Not many technologies have enjoyed such a fast-paced growth in the past few years as video conferencing – most noticeable as part of an overall unified communications platform.
According to Nicolette Kruger, country manager of NFS Technology, the developer and supplier of a range of software for the hospitality and leisure industry – including for the conference and events industry – said 2014 will be the year were “increasingly more” companies opting to harness video conferencing.
“In 2014 we will almost certainly see growth being galvanised as companies realize the importance of incorporating video conferencing into their overall business platform. This elevated interest will enable “further advances in technology, like cloud services and interoperability”.
“Almost everyone in the business world today possesses a smart phone or a tablet – or both – and this fact will spur the mobile video collaboration strategy.”
Kruger says there has already been sign cant increases in the uptake of mobile video collaboration. This will only continue to grow, which will provide employees with the chance to connect in much more flexible, convenient ways.
“Of course, with this uptake, the overall costs of implementing mobile or static video conference will come down.”
The bottom line, Kruger points out, is that where tight budgets limited video conferencing, including remote collaboration, a certain amount of “critical mass” has now occurred- forcing prices downwards.
Certainly, advances in video collaboration systems will have businesses choosing to rely on telepresence by choice rather than necessity. “Basically, video technology is the future of successful business,” says Kruger.