Virtual Meeting Platform: What It Is and Why Use it? A comprehensive Overview

In today’s increasingly digital environment, the ways we communicate and interact have changed significantly. In-person meetings aren’t always the best option when team members need to get together. However, corresponding via email or spending endless hours on the phone is also not recommended. Additionally, as the number of distant jobs rises, you need a solution to close the expanding gap.

An online meeting platform that offers more options than only video chat is the replacement for energy-draining communication. In addition to scheduling and conducting immediate meetings, the correct platform will enable you to take use of productivity tools like screen sharing, team chat, meeting transcripts, and more.

In this blog we’ll discuss how these platforms can alter your meetings, improve cooperation, and increase efficiency.

Let’s start!!!!!!

What Is a Virtual Meeting Platform?

A virtual meeting platform is an online tool or service that enables people or organizations to hold online conferences, meetings, or conversations. It allows you to have face-to-face meetings with people who live in different locations. 

Platforms for virtual meetings are also crucial for effectively managing a range of company operations without the requirement for physical presence.

To help participants communicate and collaborate remotely, these platforms offer tools for screen sharing, audio and video conferencing, as well as chat and collaboration options. These cloud-based platforms offer video conferencing together with capabilities to improve productivity, engagement, and meeting management.

Why Use a Virtual Meeting Platform?

There are several benefits to using a virtual meeting platform for both individuals and corporations.

1. More convenient

Virtual meeting platforms are more convenient than in-person meetings because they do not require travel to the meeting venue. This can save you money and time, particularly if you are meeting with someone who lives abroad. Additionally, since you don’t commute, you may put that time to work doing other worthwhile projects.

2. More flexibility

Unmatched convenience and flexibility are offered by virtual meetings. They are perfect for people with busy times or shifting shifts because they can be scheduled at any time and accessible from any location. 

By removing geographical obstacles and facilitating seamless participation from people in different time zones, this flexibility  benefits global teams. Participants can attend meetings even if they are unable to be physically present by selecting their favorite setting, which improves comfort and attentiveness.

3. Increased productivity

Online meetings increase productivity by allowing participants to work in their own environment, resulting in more attention and fewer interruptions. Individuals are able to multitask and participate more fully in discussions. 

Facilitating smooth information interchange and idea sharing is made possible by collaboration tools and screen-sharing features. This leads to more focused discussions, faster decision-making and efficient project workflows including accelerated design reviews and revisions.

4.  Improved Work-Life Balance

    Professionals can better balance their home and business life by using virtual meetings. People can better manage their time and experience less anxiety and stress by working online and minimizing the need for travel. In addition to improving general health, work-life balance also raises job satisfaction and increases employee retention.

 Top Virtual Meeting Platforms

The following are some of the best online meeting platforms, each of which has a number of features to make online collaboration easier:

1. Google Meet

Google Meet is a popular virtual meeting platform that works perfectly with Google Workspace allowing you to schedule and join meetings straight from Gmail, Google Calendar and other Google apps.

 It provides excellent audio and video quality and has strong security features including encryption and safe access restrictions.

Key features

• Set up and participate in online meetings
• screen sharing and virtual sceneries
• Integration with Microsoft 365
• Instant messaging and presence indicators

Pricing

The free edition allows for meetings of up to an hour with 100 participants. Paid Google Workspace options available to individuals with a custom Google domain, range from $6 to $18 per person per month and include more features and longer meeting lengths.

2. Zoom

Zoom is a cloud-based platform with voice and video conferencing capabilities. Millions of people use it on a daily basis now, having gained popularity during the pandemic. It provides an adaptable and simple-to-use setting for conducting online conferences, webinars, video meetings, and group work.

Key features

• Excellent Audio and Video
• Collaborating and Sharing Screens
• Combined calendar, messaging, email and whiteboard features
• Scheduling and Integrating Meetings

Pricing

Zoom offers a free plan with 40-minute meetings with up to 100 participants. Paid plans for larger meetings (up to 300 attendees) and extended durations (up to 30 hours) cost between $149.90 and $199.90 per user each month. 

