When it comes to company productivity, effective communication is crucial. Video conferencing and the ability to work remotely are increasingly more important, especially with the recent changes and challenges in our world. But it can be confusing to determine which available communication software options are right for your business. With that in mind, let’s take a look at two of the top communication software platforms on the market: Zoom and Google Hangouts.
Zoom
Zoom is an easy, powerful video conferencing tool that promotes collaboration via an integrated system of group messaging, web conferences and online meetings.
Zoom can easily integrate with other platforms and software, unifying logins and improving content sharing, marketing automation and room collaboration. Zoom works on Windows, Mac and Android platforms and supports numerous integrations including Microsoft Outlook and One Drive, Skype, Google, Google Drive, Salesforce, Box, Firefox and Slack — as well as their proprietary Zoom Rooms.
Setting up Zoom is extremely simple. Download the Zoom app to your personal computer, phone or tablet, create an account and then join conversations. It’s easy to host and start a meeting with Zoom: Set up a new room or meeting within the app and send the room’s link to the other party. The receiver clicks on the link and joins the meeting within seconds. While other platforms can take minutes to start a meeting, you’re already saving valuable time with Zoom.
Zoom provides unlimited calls and can easily support a meeting with up to 100 participants and 1,000 attendees. Zoom is equipped with remote control options to provide hosts complete control and built-in recording functionality to preserve a meeting for your team to review later. You can also opt for whiteboarding and screen sharing upgrades with paid plans.
Zoom’s chat functionality is seamless so your users can keep communicating even when you’re not meeting. This can replace chat tools such as Slack, which in turn can reduce your IT budget.
Finally, Zoom Rooms offer a competitive advantage over conventional conference rooms for several reasons. There is no need to juggle a conference room schedule, waste time with inefficient equipment or worry about folks squeezing in around the table.
When it comes to image and sound quality, Zoom is crisp and clear with a sharp, professional user interface. Zoom is one of the most affordable videoconferencing platforms, offering a free plan with lots of functionality, as well as several enterprise options that max out at an affordable $19.99 per user per month.
Google Hangouts
Most people know and use Google, and as more companies adopt G Suite for email and connectivity, employees can use the full range of Google products with their email as their home base, including Hangouts.
Google Hangouts is free to with a Google account, and you can conveniently have up to 10 users on a video call, but it’s not as robust a platform as Zoom. Features such as multiple screen sharing and audio calls come at an additional cost. As part of G Suite, Hangouts is ideal for those who enjoy working from their existing Google tools. Log in to Hangouts using your Google account and conduct online meetings or attend via an embedded calendar invite link. Your Gmail’s contact list is automatically added to your Hangout account, which allows you to chat with others while on the go.
Hangouts will automatically detect the speaker and display that person’s video feed most prominently to keep everyone’s attention in a group call. Google Hangouts offers integrations with numerous applications across most common mobile and desktop platforms, including Google’s apps, Flowdock, Zendesk, HipChat, Slack, UberConference, Lucid, Liferacy, Smartsheet and West Unified Communications.
Which Communication Platform Is Right for You?
Zoom’s simple, streamlined user experience, high-quality audio and video and enterprise affordability set it above and beyond Google Hangouts. Zoom is the superior video-conferencing option for connecting with your employees, clients, vendors and any other audience you need to reach.
Both Google Hangouts and Zoom’s HD video, text or voice options can save you money and time while still allowing you to enjoy the benefits of face-to-face contact. If you’re already a G Suite user, the free capabilities and integrations of Google Hangouts may be sufficient for your business needs. If you don’t use G Suite, or you need enhanced capabilities, Zoom’s scalability, capacity and ease of use are a clear choice.
Google Hangouts is only one of many videoconferencing platforms in the marketplace. The experts at DGI have spent decades designing AV and tech solutions that facilitate collaboration and improve productivity. Talk to us about your video conferencing or remote work platform to discover time- and money-saving strategies to make your team more productive.
