The Coronavirus outbreak took many businesses by surprise. The increased risk of infection and stringent measures taken by governments have encouraged many companies to move a good portion of their daily operations online. While larger corporations have the infrastructure and capital to breeze through this uncertain period, smaller businesses are having to make ad hoc changes, quick decisions and find online tools to run their business in order to stay afloat.
Many businesses are getting creative; doctors are using telemedicine and some attorneys are even offering online consultations to injured clients. In order to stay connected with colleagues, employees, and clients, consider using one of these videoconferencing apps for all of your collaborative needs.
Skype for Business
Yes, the app that you use to video-chat your grandma on her birthday can also be used for business purposes. As a product of Microsoft, Skype for Business starts off with a fantastic reputation. Everything from secure service to easy integration into your existing Microsoft products is what you’ve come to expect from this company’s products. Fortunately, Skype for Business is no different. You can host a video conference of 25 people for free! What this app doesn’t offer in a free trial, it makes up for in a competitive price at just $5.50/month.
Join.me
If your small business is looking for simplicity, then Join.me is your pot of gold. This app operates entirely online, eliminating the need to deal with lengthy and stressful downloads. It’s free for 3 people but will cost you a small fee for more participants. Join.me’s unique whiteboarding feature streamlines collaboration and communication. Business owners can send personal meeting links instead of messing with complicated IDs. Join.me is easy to use, quick, and affordable — everything a small business owner should be looking for in a videoconferencing software.
Google Hangouts
Many small businesses rely on Google apps for scheduling, organizing files, emails, and a host of other important parts of their business. Google Hangouts might be just the addition you’re looking for if you need a videoconferencing app to conduct business remotely. This impressive tool can accommodate 100 people in a group chat or up to 10 people on video calls. Whether you’ve got a new idea to discuss with your co-workers or need to conduct onboarding interviews, Google Hangouts is a seamless app that integrates directly into Gmail. This integration makes it simple to switch from email communication to videoconferencing in seconds. You can say goodbye to any download headaches since this app is entirely based online.
RingCentral Meetings
This videoconferencing app might not be as well known as some others on this list, but it still packs quite a punch for small business owners. This app is easy to use, reliable, and doesn’t require much maintenance. Business owners and employees alike will appreciate the app’s main features such as collaborative screen sharing and one-click scheduling. Perhaps the greatest advantage of RingCentral Meetings is its simple integration with a host of large players like Google, Microsoft, and Dropbox — just to name a few. Unlike some other options on this list, RingCentral Meetings offers business owners a 14-day free trial, giving you time to make sure it fits your workflow.
GoToMeeting
Flexibility is a key skill that small businesses need to learn during these challenging times. As one of the only videoconferencing apps with top-notch mobile-friendliness, GoToMeeting makes it easy for small business owners to stay connected with their staff no matter what device they’re using. With communication between your mobile and laptop versions of the app, you’ll never miss a beat even when switching devices. There are separate iOS and Android app options for GoToMeeting and a dedicated laptop and desktop version as well.
Zoom Meetings
The last (but certainly not least) videoconferencing app to grace our list is Zoom Meetings. This dynamic app doubles as a messaging and video chat solution for small business owners who want to take advantage of both desktop and mobile devices to stay connected. This app is ergonomic and quick to set up. There are a number of features that are scalable so you can keep adjusting based on your needs without paying for more than you want. Zoom Meetings offers HD audio and video and can support calls of 1,000 participants. It also has a max of 49 video chats on a single screen. Small businesses probably won’t reach these extremes, but it’s nice to know you’ve got the option.
