Few phrases were more relatable or more often heard in 2020 than “can you see my screen” and “you’re on mute”. Once Covid-19 sent over half of the working population to work from home, video conferencing technology became one of the biggest technologies to keep us all connected. Schools, courtrooms, city governments and every kind of business imaginable needed to be able to continue in their work and video conferencing made that possible.

 

As much of the world begins to loosen Covid restrictions and office buildings slowly and cautiously begin to open, one might wonder where video technology is headed. In a world of much uncertainty, one thing is for sure; this isn’t a technology that’s going away anytime soon. Here we will explore what advances came in 2020 and what’s still growing in 2021 in video conference technology.

 

How it started: video conferencing in 2020

For sure, if you had never participated in a virtual meeting or conducted business over Zoom, Teams or WebEx prior to 2020 – you have now.  But even if it was something you had done prior to 2020, the sheer volume and frequency of video meetings conducted in 2020 presented its own learning curve.

 

Blogs and webinars filled our inboxes with best practices for successful virtual meetings, large-scale conferences, and even how to maintain the best security as video conferencing saw a 535% rise in daily traffic in 2020. Lighting options, customized backgrounds, sophisticated security updates and incredible advances in microphone technology have all seen break-neck speed levels of advancement to meet the demands of this level of growth.

 

But even as the world welcomes an end to the coronavirus, we aren’t seeing an end in sight for the growth and advancement of video conferencing.

 

How it’s going: video conferencing in 2021

Where is video conferencing headed? Well, the Video Conferencing System Software Market size is estimated at USD 8.24 Billion in 2020 and is expected to hit USD 12.80 Billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 9.2%. As legacy systems are sunsetted, and budgets look to factor in systems that can keep up with that level of growth, here are 5 considerations when looking to get your video conferencing system ready for the next chapter:

  • User experience and ease of use

From large-scale webinars, association-wide virtual conferences or big sales pitches, the video conferencing technology should be the least of your worries when it counts.

 

  • Security and privacy advancements

From closed school board meetings, legal counsel or governmental gatherings, security is incredibly important. Ensuring business can be conducted via video conferencing is one thing; making sure it’s secure is another.

 

  • Integrations, integrations, and more integrations

Video conferencing technology doesn’t live on an island. Making sure your platform integrates with productivity tools, shared calendars, audio, and video equipment means that integrations will only continue to advance.

 

  • Video quality and personalization

It’s video. Everyone knows it will never be face-to-face quality, but that doesn’t mean poor, boring quality will cut it anymore. With UHD 4K video and other high quality video options, the future of video conferencing will see more need for personalization with branding, logos, and names

 

  • Gamification and interactivity functionality

If you haven’t heard of gamification, it’s not what you think. Mostly. Much bigger than the ability to play games, gamification means adding the ability for participants to interact with what’s being done during the video conference. What to give out polls or questionnaires in real time? Want your teams to be able to earn points for attendance or receive badges? Gamification will only continue to be a needed functionality as we try to connect audiences from wherever they are.

 

Conclusion

If January 2020 taught us anything, it’s that we can’t predict the future. But if there is anything that seems sure in 2021, it’s that video conferencing will only continue to see growth and advancement as it evolves and connects the global workforce.

 

Are you ready to see how Audio Acoustics can enhance your video conference technology? Contact us today to get started.