What is a useful web conference for telework?

Suddenly, what percentage do you think the current web conferencing system usage rate is?

As a result of the penetration of telework due to the influence of the new coronavirus, the utilization rate of the web conferencing system is a whopping 79.2%.

In this article, we will not only explain the hot topic of web conferencing, but also introduce a wide range of carefully selected tools, benefits, and selection points for web conferencing systems .

What is the hottest web conference right now?

Cloud type

The cloud type uses a conference system prepared on the web . Zoom corresponds to cloud-type web conferencing.

If you contract with a company that provides a web conferencing system, you can use it immediately, so there is an advantage that it does not take time and effort, but there is also a disadvantage that you cannot customize it to your liking.

On-premise type (in-house server)

On-premise type is to build a server for web conferencing in-house .

There are advantages such as being able to customize and in some cases the cost is lower in the long run.

On the other hand, there is also a disadvantage that it takes time to use web conferencing because the server is built in-house.

Differences between web conferencing and teleconferencing (video conferencing)

“Web conferencing” is conducted using software and browsers on a PC, and “teleconference (video conferencing)” uses dedicated terminals, monitors, cameras, and audio equipment .

With web conferencing, meetings can be held anywhere there is an internet connection, but video conferencing is limited to a fixed location such as a dedicated meeting room.

In addition, web conferencing does not require special equipment, so it can be introduced at low cost, but video conferencing (video conferencing) requires a dedicated terminal and monitor, so it is expensive.

Why web conferencing is attracting attention

Impact of COVID-19

Telework has been introduced by each company to avoid close contact due to the effects of the new coronavirus, but web conferencing has attracted attention because it is compatible with telework. This is because web conferencing can be held anywhere.

According to a survey by Yano Research Institute, the usage rate of the web conferencing system was the highest at 79.2% in offices in the seven prefectures where the state of emergency was declared on April 7th. (See diagram below)

Popularization of the Internet environment

In recent years, the Internet environment has been improved, and free fee systems such as Zoom have become common. Therefore, there was no need to worry about the cost when starting a web conference, and it spread rapidly.

Spread of devices such as smartphones and tablets

Web conferencing can be conducted using smartphones and tablets that most employees are familiar with in their daily lives, so there is no need to use unfamiliar equipment.

In this way, the fact that the hurdles to introduction are low has also become a factor for web conferencing to attract attention.

3 advantages of web conferencing

Meetings can be held anywhere with an internet connection

Web conferencing can be held anywhere with an internet environment and device.

Especially for companies with branch offices all over Japan or companies expanding overseas, it is a great advantage to be able to hold meetings without moving from each branch office.

Low cost to operate

Unlike video conferencing, it does not require special equipment, so it can be operated at low cost.

There are many cases where you can choose between a free version and a paid version for cloud-based web conferencing systems like Zoom, so if you want to keep costs down as much as possible, you should choose the free version.

speed up decision making

Web conferencing can hold impromptu meetings without the attendees being present.
This is because web conferencing can be attended from anywhere in Japan or overseas as long as the time is right.

Before the spread of web conferencing, it was necessary to gather all the attendees in the same place (such as a conference room) when holding an emergency meeting.

However, with web conferencing, you only need to adjust the times of the attendees, so you can expect faster decision-making.

Don’t fail! Three points for selecting a web conferencing system

Number of accounts that can be connected simultaneously

There are various types of web conferencing systems, such as web conferencing systems for large groups and web conferencing systems for small groups.

Therefore, before introducing web conferencing, check how many people your company will have a web conference with .

For example, if you have many opportunities to hold trainings and seminars, it is recommended to choose a web conferencing system that supports a large number of people.

Whether security measures are perfect

Web conferencing has the risk of eavesdropping on conversations due to unauthorized access by a third party, and eavesdropping on images and videos displayed on the screen.

for that reason,

• Is information encrypted?
• Is it possible to set a password for a meeting?
• Are IP addresses restricted?

