#ThinkDigital: Replacing Physical Meetings with Virtual Alternatives

Businesses today are on the fast lane. This is why many traditional processes are constantly being automated to optimize speed and costs. This also applies to planning meetings. For as long as robots do not overrun the workforce, meetings are inevitable. Nonetheless, virtual meetings provide the best alternative to physical meetings because they save time, reduce costs and provide instant memory or recall to all discussed – a classic three-for-the-price-of-one sale!

Below are some digital alternatives to holding physical meetings:

Skype

Skype is one of the best free-video chat applications because compatibility reaches far beyond smart phones to desktops, tablets, television sets, and other devices. The app supports both the front facing and the rear camera for absolutely no charge. You can make video calls on your Android phone using Skype to Skype. Apart from video calling, you can also make voice calls and phone calls to landlines and other mobile numbers using Skype credits at a very cheap rate. With Skype you can enjoy group voice calls with up to 25 people and video calls with up to 10 people.

Viber

Viber is another video chat app that is available for free. It is compatible with and optimized for Android tablets. With Viber, everyone in the world can connect without any financial cost. More than 400 million Viber users text, call, and send photo and video messages worldwide, over Internet connections for free. Viber Out, a feature of Viber can be used to make calls to non-Viber mobile and landline numbers at low rates.

Google Hangouts

Google Hangouts is an instant messaging and video chat apps platform developed by Google that allows its users to connect visually.  Google+ users have the app directly integrated into their Google profiles and the service operates across platforms, allowing you to video chat regardless of a smartphone or tablet being used. To use Google Hangouts on a PC, following these steps:

  1. Log in into Google Plus or Gmail.
  2. Open Hangouts at hangouts.google.com or in Gmail.
  3. Allow Hangouts to access your computer’s microphone and camera.
  4. In the search box, type a name or email address of people you want to invite to your group video call and check the box in front of their names.
  5. Click the Video icon.

FaceTime

Facetime is the most popular video chatting app available on IoS- powered devices. This is almost perfect for video calls. With FaceTime, one can always connect with business associates also using the app on any of their Apple Gadgets. The only requirement for proper functioning of this application is high-speed internet connection. It costs nothing to operate this app.

OoVoo

OoVoo allows free high quality video calls, voice calls, and text messages to easily connect to business associates and family members around the world. On Oovoo, clear and crisp video calls with up to 12 people on a group video call can be made. This app contains echo cancellation features and produces crystal clear audio to make sound always great.  OoVoo allows chat with up to 12 people at a time and to keep tabs on friends through quick status updates.

WhatsApp Video

Launched in November 2016, Whatsapp video calling allows users to place a video call to anyone using WhatsApp. The competitive advantage is its wide reach and multiple accessibility on different platforms.

#ThinkDigital is an original 234Finance series that provides you with articles, resources and information to assist you in achieving better productivity whilst saving costs. Please let us know those you will be implementing and how well they have worked for you. Feel free to share using the hash tag, #234FinanceThinkDigital.