You’re struggling to collaborate with remote team members. What video conferencing tools can help?

Quality and Reliability: Opting for a video conferencing tool with high-quality audio and video is crucial. Tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Cisco Webex are known for their reliability. Check for platforms that offer stable connections, minimal disruptions, and good video resolution. It's also essential to consider the tool's ability to handle various internet speeds and conditions.

Many such tools are normally included with your productivity tools such as Office 365 or Google Suite in the form of Teams or Google Meet. These tools offer quick and easy access to video conferencing at a low entry price point as you will likely already have them included. There are then additional tools you can sign up to such as Zoom that tend to offer additional functionality such as Webinar tools. In my experience the reliability and stability of Zoom tends to outweigh the additional costs. I’ve found you get better uptime, less drop outs, less frozen screens and better audio.

Collaborating with remote team members efficiently requires reliable and user-friendly video conferencing tools. The right choice can enhance communication, foster teamwork, and improve productivity. Here’s how you can evaluate the best video conferencing tools, drawing on insights from AI and experiences shared within the LinkedIn community: Quality and Reliability High-Quality Video and Audio: Look for tools that provide clear, high-definition video and crisp audio to minimize misunderstandings and ensure effective communication. Stable Connectivity: Opt for platforms known for stable performance even with varying internet speeds. Tools that can adjust the video quality based on bandwidth can help maintain smooth communication.

Video conferencing tools are usually included in your email package. For example; Microsoft 365 = Teams and Google Workspace = Google Meet. I’m a Teams girl but I’ll always hop over to zoom if that’s what people prefer.

Popular video conferencing tools that can help with collaborating with remote team members include Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Cisco Webex. Each offers features like video calls, screen sharing, and chat, facilitating seamless communication and collaboration among remote teams.

User-Friendly Interface: Choose a tool with an intuitive interface to reduce the learning curve for team members and facilitate quick adoption. Cross-Platform Compatibility: Ensure the tool works seamlessly across different devices and operating systems, allowing team members to connect from any device, anywhere.

Screen Sharing and Collaboration Tools: Essential for presentations and collaborative work sessions, allowing team members to share their screens, documents, and ideas in real-time. Recording and Transcription: Features like meeting recording and automated transcription can be invaluable for keeping records and ensuring that team members who couldn't attend can catch up. Interactive Features: Look for tools with interactive features like polls, Q&A sessions, and virtual hand-raising to keep meetings engaging and participatory.

When people work in remote teams, it isn't only about video conferencing. Don't be slave to your inbox, think about other collaborative chat tools like Slack, Trello, Miro or even Monday. The advantage of these is that people can come to them at a time suitable to them. Remember that people can find new tools challenging, particularly in large organisations which may block access. You want to be sure that people are able to access the tool regularly, want to and feel comfortable doing so. Once they do, you'll not need to have nearly as many meetings!

As well as using video conferencing tools, it’s important to try and meet in person if budget allows. I love having a remote team but meeting them in real life was a gamechanger. We’re planning another meet up again soon.