Working remotely with your employees, you’ve surely Zoomed. In fact, we use Zoom as a noun, adjective and verb without thinking about it.

“I’ll set up a Zoom.”

“In our Zoom meeting . . .”

“Let’s Zoom about it.”

Video teleconferencing has evolved and so have the tools that support remote communication. Zoom has plenty of company — GoToMeeting, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Blue Jeans Meeting to name a few, and not all are equal.

When choosing the best tool for your company, here are five things to keep in mind.

1

How easy is it to use? Tech wizards might not have a problem with your sleek new video conferencing choice, but most likely, not all your employees fall into that category. The tool with the most capabilities might be overly cumbersome and frustrate some. You want to make communication easy and accessible. The user interface should be quickly explainable if not intuitive.

And don’t overlook: mobile. Being mobile friendly is essential in today’s on-the-go world, where the phone travels with us just about everywhere except the shower. Make sure the mobile capabilities of the tool you select make for a user-friendly experience.

2

When buying almost anything these days, you learn about all it can do. But what do you need and what will you realistically use? Frills are fun, but if you don’t really plan on taking advantage of them, why pay extra? Ask yourself if you need Dolby sound, analytics, transcription and the virtual makeup plugin, that allows you to add computer-generated makeup to faces. Make a list of what’s important to your company and select your features accordingly.

And don’t overlook: security. That’s important no matter what business you run. With cyber security attacks on the rise, you want to protect what’s essential, which surely includes data about your company and your customers.

3

The fancy term is third-party integration and it breaks down to your teleconferencing tool working seamlessly with the other apps your employees use on a regular basis. Remember the original goal — communicating effectively and efficiently among employees. The less app switching, the better.

And don’t overlook: ease of use and your goals (repeating here for emphasis). Don’t reinvent the wheel. Consider the apps your employees use today rather than starting from scratch (unless your process needs a complete overhaul).

4

Many tools are free, but you’re likely going to pay to get some of the advanced capabilities. Cost always matters, so again it’s as simple as ensuring you use what you’re paying for.

And don’t overlook: free trials. Almost all video teleconferencing services off them. Take advantage if you’re unsure. Keep track of when your trial expires and be aware of how to cancel so you don’t incur unnecessary expense.

5

Can you get help if you need it? Explore the options for customer support. A virtual assistant can be awfully annoying if that’s all the help offered. The biggest headache, as most of us know, is getting trapped in a phone tree, pushing buttons in search of a warm body only to be ultimately disconnected.

And don’t overlook: video chat solutions, a more personalized experience than the back-and-forth with a faceless agent serving multiple clients.