Skip to product menu
close
  • Recent Launches
    Press Space or Enter to display list of options
EXPLORE ALL PRODUCTS

Recent Launches

New

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Try now
New

Robotic process automation software to automate high-volume, rule-based tasks.

Try for free
New

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

Try now
New

Business formation service to launch and grow your businesses.

Try now
New

Privacy-friendly application analytics solution.

Try for free

Sales

 
CRM

Comprehensive CRM platform for customer-facing teams.

CRM
 
Bigin

Simple CRM for small businesses moving from spreadsheets.

Bigin
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
RouteIQ

Comprehensive sales map visualization and optimal route planning solution.

RouteIQ
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
Suites
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

CRM Plus

Marketing

 
Social

All-in-one social media management software.

Social
 
Campaigns

Create, send, and track targeted email campaigns that drive sales.

Campaigns
 
Forms

Build online forms for every business need.

Forms
 
Survey

Design surveys to reach and interact with your audience.

Survey
 
Sites

Online website builder with extensive customisation options.

Sites
 
PageSense

Website conversion optimization and personalisation platform.

PageSense
 
Backstage

End-to-end event management software.

Backstage
 
Webinar

Webinar platform for webcasting online webinars.

Webinar
 
Marketing Automation

All-in-one marketing automation software.

Marketing Automation
 
LandingPage

Smart landing page builder to increase conversion rates

LandingPage
 
Publish

Manage all your local business listings on a single platform.

Publish
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Thrive

Complete loyalty and affiliate management platform.

Thrive
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
LeadChain

Sync, manage, and convert leads across channels seamlessly.

LeadChain
 
NEW
CommunitySpaces

Online community platform for individuals and businesses to grow their network and brand.

CommunitySpaces
 
Suites
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Marketing Plus

Commerce and POS

 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce

Service

 
Desk

Helpdesk software to deliver great customer support.

Desk
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
FSM

End-to-end field service management platform for service businesses.

FSM
 
SalesIQ

Live chat app to engage and convert website visitors.

SalesIQ
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
Suites
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Service Plus

Finance

 
Books

Powerful accounting platform for growing businesses.

Books
 
FREE
Invoice

100% Free invoicing solution.

Invoice
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Inventory

Powerful stock management and inventory control software.

Inventory
 
Billing

End-to-end billing solution for your business.

Billing
 
Checkout

Collect payments online with custom branded pages.

Checkout
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo
 
Practice

Practice management software for accounting firms.

Practice
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Commerce

eCommerce platform to manage and market your online store.

Commerce
 
Suites
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Finance Plus

Email and Collaboration

 
Mail

Secure email service for teams of all sizes.

Mail
 
Meeting

Online meeting software for all your video conferencing & webinar needs.

Meeting
 
Writer

Word processor for focused writing and discussions.

Writer
 
Sheet

Spreadsheet software for collaborative teams.

Sheet
 
Show

Create, edit, and share slides with a sleek presentation app.

Show
 
Notebook

Beautiful home for all your notes.

Notebook
 
Cliq

Stay in touch with teams no matter where you are.

Cliq
 
Connect

Employee experience platform to communicate, engage, and build positive employee relations.

Connect
 
Bookings

Appointment scheduling app for consultations with customers.

Bookings
 
TeamInbox

Shared inboxes for teams.

TeamInbox
 
WorkDrive

Online file management for teams.

WorkDrive
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Office Suite

Powerful collaborative work platform for teams.

Office Suite
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
Calendar

Online business calendar to manage events and schedule appointments.

Calendar
 
Learn

Knowledge and learning management platform.

Learn
 
Voice

Cloud Contact Center Software for businesses.

Voice
 
ToDo

Collaborative task management for individuals and teams.

ToDo
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
FREE
PDF Editor

Collaborative online PDF editing tool.

PDF Editor
 
Suites
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Workplace

Human Resources

 
People

Organize, automate, and simplify your HR processes.

People
 
Recruit

Intuitive recruiting platform built to provide hiring solutions.

Recruit
 
Expense

Effortless expense reporting platform.

Expense
 
Workerly

Manage temporary staffing with an employee scheduling solution.

Workerly
 
NEW
Payroll

Payroll software with automated tax payments and filing.

Payroll
 
Shifts

Employee scheduling and time tracking app.

Shifts
 
Sign

Digital signature app for businesses.

