Increasing ROI With Nefsis Video Conferencing /
Supplement Boardroom Systems by Reaching Desktops Too

Most organisations have experienced increased pressure to reduce costs, save time and improve productivity. In other words: achieve more, with fewer people, reduced capital outlay and tighter control over operating expenses. All of this has occurred whilst globalisation has created the need for even greater communication with disparate employees, customers, business partners, and suppliers. And let's not forget the need to consider the environment by reducing the organisation's carbon footprint.

Many companies and organisations already have conference and meeting rooms equipped with room-based, or traditional video conferencing hardware and often don't see a need for "anything new". However, ask the IT people responsible for setting up and managing a video conferencing installation about the reality, and you may hear something very technical like this:

"Firmware and equipment revision level incompatibilities, standards between manufacturers, bit rate differences, interconnectivity between gateways, bridges and MCUs, etc. — you really have to have someone to manage and set up each call to make it all work together."

One of the problems is that the hardware and software components for video conferencing have been sophisticated, innovative and expensive technology. Funnily enough, traditional vendors all maintain that the benefits of 'Video Conferencing Standards' need to be strictly adhered to, in order to maintain compatibility. When it comes to new installations, if a dedicated video conferencing room is required, it will need to be designed and decorated to take into account lighting, heating, air-conditioning, acoustics and other physical factors as well as the actual room size and shape. Once operational, a room-based system will usually have to be pre-booked and managed and is often viewed as a tool for senior management only. When telepresence comes into the equation, the cost multiplies — often five or tenfold. Nevertheless, senior executives tend to like the "immersive experience" and therefore the ROI is plain to see.

The simple objective of video conferencing is the process of having a real-time conversation with people in one or more locations — with all parties seeing and hearing each other. Most applications involve reducing or eliminating the cost of business travel. Let's face it, without video there would be little to differentiate it from a teleconference. In terms of technology, all that's needed is a good quality audio and video source (if it's HD all the better), an audio system and "display device" in order to hear and see the other parties and finally, a transmission medium.

Traditional, hardware-based video conferencing end-points consist of a display hooked up to a CODEC box. The camera is either built into the CODEC or can be a stand-alone device. Advancements in PC computing power, microprocessor architecture and compression technology have effectively made the proprietary CODEC box obsolete. Technological advances means that an off-the-shelf PC can outperform a video CODEC whist simultaneously delivering applications that greatly enhance the video conferencing experience. A good analogy is to compare a dedicated word-processor machine (remember Wang?) with today's software equivalent (Microsoft Word?).

The good news is that today "audio and video" devices are just peripherals. Whether it's a webcam and headset or a full audio conferencing setup with a dedicated, motorised, Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) HD camera — it is still just a peripheral to a PC-based software application. Desktop HD web-cameras, i.e. 720p at 30fps, are available for €50 and an echo cancelling, desktop speakerphone for less than €200. Mixing and matching boardroom, desktop and mobile users is a true reality. It is as easy as navigating to a web site and clicking "Join Conference" — despite what the installed-site, hardware manufacturers might tell you about the need for MCUs, gateways, CODECs, etc. What else would you expect?

The best way to see for yourself how Nefsis changes the online meeting perspective is to download the free 14-day trial — you'll be glad you did!