The concept of keeping teams connected through regular conference calls is certainly nothing new. This revolutionary technology has been at the heart of successful businesses for years, as modern workplaces continue to favor remote meetings and flexible working methods. According to research from How Screen Sharing Technology is Improving Conference Calls, businesses in the UK and US alone can spend more than 163 billion minutes on conference calls every year.
However, these audio-based meetings often suffer from frustrating communication issues, as distracting background noise, audio delays, and other technology-related hiccups in conference room conversations inevitably result in lengthy, unproductive sessions. In fact, the same LoopUp research found that the average conference call will waste 15 minutes setting up the required technology and dealing with distractions, amounting to an estimated £26 billion in lost revenue.
Fortunately, conference technology continues to evolve, with many platforms now using screen sharing software and other visual elements to enhance laptops for conference rooms and discussions well beyond the current average of the overall meeting experience. Although many of these innovative web conferencing solutions. How screen sharing technology is improving conference calling in a seriously underutilized technology is undoubtedly helping companies get much more out of their meetings.
Seamless file sharing
Standard audio conference calls often require participants to download the appropriate files before the meeting can begin, while traditional face-to-face meetings allow these files to be downloaded, printed, and read before the session. The result is a lot of wasted time and, in some cases, even more wasted paper, but the days of having to share and download such large files are finally over.
Screen sharing makes the distribution and accessibility of this information much easier, as visitors can easily view the relevant material on their screen in real time. Because the best web conferencing platforms allow all participants to share their screen with others, the ability to collaborate is also greatly increased, while making it significantly easier for teams to receive feedback and make decisions faster.
Visualization increases involvement
Without a doubt, visual information is more effective than data delivered via audio or text platforms. 90% of the information sent to the human brain is visual, meaning we all have a natural ability to process visual data much faster. Of course, screen sharing technology allows you to introduce these valuable visual elements into your conference calls, helping participants process the information quickly and increasing the overall productivity of the meeting.
More importantly, the ability to share and display relevant information will make the entire meeting much more interactive, helping participants become more engaged in the discussion and feel encouraged to participate actively. Instead of struggling to explain difficult concepts or complicated pieces of information, you can simply share your screen with anyone and show them exactly what you’re talking about.
Ultimately, this not only saves you a lot of wasted time, but also ensures that participants remain fully attentive throughout the meeting.
Keep participants on track
While traditional audio conversations can often devolve into a one-way presentation, screen sharing ensures that participants are always on the same page and can stay on top of the discussion. While the visual benefits of screen sharing undoubtedly increase engagement in meetings, perhaps the biggest benefit is the sense of clarity it brings to your communications.
A typical audio conversation can often lead to miscommunication and ambiguity, with many participants constantly straining to hear what is being said and inevitably struggling to keep up with the discussion. However, modern web conferencing platforms allow you to share your screen with other participants in real time, meaning they can always view the relevant slides, files or information and effortlessly stay on track.
Save time and increase productivity
Screen sharing technology will ultimately improve the efficiency of your conference calls, keeping participants fully focused on the discussion and significantly improving session productivity. While you can never completely eradicate the need for occasional face-to-face interaction, these advanced web conferencing platforms allow companies to seamlessly deliver presentations, brainstorm ideas, and report on results from remote locations.
Takeaway
By saving you money on travel costs and unnecessary time wastage, web conferencing can make your meetings much more flexible; while the addition of screen sharing software encourages participants to participate, collaborate and give each other truly valuable feedback.
As remote work practices continue to grow so rapidly in popularity, this technology could prove essential in helping teams collaborate and improve the overall quality of results in 2019.