The challenges of video conferencing interoperability

It’s a situation everyone knows too nicely and one which has occurred in workplaces world wide. As colleagues collect collectively within the boardroom to begin an essential video assembly with a consumer, they’re stopped of their tracks after they notice they’re ready in a Microsoft Groups Room and the consumer is on Google Meet.

Then the IT division discover themselves on the opposite finish of frantic calls and the inevitable query — ‘How will we get this to work?’ This generally is a irritating expertise, particularly for organizations which have invested in costly {hardware} or unified communication providers.

The fact is that in the case of audio calling we depend on a common dialing system however the identical can’t be mentioned for video conferencing. In some cases, video conferencing providers solely join with endpoints of the identical supplier. This implies inviting different customers to a gathering can contain downloading and putting in devoted software program or utilizing web-based purposes that supply restricted performance.

With the rise in distant working we’ve seen this yr, customers desire a extra seamless course of with out restrictions. Interoperability between purchasers, firms, and even colleagues has introduced many challenges for organizations as they’ve shifted to a earn a living from home mannequin.

So, the place do IT groups begin?

In a world the place we’re seeing a rise in distant working and an uptake of video collaboration platforms, the problem of connecting units stays. At the same time as IT groups look to standardize platforms resembling Microsoft Groups, with a lot selection in the marketplace, the power to attach and collaborate with completely different assembly room programs turns into problematic.

Nonetheless, some distributors are starting to work collectively and plenty of video conferencing platforms now supply a level of interoperability. At first of this yr, distributors resembling Zoom and Cisco enabled integration for Microsoft Groups. Which means that with the clicking of a button, Microsoft Groups and Zoom customers can be part of one another’s conferences as friends all whereas maintaining the important assembly performance from their particular person room programs. Microsoft clients may allow one-click Zoom conferences from a Microsoft Groups Room and there’s additionally an settlement in place between Microsoft and Cisco.

The important thing to implementing cohesive video conferencing platforms is knowing the market and what’s on supply. IT groups ought to slim down necessities and familiarize yourself with how completely different providers and platforms function and if they will in reality speak to one another and work collectively. One other essential issue is to decide on options which can be straightforward to make use of and don’t require a number of difficult processes that discourage customers from adopting them.

Bridging the hole

For IT groups who’ve already invested in {hardware} and video conferencing software program, there are just a few choices out there. Firstly, using SIP interoperability to beat vendor-to-vendor incompatibility. This permits customers to proceed utilizing the present {hardware} and software program to attach with purchasers or firms utilizing different options and suppliers.

Alternatively, there are numerous third-party distributors providing bridging providers that facilitate interoperability and supply connections between completely different video conferencing platforms. Options resembling Pexip simplify interactions throughout platforms and assist IT groups scale their video communications.

The expertise permits IT groups to attach every video conferencing platform right into a single resolution. Supporting instruments like Microsoft Groups, Google Meet and Skype for Enterprise in the identical workflow as assembly room programs and cellular, desktop or internet customers. So, the time customers spend switching between apps, rooms and options is eliminated to make conferences extra productive.

Ultimate ideas

The underside line is that customers want interoperability and a manner that enables everybody to attach and collaborate, no matter gadget or video conferencing platform. Typically seemingly incompatible video conferencing platforms can speak to one another, they simply want a stage of interoperability.

By working with distributors that regularly look to develop their expertise or using bridging providers that set up a standard floor, IT groups can guarantee customers have productive video calls whatever the expertise they’re utilizing.

Steve Franklin is Govt Director at Cinos — a number one audio visible & unified communications specialist who has been delivering initiatives, services into the general public sector since its formation in 2007.