3. Skype for Business

Skype is a well-known instant messaging and video conferencing service that has been bringing people together all over the world for many years. It offers choices for buying credits to make calls to mobile and landline phones, as well as subscription plans for other services.  

This Microsoft product has developed all over time to fulfill a variety of communication needs and has remained a reliable virtual conference calling tool.

Key features

• Messaging and Video Calls
• Connectivity to Microsoft 365
• Features such as hand raising, replies, and call recording
• Option to reserve a phone number for meetings, calls, and SMS/MMS messages

Pricing

Businesses find Skype-to-Skype calls attractive since they are free, while Microsoft Teams is  intended for business meetings. Skype’s landline and mobile calls operate on a pay-as-you-go credit scheme with choices to fill up your account with $5, $10, or $25.

4. Microsoft Teams

One of the best online meeting platforms available is Microsoft Teams, a versatile tool for communication and collaboration that is available as part of Microsoft 365. It facilitates virtual meetings and teamwork within enterprises by combining chat, file sharing, video conferencing, and app integration.

This implies that the same tool you use to manage business documents and instant message your colleagues may also be used to arrange meetings or start them on the spur of the moment.

Key features

• Live captions in over 30 languages
• Cast to conference rooms
• Choices for adding complete phone system functionality
• Tools for annotation and whiteboarding

Pricing

There is a free plan with Microsoft Teams that allows for 60-minute sessions. Paid subscriptions include additional Microsoft 365 functionality along with increased features and support for up to 300 members. The monthly cost ranges from $4 to $12.50 per user.

5. Cisco Webex

This program for internet meetings is designed especially for business meetings. You can have meetings for up to 100 people using the free plan. There is no time limit on these encounters which is beneficial if you would like to have a longer conversation.

Key features

• High-Quality Video and Audio
• Screen Sharing and Collaboration
• Options for adding on extra features to an external phone system
• Organize meetings for up to 1,000 people (licensing pending).

Pricing

 Cisco Webex provides 40-minute meetings with up to 100 people for free. Upgrade to the $14.50 Starter plan, the $25 Business plan or a customized Enterprise plan for more participants and advanced features.

Which virtual meeting platform is best?

The platform that best fits your goals and works with the tools and workflows you already have is the ideal option for virtual meetings. The top virtual meeting platforms available, in our opinion are:

• Livestorm is the only tool you’ll need to organize, publicize, run and evaluate any kind of virtual event with up to 3,000 participants such as internal meetings, sales calls and sizable webinars.
• If you don’t want to use the helpful engagement features like breakout rooms and polls, Google Meet is an easy-to-use tool that can meet most of an individual’s demands.
• Microsoft Teams because of its enterprise readiness and Outlook suite compatibility. It can also be used as an asynchronous messaging software and for document management.

Conclusion 

A virtual meeting platform becomes a necessary tool for modern communication particularly with the rise in remote work. These platforms allow for instant scheduling, screen sharing, team collaboration and detailed meeting transcripts.

 Choosing these platforms can help your organization stay connected and fulfill its objectives, regardless of where team members are situated.

FAQs

How does a virtual meeting work?

A virtual meeting starts when the host sets up the meeting details, selects an online platform, invites participants, and leads the discussion. The host can use slides or documents for presentation. At the end, the host ends the meeting with a button press.

What Are the Different Categories of Online Meetings?

There are several kinds of online gatherings. Video conferences are excellent for teamwork and presentations since they let you see and hear other people. Similar to online seminars, webinars are speeches by a single person to a large audience usually with an educational focus. The purpose of team meetings is for your group to communicate and collaborate, sharing ideas and making sure everyone is aware of what’s going on. These are only a few different kinds of virtual gatherings with a distinct function.

What’s the best virtual meeting platform for Mac?

The best virtual meeting platform for Mac is Livestorm. The Livestorm is browser-based and therefore compatible with all OS systems.

How can virtual meeting platforms support large conferences and events?

Virtual meeting platforms support large conferences and events by  providing a number of features made to accommodate big numbers of participants and complex event needs.

Are virtual meeting platforms secure?

Yes, most virtual meeting platforms are secure including features such as encryption, password protection, waiting rooms, and user authentication inorder to protect data and communications.