Introduction
Online video conferencing has become crucial for many businesses in today’s post-pandemic world. Video conferencing is essentially an online meeting between two or more individuals communicating in real time over an internet connection. Video conferencing solutions can blend audio and video to facilitate virtual face-to-face communication, helping you see the other person’s expressions while hearing what they say. According to a Forbes survey, 71% of businesses believe that communication using online video conferencing tools promotes remote work and is just as good as being face-to-face.
Desktop and app-based video conferencing solutions are helpful and are widely used, but they have some limitations. Technical barriers like downloading, installing, and signing up can be difficult for some non-tech-savvy individuals and take up a lot of time. That is why we need browser-based video conferencing solutions.
Browser-based tools let people join video meetings directly through their web browser, which is easier than downloading or installing extra software. Browser-based tools also make joining meetings from any device with internet access easy. They reduce compatibility issues.
In this article, we will explore why we need browser-based video conferencing solutions. We’ll address the challenges with desktop-based tools and see how much of an improvement browser-based tools can be.
Problems Specific to Desktop-Based or App-Only Platforms
While desktop-based and app-only platforms have been helpful for years, especially during the pandemic, they come with several issues. Let’s take a closer look at these issues.
Installation And Sign-Up
Having trouble installing or signing up for a new desktop app right before a meeting can be time-consuming, sometimes even stressful. If employees struggle with setting up a tool for a meeting, it can delay the meeting and disrupt productivity, especially during a busy schedule. Some common issues include failure while downloading the software, installation problems, issues while signing in, or downloading additional software. These technical barriers can make it harder to join meetings fast.
Local Storage Dependence
Desktop-based or app-only video conferencing software may take up valuable local disk space. Downloading the files required for these software tools can also be time-consuming due to some of them having a large size. Updates and storing temporary files after installation may take even more disk space.
Another problem is that sometimes they can run in the background when not in use, consuming a lot of system resources. This can damage your computer’s battery life if not taken care of. Browser-based tools eliminate this problem, as there aren’t any downloads or installations of any kind.
Manual Updates
Unlike browser-based solutions that can update automatically, desktop apps often require manual updates. These manual software updates are disruptive and can cause some issues. For instance, some updates may make the current version incompatible with the older version, forcing all team members to update before a conference. Sometimes, the newer versions may even be incompatible with certain operating systems, disturbing everyone’s workflow and forcing them to turn to other alternatives.
Shared Device Environments
Using desktop video conferencing apps on shared computers has many issues. Logging in and out repeatedly is time-consuming and can be a security risk to big companies. Plus, multiple users on the same device might run into problems with saved passwords, settings, or leftover data from previous sessions.
Connectivity and Performance Issues in Traditional Tools
The internet is one of the greatest innovations of the modern era, and using it for video conferencing is definitely a game changer. As James Veitch aptly said, “The Internet gave us access to everything, but it also gave everything access to us.” But, not everyone has access to high-speed internet, which significantly impacts how traditional video conference tools work.
Desktop-based video conferencing apps often struggle with slow or unstable internet, causing lag, buffering issues, and dropped calls, especially on weak or crowded networks. Unlike browser-based options that automatically adjust video quality, many desktop apps can’t adapt well to changes in internet speeds. HD video calls and screen-sharing tools also use a lot of data, which can cause problems like lags or glitches for people with poor internet connection.
Desktop video conferencing apps can also slow down your computer since they then use a lot of power for video processing, noise cancellation, and virtual backgrounds. These constraints can result in your device overheating, crashes, or system lag, especially on older computer models. When the system is overloaded, you might experience performance issues like delays, glitchy audio, or video that doesn’t sync properly. These issues can delay meetings and important conferences.
Read more: The Role of Screen Sharing in Business Collaboration
The Struggle for Cross-Platform Compatibility
Desktop-based video conferencing tools often struggle to work smoothly across multiple devices and operating systems like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Each system has its own setup, requiring extra coding and testing to make sure everything runs properly. A feature that works well on one device might have issues on another, leading to glitches. So, developers often end up having to spend extra time designing apps that meet the specific requirements of each device and operating system.
Maintaining uniformity in user interface across different devices is another challenge. Developers have to balance platform-specific rules while making sure the app looks and works the same for everyone. However, this can lead to some features being changed or removed on certain platforms. Continuous updates and maintenance are necessary to keep up with system changes. Browser-based tools do not have these issues, as the type of device or OS doesn’t affect how they work.
Security Concerns with Non-Browser-Based Tools
A video conferencing tool with weak security can eventually lead to many issues for the users. Even a small data leak could lead to confidential information going out to the public. Hackers can share conference call recordings or other sensitive business information shared during calls. These risks can cause direct damage to the company and break customer trust. Think of industries like healthcare where security and privacy are critical. For example, doctors can conduct virtual therapy sessions. However, if private video conversations aren’t properly protected, it’s not just an ethical issue; it could also lead to legal trouble.
Unfortunately, installing and updating desktop-based video conferencing apps can also create security risks. Older versions may have weaknesses that hackers can take advantage of. In fact, stored data like meeting recordings and cached info can be exposed if not properly protected. Using a browser-based video conference tool is a much easier and safer solution.
Read more: Best Practices to Keep Confidential Data Safe in Video Calls
Conclusion
Video conferencing is slowly becoming the norm as around 94% of companies in the US expect its use to increase by 100-500% in the future. Browser-based video conferencing tools can make virtual meetings easier, faster, and more secure. Unlike traditional desktop apps, there’s no need to download or install anything, which removes technical hassles.
These tools work smoothly across different devices, update automatically, and adjust better to slow internet connections. They also reduce security risks by keeping data online instead of storing it on personal devices. Switching to browser-based video calls helps businesses and individuals save time, avoid tech issues, and have a smoother meeting experience.
Continue reading: Staying Safe: Protecting Your Communications While Traveling
Sources For The Images
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Barts, N., (n.d.) ‘Frustrated Man in Front of a Laptop’, Pexels.
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Kaboompics.com, (n.d.) ‘A Female Doctor Having a Video Call’, Pexels.
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Krukau, Y., (n.d.) ‘Photo of Woman Using Cellphone While Smiling’, Pexels.
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Piacquadio, A., (n.d.) ‘Confused businessman checking time on wristwatch’, Pexels.
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