6 Essentials for Great Video Conferences

Embracing video conferencing and video communications as part of a unified communications mix is a staple of doing business. It’s also a topic that we’ve discussed in other posts such as do businesses need video conferencing and how to set up the perfect video conference.

When it comes to setting up your business to make the most of the video communications age, what are the essential pieces of kit you need for successful video communication?

Before we get into the details, it’s also worth mentioning that simply going out and buying the most expensive video conferencing equipment you can doesn’t mean you’ll get the best results. There’s a range of factors which affect your video conferencing hardware and being aware of them can make all the difference to the value and ROI your business can achieve from a video conference solution.

Video Conferencing Camera

Okay, we’re going to start with the obvious; choosing the right video conferencing camera is always a good place to start as without a camera, there’s no video conference. So a camera is a pretty essential part of your video conference setup and you didn’t need us to tell you that, but how do you know which camera is best?

Not all video conferencing cameras are created equal so it’s important you consider a number of different factors when choosing the most important part of your video conference setup. Think about:

• Your budget
• Room size
• Connectivity options
• Is your setup permanent or mobile?

All of the above factors will affect the choices you make. For example, if you’re setting up a small meeting room, then there’s no point in choosing a camera designed for meeting rooms of 20+. Something like the JPL Spitfire doesn’t cost the earth, comes in an unobtrusive small form and still packs a punch with a 4K CMOS sensor and compatibility with all the major video conferencing platforms.

Silence is Not Always Golden

A good video conference doesn’t just rely on the video being right though, without clear audio, any video conference is pretty much set up to fail. So a good audio solution is also a key element but what are your options?

There may be more options available to you than you think beyond the obvious built-in solutions of using the speakers in a TV or laptop, which can provide lacklustre performance.

Headsets for Video Conferencing

One of the obvious options is to equip everyone with a headset, while this is a great idea when users are calling in from separate devices it doesn’t work well in situations where groups are joining from a meeting room. This is due to connectivity and being able to plug in enough USB’s or connect enough Bluetooth headsets.

Speakerphones

The right speakerphone can play a really important role here. USB speakerphones such as the JPL Convey can be used in conjunction with a camera solution to provide a better audio experience. Designed to broadcast sound in all directions and pick up sound just as well, a speakerphone can be a marked improvement.

Built-in Audio

Another option for great video conference audio is to look at a video conferencing camera solution which has audio built in. These video and sound bars can provide a great all in one solution, help to keep costs down and also mean installation is simplified.

Whichever audio solution you opt for, considering the sound of your video conference can make a big difference.

A Suitable Computer

Having the best video conferencing equipment is nothing without a suitably powerful computer or laptop to run your video conference from. An underpowered computer can struggle to process the amounts of data used by platforms like Microsoft Teams or RingCentral.

If you’re relying on users running calls from their own laptops, simple advice such as shutting down other applications can also have a big impact on the performance of video conference software.

Rock Solid Connectivity

While you might immediately think about plugging everything in when we say connectivity, you also need to think about how your video conferencing setup connects to the outside world. After all, the primary purpose of video conferencing is to connect with people all over the world, not Sarah in the design team two desks away.

From an internal perspective, the capability of your network is important to ensure that the data required for a video conference can be transferred effectively. An under-resourced network will limit data flow and result in a reduction in video and audio quality.

While physical network infrastructure is important, the wireless environment is just as important, with many workers moving around the office, a poor WiFi signal can also impact your video conferences.

On top of this, you also need to consider your business broadband connection too. Investing in the right solutions here, such as SD-WAN, business FTTP or SoGEA will help ensure that you’re always as connected as you can be for those essential calls.

Mounting Your Video Conference Camera

Where and how you set up your video conference equipment can help to make a good video conference great.

It can be tempting to prop up a camera in the quickest way possible, a pile of books, that empty box from the last delivery or some other short-term solution can seem great at the time. These solutions are exactly that though, short term and they come with a host of problems such as camera stability, there’s nothing worse than taking part in a video conference where one caller looks like they’re on a ship!

Wall mounting is a great way to get consistency with your image and set-up, but if this isn’t an option, consider the advantages of a tripod. Quick, easy and stable without having to route cables, a small tripod such as the one provided with the JPL Spitfire is a great solution to a stable picture.

Train Your Staff

It’s easy to assume that your staff just know how to use video conferencing solutions, but that assumption can lead to delays and disruption in starting video conferences or sharing content.

Investing some time to ensure your staff know how to use video conferencing software features can pay dividends and means that all the beneficial features of a well-set up video conferencing solution are used to full effect.

Small Business Video Conferencing Solutions, Sorted.

No matter the size of your business, speak to one of the JPL team about how our range of high-end video conferencing products can help you maximise the value of your time in the office without breaking the budget. From one camera to one hundred, our team of experts will help you find the right solution.