Over the last year or so people have been forced to use a variety of different video call and video conferencing software to stay connected with their colleagues. We have all had to adapt to use these platforms to carry on working in the best ways we can, but which ones are the best? Which platforms have the best features and should you continue to use going forward? Here are our top 5 video call platforms you should be using for work and beyond.
https://youtu.be/V41D-8IM6z8Microsoft Teams
Teams is named so because its main feature is the way you can divide up your different teams and projects made up of several channels. Being a Microsoft product means that it integrates well with other Microsoft products and programmes as well as Windows computers. It allows you to share and edit Microsoft Office files seamlessly as well as chat within channels, meaning it is not limited to one single channel like other ones on this list, and of course it allows screen-sharing. It has great versatility and is built for professionalism and work. We also like the way it adapts the images on-screen as users join and leave a call to give you the best possible view of everyone at any one time.
Zoom
A word you are almost certain to have heard over the last 14 months, Zoom has been the go-to for work or casual video calls for many people. According to an article on backlinko.com 300 million participants use Zoom everyday, and possibly contrary to your knowledge, it did exist before the pandemic hit. Its accessibility, screen/audio sharing, and popularity make this a fair choice. Everyone you set up a meeting with will have already used this at some point, so it is an easy one to quickly set one up for a new client or colleague. It only has one chat and it doesn’t have the ability to make multiple channels, but it makes up for that with its reliability.
Google Meet
Potentially overshadowed somewhat by its adjacent option Google Hangouts, we find Google Meet to be a simple, effective and cheap option for video conferencing. It can do what Zoom can do in many regards, but there is no time limit for non-paying customers which you find with Zoom. Furthermore, the fact that it is a Google product allows for exceptional Google Drive, Calendar, and Email integration. Syncing with your email and calendar makes it impossible to forget about a meeting. Although we use other forms of video conferencing, this is the one we probably use the most to communicate in-house and with our clients at Laing Media.
Discord
Although it is primarily used for gaming, Discord has lots of capabilities for work-related use. Like Teams, it allows the creation of different chats and channels, so if you want to message about a specific subject then users who don’t need to know are not affected. As with the others on this list it has a screen-sharing function, and you can even add musical bots who will play music in the background while you work or chat, if you feel like this would benefit you and your team.
Despite the rise of different social media left, right and centre, there’s always one that has continued to rise above the rest, at least for the number of users. Facebook has 2.6 billion users, and part of this is down to its messaging system. Its video chatting isn’t up there with the very best on this list, but the sheer fact that you’re unlikely to come across a new colleague or business partner that doesn’t have Facebook. Instant messaging and a quick video call through the world’s largest social media side could be the easiest way to strike up a quick business deal.
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