Sign
 
Suites
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

People Plus

Security and IT Management

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Directory

Workforce identity and access management solution for cloud businesses.

Directory
 
FREE
OneAuth

Secure multi-factor authenticator (MFA) for all your online accounts.

OneAuth
 
Vault

Online password manager for teams.

Vault
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Toolkit

Complete resource for any admin-related lookup queries.

Toolkit
 
Lens

Interactive remote assistance software with augmented reality.

Lens
 
Assist

Remote support and unattended remote access software.

Assist
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA

BI and Analytics

 
Analytics

Modern self-service BI and analytics platform.

Analytics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep
 
NEW
IoT

Harnessing IoT analytics for real-time operational intelligence.

IoT

Project Management

 
Projects

Manage, track, and collaborate on projects with teams.

Projects
 
Sprints

Planning and tracking tool for scrum teams.

Sprints
 
BugTracker

Automatic bug tracking software for managing bugs.

BugTracker
 
NEW
Solo

The all-in-one toolkit for solopreneurs.

Solo

Developer Platforms

 
Creator

Build custom apps to simplify business processes.

Creator
 
Flow

Automate business workflows by creating smart integrations.

Flow
 
Catalyst

Pro-code platform to build and deploy your apps.

Catalyst
 
Office Integrator

Built in document editors for web apps.

Office Integrator
 
ZeptoMail

Secure and reliable transactional email sending service.

ZeptoMail
 
QEngine

Test automation software to build, manage, execute, and report testcases.

QEngine
 
Tables

Work management tool to connect people, processes, and information.

Tables
 
NEW
RPA

Automate manual, tedious, and repetitive tasks easily.

RPA
 
NEW
Apptics

Application analytics for all apps.

Apptics
 
Embedded BI

Embedded analytics and white label BI solutions, tailored for your needs.

Embedded BI
 
NEW
IoT

Build, deploy, and scale IoT solutions for connected businesses.

IoT
 
DataPrep

AI-powered data preparation service for your data-driven organization.

DataPrep

IoT

 
NEW
IoT

Low-code IoT platform and solutions for connected businesses.

IoT

Search Result

 
CRM Plus

Unified platform to deliver top-notch customer experience.

Try now
CRM Plus
 
Service Plus

Unified platform for customer service and support teams.

Try now
Service Plus
 
Finance Plus

All-in-one suite to manage your operations and finances.

Try now
Finance Plus
 
People Plus

Comprehensive HR platform for seamless employee experiences.

Try now
People Plus
 
Workplace

Application suite built to improve team productivity and collaboration.

Try now
Workplace
 
Marketing Plus

Unified marketing platform for marketing teams.

Try now
Marketing Plus
 
All-in-one suite

Zoho One

The Operating System for Business

Run your entire business on Zoho with our unified cloud software, designed to help you break down silos between departments and increase organizational efficiency.

TRY ZOHO ONE
Zoho One
Zoho Marketplace

With over 2000 ready-to-use extensions across 40+ categories, connect your favorite business tools with the Zoho products you already use.

EXPLORE MARKETPLACE
Marketplace
Skip to main content
  • HOME
  • Business
  • Is it worth paying for video conferencing software?

Is it worth paying for video conferencing software?

video conferencing tool

The COVID-19 outbreak has forced business owners to rethink the way they run their business as we continue toward an increasingly digitised world. Amidst the travel limitations that confined us to our homes, video conferencing apps saw a tremendous surge in usage. Whether to celebrate a birthday of a loved one or attend weekly team meetings, people today rely extensively on video conferencing solutions to lead a life that's (as close to) normal as possible from the safety of their homes.

Even once the pandemic has become a distant memory, many businesses will still be embracing a WFH model to some degree, and teams will naturally become more dispersed across geographical regions. For these remote employees, video conferencing will be the only way for them to get together with their peers and have face-to-face interactions. This not only helps people stay productive while working remotely, but it can also save a ton of time and travel expenses for businesses.

Identifying the right video conferencing tool

Every video conferencing service has its pros and cons and will differ by the range of features it offers. If you're in the market for a tool like this, it's vital to ensure that the software you are selecting aligns with your business process.

Here's a list of questions to consider before deciding which video conferencing software is right for you:

  • How long are your video meetings on average?

  • How many participants usually join each session?

  • If that number is large, can the product handle that volume?

  • If the number is small, are you paying for more than you need?

  • Is the software going to be used purely internally or both internally and externally?

