Leading research company, Aragon, have revealed their research globe for the video and web conferencing environment. Video meeting room providers are growing rapidly, according to Aragon, because the barriers to entry are smaller. Video is more affordable, reliable, and easier to set up than ever before. What’s more, it’s supporting the rapid change to remote working.
Aragon’s research globe examines some of the major providers in the web and video conferencing environment and discusses the unique use cases they support. Let’s take a closer look at the interesting findings that Aragon uncovered this year.
Video in the Digital Workplace
Aragon notes that the era of digital work has officially arrived, along with productivity and automation solutions to help teams get more done. Aragon believes that meetings are 40% more effective when done through video, compared to voice alone. Ideally, however, the video solutions need to be quick and easy for everyone to set up without IT assistance. Many providers are already increasing their focus on this simplicity.
WVC hardware and software is also adapting to support a new experience, according to Aragon. In 2019, the market began moving to an integrated approach with video bars and room kits offering a lower and more accessible price point. The projector era in the conference room may well be over.
Aragon also noted that vendors are expanding their sets of UCC capabilities. In the meeting room, companies are adjusting their portfolios to offer more full-stack solutions with voice, video, and other essential components in one. Zoom and Microsoft added voice into the mix, for instance. Providers that offer a more complete solution are currently leading the way, in Aragon’s opinion.
Transforming Meeting Room Experience
Aragon’s research notes that the race to digitise buildings is on, but the work is happening in the conference room first. Video meetings need to be intelligent and automated, with AI analytics that understand what’s happening in the meeting and help to make the experience better. For instance, AI solutions can remove background noise and take notes on the behalf of users.
Overall, Aragon is seeing a five times growth in video enabled conference rooms leading up to 2023, and the age of digital work will evolve. By 2022, Aragon believes that team collaboration and web meetings will converge into a single solution (70% chance). These tools, according to Aragon will include not only voice and video, but content sharing, transcription, analytics, and so much more.
Aragon’s research notes that meetings aren’t just an isolated activity anymore. People need something that converges and integrates with the rest of their communication stack. Video and web conferencing is moving into an environment where it forms a unique part of the unified communication and collaboration environment. All the while, extra solutions are emerging in the form of things like 4k video, and different cloud deployments like public, private and hybrid.
Who Are the Leaders in This New Environment?
According to Aragon, meetings and team collaboration have been on a collision course for a long time. Together, they’ll help digital employees to accomplish more, without switching between multiple apps in the workforce. However, to achieve the right outcomes with these converged tools, businesses need the right solutions in place.
Aragon notes that security is still a critical consideration in this changing marketplace, and that meeting providers need to think carefully about offering the right solutions. Encryption, role permissions, and data centre security will all be critical.
Currently, Aragon sees a few leading companies in the marketplace that are driving success for the modern meeting environment. The leaders include:
- BlueJeans: Offering an accessible and easy-to-use environment with partnerships to Dolby and interoperability with other providers. BlueJeans Rooms also makes it easy for team members to set up internal meeting environments
- Cisco: Aragon notes that Cisco’s Webex portfolio of room devices represent some of the most comprehensive in the industry. Webex has both the hardware and the voice heritage to serve a wide selection of customers in this space
- Google: Google has continued to evolve the Hangouts solution, which is now known as both Chat and Meet. Google integrates all management capabilities for meeting rooms into a single space and integrates with a selection of other offerings
- Lifesize: Lifesize is one of the only market leaders that can offer one of the most advanced video experiences around. In 2019, meetings from Lifesize became 4K-enabled. What’s more, Aragon notes that Lifesize Go makes accessing meetings easier for everyone
- LogMeIn: This company has a portfolio that’s now broader than ever, thanks to Jive voice and GoToConnect solutions. LogMeIn is easy to use and brimming with amazing tools for the meeting place
- Poly: Aragon notes that Poly has a range of high-quality video and audio services to offer, supported by an integration with Zoom and Zoom Rooms. Poly also integrates with Microsoft, offering fantastic video and audio in the leading environments
- Zoom: Aragon recognizes Zoom as one of the market leaders in scalable HD video webinars and conferencing. Zoom makes video easy to access, with a comprehensive app marketplace, and a UCaaS offering thanks to Zoom Phone
Contenders, Innovators and Specialists
Aragon also discussed some of the “contenders” approaching the top spot in the video and web conferencing space, including:
- MediaPlatform: Known for leading webcasting and enterprise YouTube capabilities, as well as web and video conferencing gateways
- Microsoft: Microsoft is quickly becoming an all-in-one hub for work, including everything from voice, to video and messaging
- Panopto: The Panopto brand delivers exceptional analytics capabilities, video search, and integrations with learning platforms
- PGi: PGI is offering the GlobalMeet solution for video and web conferencing, and recently expanded into UCaaS with an extra focus on meetings
- Qumu: The enterprise video solution from Qumu allows companies to stream directly from any conferencing application, making webcasting and streaming easier
- Vbrick: According to Aragon, Vbrick offers a combination of scalability and highly secure video delivery. The partnership and integration with Cisco Webex also helps this company to stand out
Aragon’s Research Globe Innovators included:
- Avaya: The company recently made a number of months to strengthen its portfolio, including an integration of RingCentral, and the introduction of a new meeting environment
- Fuze: The Fuze UCC platform offers benefits like an integrated client and webcasting support. There’s also support for managing meeting and call quality
- Highfive: HighFive offers ease of use and installation, with a relatively affordable cost package for businesses of all sizes
- Pexip: Pexip delivers video system interoperability for better integrations, as well as scalability and global research. The company has partnerships with Microsoft and Google
- uStudio: Focusing on sales enablement, uStudio offers a scalable webcasting solution where companies can deliver video anywhere
The specialists mentioned in the research globe include:
- Adobe: Offering Adobe Connect with virtual classroom support, webinars, and HD video. Adobe also delivers fantastic security
Finishing Thoughts
Aragon notes that the video and web conferencing markets are evolving at a rapid pace, becoming an essential part of the digital workplace. What’s more, product offerings are changing to suit the arrival of new trends and technology.
What do you think about the companies in this year’s Globe? Let us know in the comments below or reach out on social media.
