make video an important tool for fostering connections between existing employees also make it a key part of the hiring process.
According to research, two-thirds of job candidates prefer videoconference interviews. Making an interview an initial part of the process is one way to take advantage of the non-verbal benefits of video over non-visual channels, helping both HR managers and candidates assess mutual fit early in the process, before each side invests its time and resources.
4) 55% of Companies Expect to Continue With Remote Work After COVID-19
Both organizations and employees have found remote working to be such a positive experience that 55% of companies hope to make it a permanent option, either full-time or hybrid.
This means that long after the coronavirus, there will be an ongoing need for companies to address some of the inherent challenges of distributed teams and find ways to enable better connections and collaboration between workers who may not be in the same location. Videoconference will be essential to meet this ongoing challenge.
Video Is The King
In 2020, it was discovered how critical video is to helping relationships thrive. And with the rise of remote working, videoconference is also the must-have business tool of the future.
But there are some requirements for companies to harness the power of video. What is the main consideration? The videoconference app cannot be difficult to use.
Using an all-in-one unified communications solution can improve the ease of videoconference and eliminate common pain points. With Enreach Meetings, from masvoz, employees can connect with their team wherever they are and from any device. Only the browser is needed.
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