ConnectSolutions (CoSo), the trusted professional and managed solutions provider for Skype for Business and a Microsoft Gold Solution Partner, today announced the results of a new survey that suggests that while the technology is enterprise-ready, video is not exactly taking the workplace by storm. On the contrary, of the 41% of those who use video and AV rental service as a collaborative tool in the workplace, 57% report relying on it less than once per month.
A Problem of Perception?
The problem may be linked to old habits. While consumers continue to find new uses for video from their mobile devices, video’s role in the enterprise has traditionally been limited to formal video conferences and training sessions. Not only do 81% of workers say their video sessions are usually scheduled in advance, but only 9% tend to initiate these sessions themselves.
Furthermore, only 19% are launching video to collaborate from mobile devices, which cuts workers off from many of video’s most compelling use cases. This limited usage is seen across all age brackets—including the tech-dependent Millennials that are otherwise known for bringing consumer-grade applications and devices into the workplace.
In fact, with workers stating that the bulk of their video interactions occur via IT-deployed web conferencing software (63%) and Unified Communications systems (45%) as opposed to desktop IM (12%), video appears to take hold only when the organization has made proactive steps in bringing it into the workplace.
Workers: Not Camera Shy
Employees may not be pushing the use of video at work, but they’re not altogether opposed to it. And once initiated, its use can spread at least within the session itself. During chat and conferencing sessions where video is available, 47% say they turn their webcams on when others do, and 13% do it regardless. A third of workers do resist reciprocating, but they also don’t mind launching video when asked—only 8% say they resent being asked to share video of themselves.
Far from camera shy, workers across all age groups are quite comfortable with the idea of using video at work. Less than 20% express discomfort when their live images are captured or stored. Less than 10% worry about impromptu video sessions catching them inappropriately dressed or in an unattractive location.
Conversely, the majority of those surveyed recognized at least some of video’s value. When asked what they like most about video at work, 51% cited the reduction in travel, 46% claimed faster communication, and 31% pointed to its ability to aid in stronger relationship building.
“The close, on-the-fly collaboration you get with video can have a tremendous impact on worker productivity and the organization’s ability to compete,” said Christopher Martini, VP, Skype for Business, ConnectSolutions. “Unfortunately for many, video is something you respond to rather than initiate. But while workers have been slow in unlocking video’s potential, the tech is there and workers are ready to use it. They simply need to be shown how.”
554 US employed Internet users 18 years old and over participated in the ConnectSolutions Employee Attitudes toward Video at Work Survey conducted online during the month of February, 2016.