Putting video’s IT infrastructure in the cloud is gaining momentum and is changing the landscape dramatically for businesses, says Nicolette Kruger, country manager for NFS Technology, a company providing solutions for the hospitality and video conferencing markets.
The security issues that have prevented many companies from making full use of the technology is no longer relevant, or an issue.
With the cloud, IT is delivered and maintained as a service, without the need for expensive and complicated on-site server technology.
Importantly, software-asa-service video conferencing delivery has made this technology easier to use.
“Companies and their employees no longer have to worry about firewall issues, making it simple to gain the collaborative and operational benefits of video across, and among, organisations,” said Kruger.
The fundamental value of video becomes apparent when companies begin to collaborate more, both internally and externally – with other companies.
Most companies have a collection of core customers, suppliers and vendors with whom they have to – or should – maintain close contact. Video conferencing enables businesses to maintain that contact without having to spend time and money traveling to and from various physical contact points. The result is better supply chain management with more time left over to focus on other important business issues.
As technology moves inexorably into the cloud, customers, vendors, and all other cogs in the supply chain can have equal access to video conferencing capabilities, regardless of their size.
“Before the cloud concept, video conferencing was deemed to be expensive. However, by harnessing the cloud, cost is less of an issue.”
These days the earliest adopters of the technology are often the most important link in the supply chain because they can enable video conferencing with every other organisation with a minimal investment of time, money, and infrastructure.
While there are still some lingering concerns from some companies who believe the cloud is not a “safe environment”, Kruger believes a rapidly growing number of companies will embrace it, changing the video conferencing market fundamentally.