  • If externally, will your customers be willing to download a third-party app to attend your meetings, or would they prefer to join without having to sign up or create an account?

  • Does the software provide a good quality experience to customers joining meetings from their tablet or mobile device?

  • How many employees from your organisation would need to use the software to host meetings?

  • How often do you expect to conduct meetings?

  • Will your video conferencing tool be able to integrate with other apps, like your calendar, CRM, or email marketing tool?

With these details in hand, it will be easier to narrow down your choices and easily choose the best solution for your business.

Video conferencing features

Most video conferencing solutions offer a similar set of standard features, and for many, those will be more than enough to meet their business requirements. Here's a list of features that a good video conferencing tool will let you have for free:

  • Unlimited one-to-one meetings and limited group meetings

  • Automated meeting reminders

  • Screen sharing

  • Private or group chats

  • Speaker spotlight

  • Recordings with local disk storage

  • Browser option for joining

  • End-to-end encryption

Now, when there are so many amazing free features, why would someone would pay to use such services? Well the truth is that many of the additional features that paid editions of these products have can help businesses grow, especially as they begin hiring more employees and reaching out to more regions with their products.

Here are three key reasons why investing in video conferencing technology can be worth your money:

1. Free yourself (and your customers) from limitations

When using free video conferencing software, you must constantly be mindful of exceeding time restrictions or keeping the number of participants to a minimum. This can be a huge drawback for organisations that rely on video conferencing to engage and educate their customers. For instance, let's say you're hosting online yoga classes for a group of people, and you unexpectedly exceed the permitted time. Your call will be disconnected, and you might have to request that your participants rejoin by sending them a new meeting link. By then, drop-off rates will skyrocket. Even worse would be if you have more demand for your services than free meetings will allow you to supply. With each meeting, you'd be losing out on revenue.

If you're looking to accommodate your customers and provide an exceptional remote experience, it won't hurt to pay a few extra bucks to upgrade your service and have the freedom to host meetings for as long as you want and with as many people as you'd like.

2. Take advantage of additional features

Upgrading your video subscription service from a free or basic version to the premium edition can unlock additional features that improve both your employee and customer experience. Most paid video conferencing tools will include intuitive features such as:

Custom meeting codes: Personalise your meeting access key or password with preferred numbers of your choice or your customer's phone number for easy access.

Branding: Personalise your email headers or your webinar registration forms with your brand logo, feature image, name, and more.

Social media streaming: Stream your online events to a larger audience across social channels like YouTube and Facebook.

Live Q/A and polls: Run interactive polls to increase participant engagement and make each session more productive. This will help you easily identify people who are genuinely interested in your brand.

Video recordings with increased cloud storage, so employees can refer back to meetings for key points or to improve customer engagement.

Reporting: Keep track of attendance, number of scheduled meetings, and the duration of your meetings.

Intelligent noise cancellation: Reduce unwanted background noise to improve your meeting audio quality.

Multiple-user licenses: Allow multiple people in your organisation to schedule, invite and host meetings.

3. Gain a competitive advantage

pie chart showing how SMEs invest in video conferencing software. 36% are currently using video apps, 295 have no plans to invest in it, 22% are planning to invest in video apps in 2021, and 13% are planning to invest in them in 2022 or later

In April 2021, Zoho collaborated with Telsyte to conduct a workplace study on Australia's small and medium-sized businesses. From surveying 307 decision-makers in Australian organisations that have less than 100 employees, we found that 36% were already using video conferencing tools in their business. 22% planned to invest in them in 2021 and 13% in the year 2022 or later. No matter the size, Australian businesses have clearly realised that it's worth spending money to deliver a good customer experience. When other organisations are continually enhancing their operations, you need to do the same if you wish to stay a step ahead of your competition.

We hope this post gives you some guidance when choosing the video conferencing software that best fits your business requirements. From improving collaboration to ensuring customer loyalty, video conferencing tools have enormous potential to benefit businesses of all sizes and industries.

If you are looking to invest in secure video conferencing software that doesn't burn a hole in your pocket, Zoho Meeting is a great option. Our online meeting software is easy to use and has a range of useful features available as part of both free and premium versions. At Zoho, we tailor and build our products to meet your specific needs, and our goal is to help SMEs around the world keep up with the pace of technological innovation and thrive in today's digital age.

 

Related Topics

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

The comment language code.
By submitting this form, you agree to the processing of personal data according to our Privacy Policy.

You may also like