A business needs reliable communication tools to thrive in today’s world. Remote communication tools enable companies to participate in the global market and allow virtual collaboration to happen seamlessly with distributed teammates. The lockdowns and closed offices of 2020 changed the world, and how we will work forever. Without access to physical offices companies adopted new solutions for collaboration at an astonishing rate. Softwares such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams filled much of the void that the physical office left. People still felt disconnected from each other, and sought something that brought people even closer together — enter Spatial. During 2020 Spatial saw incredible growth, but we are more proud of how many teams, classrooms, and friends we were able to unite in a more meaningful way. A decade ago video conferencing was newly adopted for work and now we cannot live without it, let alone run a company. The adoption of video conferencing has been an even greater increasing trend since COVID-19.
Most companies and employees have handled this transition surprisingly well. Companies have been using video conferencing services for many years to connect with other offices or clients. The difference became how much people suddenly relied on it to fundamentally run businesses.
With this change, Zoom fatigue became a household term. Frequent video calls can leave your team feeling disconnected and drained. Rectangular screens are flat and impersonal, and while it might have been nice at first to have a way to meet up in some face-to-face capacity, after extended periods of drawn-out Zoom sessions the novelty fades rather quickly. Not feeling embodied properly has proved to be exhausting. Staring at oneself on a tiny screen while trying to pay attention to other people’s faces in tiny rectangles on a screen wears on people.
For some businesses and more traditional folks, transitioning to remote work and collaboration or learning how to utilize video communication tools can be a confusing process to navigate. But, for those ready and willing to dive into the world of collaboration tools there are tons of options of all varieties, notably XR solutions.
Telepresence apps such as Spatial could provide the solution to these issues. While you’re familiar with video conferencing technology, telepresence technology can replicate spaces physical or imagined and make you feel like you are really “there” with other people. Have your remote coworker pop up next to your desk or meet you on Mars, the possibilities are endless. Telepresence can seamlessly create a collaborative Virtual or Augmented Reality space for teams to connect and engage with one another.
Telepresence rooms can help team members process and retain information, brainstorm on projects, communicate, and even socialize. Essentially, Spatial enhances workflow through immersing team members in a beautiful virtual reality space. It creates the ideal setting for virtual team collaboration.
On a fundamental level, telepresence and video conferencing serve the same function for your team, which is that they make remote communication in real-time possible. Both are a convenient way for your team to connect with other branches of your company to discuss projects, hold proposal meetings with investors, meet potential clients, or hire new talent. But the ways in which the two technologies fulfill remote communication needs are quite unalike, and the difference in the quality and experience they provide can be substantial.
Telepresence video conferencing like with Spatial creates an immersive experience for virtual collaboration that creates the sense that everyone in a meeting is in the same room. With a simple 2D photo you can create a lifelike 3D avatar in a couple of minutes! While a headset is the most immersive way to enter a virtual office space, it’s not required. Spatial’s virtual workspaces can be accessed through web, iOS, Android.
Simply put, telepresence technology is as close as it comes to an in-person conference experience without being in-person. This means that communication is effortless, and instead of your meeting becoming hindered by technology, it becomes enhanced.
With Spatial, telepresence becomes a hyper-focused work environment for your team members. If your team is taking on particularly demanding or extensive projects, Spatial simulated VR/AR telepresence spaces can help keep your team organized or even improve their results. Immersing yourself in a virtual reality space enhances your focus, and encourages one to enter a “flow”-like state.
In the end, choosing between video conferencing vs telepresence for virtual team collaboration comes down to which meetings you value having that face to face connection for.
If you currently conduct work remotely and plan to continue, it might be beneficial to invest in an AR or VR headset, which can cost just a couple hundred dollars. Now that we are getting back on the road and into offices, If your team frequently travels throughout the year, and you want to offset travel expenses, investing in telepresence can provide a top-notch experience for remote business meetings.
The enhanced collaborative environment Spatial offers is important to consider as well. You can never overvalue new inspiration, innovation, and perspective for your company. Really, the only question is which meetings should you bring to the VR space?
If Telepresence with Spatial sounds like it’s the right fit for your company, speak to our team today about scheduling a demo!