Let’s check the following three points before installation.

Do you have a strong support system?

By choosing a web conferencing system with a solid support system, you can quickly solve any unclear points such as connection methods, so you can concentrate on your original work.

Unexpectedly, it is not known, but the free version of the web conferencing system may not have a sufficient support system.

Make sure to check whether they support support in Japanese or whether they support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

[Free to start] 6 web conferencing systems

Can See

It is a system that realizes realistic web conferencing with high-quality video with a maximum of 30 frames per second, which is equivalent to television.
Unlike other companies, there is no stress such as “The screen is rough and difficult to see. When the screen is enlarged, the image quality becomes noticeable.”

feature

• Realize high-quality web conferencing with realistic HD video
• Strong security with standard support for SSL authentication and AES encryption
• Sustained web conferencing with up to 20% packet loss

price

• 14 days free trial available
• Initial cost 38,500 yen, monthly cost 40,000 yen
• The contract is for a minimum of one year and is automatically renewed from the following year onwards.
• Currently offered at 1,480 yen per month
• *For details, visit the official website

LFV

It is the only web conferencing system in Japan with security insurance, so you can use it safely and securely.
Recommended for important corporate web conferences.

feature

• Security insurance that compensates up to 10 million yen for all accounts when receiving compensation for damages due to information leakage
• No need to install the app or enter an email address

price

• 14 days free trial available
• *For details, visit the official websit

wellcast

It is a web conferencing system that does not require installation of an application when participating, reducing the preparation time and improving the participation rate.

Also, by linking with a customer management system (CRM), participant information is automatically reflected on the CRM side, making it easier to manage and share information within the company.

feature

• Can work with various cloud services such as Slack and Salesforce
• Automatically adjust video and audio quality according to network conditions to prevent time lag between participants
• Participant information can be downloaded as a CSV file after the meeting

price

• 30 days free trial available
• Basic fee 5000 yen + pay-as-you-go fee (no limit to the number of members and distribution rooms that can be used)
• *For details, visit the official website

Go Qme

Since troublesome login and user registration are not required, it is recommended for those who want to introduce web conferencing immediately.
We are conducting a telework support campaign that allows you to make free calls to 5 bases. (as of January 2021)

feature

• No troublesome login or user registration required
• Up to 5 people can connect

price

• Free plan available (2 people can connect at the same time per room)
• There is also a pro plan
• *For details, visit the official website

VQS Collaboration Business

A multisite web conference system that allows up to 31 sites to participate in a web conference.

In addition to sound quality, development is focused on “lip-sync”, which synchronizes lip movements (video) and audio, so you can realize stable web conferences without audio disturbance.

feature

• Adopts high-quality music compression technology “TwinVQ” to realize realistic conversation as if you were there
• All communication is encrypted by domestic encryption technology “Camellia”, so you can safely hold a web conference.
• Realizes stable web conferencing by fixing the communication band used by the app-based system

price

• Free trial available
• Initial cost of 40,000 yen for 3 simultaneous connections, monthly cost starts from 19,800 yen
• *For details, visit the official website

MORA Video Conference

It is a web conferencing system characterized by simple operability, such as iconizing frequently used functions and launching with just a click.

Even in environments such as mobile environments and wireless LANs where Internet lines are prone to instability, interruptions in conversations can be minimized by a system that prioritizes audio.

feature

• Voice priority and automatic reconnection for peace of mind even in a mobile environment
• More than 10 years of experience and solid security
• ID system, complete flat-rate system, unlimited use of web conference rooms

price

• 1 week free trial available
• ASP model: initial cost 78,000 yen + monthly cost 3,000 yen
• *For details, visit the official website

summary

This time, we introduced a wide range of information, from explanations of web conferencing useful for telework to benefits and carefully selected web conferencing systems.

There are many web conferencing systems other than those introduced in this article, so refer to the selection points introduced in this article and introduce a web conferencing system that is suitable for your company.