Why asynchronous Video Communicationis the way of the future
By letting employees consume video content at their convenience, Vidyard’s asynchronous video communications software is helping to enhance employee productivity while reducing stress.
With THECOVID-19 pandemic triggering a shift to working from home, video communication has becomethe norm. Fast and convenient, it allows people to see others’ facial expressions, pick up on their body language, and stay connected with their colleagues.
But real- time, live synchronous video communication comes with challenges. It canbe very tiringwhen done all day long and doesn’t give employees much time to think, reflect, or react. “This iswhere asynchronous videocommunicationcomes in,” saysmichael Litt, Co-founder and CEOOF Vidyard, a Canadiancompany specializing in asynchronous video communications and makers of the video platform built for business.
Asynchronous communication is communication that occurs after the fact, like email, Slackmessages, andtexting. It canalso occur in video format. “The nice thing about asynchronous video messages and screen recordings is thatemployees canengagewith the content when they want, which gives them muchmore flexibility in the way they work, think, and digest information,” says Litt. “It’s really theway forward and a better way of doing business because communication can be more thought through.”
Enhanced employee mental health
With the transition to working from home, there has been a heightened awareness of employee mental health and well- being. Initially, many workers were feeling they had to always be “on” or behind their computer, something that’s not always possible when people have other meetings to attend or are distracted with children at home. “Employers are recognizing nowthat people can’t stay fully connected for an 8-hour-plus day without some flexibility,” says Lisa
Brown, Vice President of Talent at Vidyard. “Asynchronous video helps greatly with that.”
Because a synchronous video lets employees engage at their convenience, it’s easier for them to stay informed, collaborate with colleagues, and keep productive.
It also helps to foster the human connection when employees might be feeling isolated. “Updating employees on the status of a project or giving a leadership update by recording a video puts a human face on that communication and that’s especially important during times of crisis and change,” says Brown.
Simple to download, easy to use, and with lots of possibilities
Vidyard is free, simple to use, and works across all major mobile platforms and web browsers. “It’s just one click to install, one click to record fromyour webcamor screen, and then one click to finish the recording,” says Litt. A link is automatically created as soon as the recording stops, which can be shared in an email, on social media, or within an internal messaging platform. “The recipient clicks on the video and it plays automatically,” says Litt. The viewer recipient can pause, rewind, or view the video as many times as needed in order to digest the content.
The video creator is notified when the recipient has viewed the video. “This is very valuable, not just for how it relates to customer interactions, but also to internal interactions — just understanding the way people are consuming the content,” says Litt. Video recipients may also be inspired to make their own videos in return.
As adopt ion of asynchronous v ideo increases, employers are discovering more creative and innovative ways to leverage it — from connecting with customers, to sharing updates with employees, to recruiting, onboarding, and training. “We’re also seeing a trend now in using it to archive people’s work and processes — and more and more, it’s replacing the need for so many live video meetings,” adds Brown.
The nice thing about asynchronous video messages and screen recordings is that employees can engage with the content when they want, which gives them much more flexibility in the way they work, think, and digest information.