Our CEO, Rami Goraly, gave a webinar this week. You can watch the recording or view a brief summary below:
Video conferencing at OnceHub
We've been developing video conferencing integrations for years, since our GoToMeeting native integration was released in 2014. In 2015, we added Webex Meetings. In 2018, due to the fast-growing popularity and a considerable amount of customer requests, we released our Zoom integration.
Still, before 2020, the majority of meetings scheduled through ScheduleOnce were face-to-face. This flipped completely when COVID-19 rose up in the world and changed our business practices forever. In response, we devoted our time to adding and enhancing a number of efforts that would help our customers provide video meetings to their customers, safely and with comprehensive features.
In the span of three months, we:
- Added Google Meet native integration
- Added Microsoft Teams native integration
- Enhanced our Zoom integration with more security features
- Expanded our Webex Meetings integration to all Webex Meetings accounts, including free plans
Why should you use a native integration?
The majority of people schedule video meetings manually. However, they would save a considerable amount of time and effort if they scheduled their meetings with a scheduling app that offered a native integration with their chosen video conferencing app(s). ScheduleOnce doesn't handle the scheduling; it handles rescheduling, cancellation, notifications, and more.
There’s no need to waste time signing into your video conferencing app, creating the meeting, and sending a separate email with the conferencing information. When a customer books with you, ScheduleOnce automatically creates a meeting in your connected video conferencing app and includes all conferencing information in the booking confirmation notification.
In addition, when you schedule manually, you may be tempted to use a static link. If you’re used to offering a static link, like www.myvideoapp.com/mylink, break that habit fast. It may be simpler to use the same customized meeting link to everyone meeting with you, but that opens a huge vulnerability for uninvited guests.
Each session needs its own meeting created, with its own meeting ID. Otherwise, someone may guess your meeting ID and crash the meeting, or more innocently, you may have unexpected people showing up in back-to-back meetings. Much more efficient and secure is providing everyone with a unique meeting ID, private to their meeting.
In addition, anyone joining your session should also receive a meeting password. Ideally, this should be dynamic, which our integration provides when supported by the integrated app. ScheduleOnce adds the unique password to your meetings and all conferencing information provided in notifications.
Why offer multiple conferencing choices?
Compliance
Your customer's organization may have strict compliance rules. Often, they don't approve downloads or even upgrades without their security department's say-so and two forms filled out. Make it easy for your customer by providing multiple options, so they can select the video conferencing app their organization has already approved.
User experience
Although many claim to enjoy new experiences, people like to use what they know. They don't want to be confused and you definitely don't want the meeting delayed as they figure out how to use your chosen video conferencing app for the first time. They'll need to download, adjust audio settings, and figure out other options.
Starting off the meeting with this frustrating experience doesn't speak well to the meeting's success. It's best to put them on familiar ground and create the best environment possible for a positive experience.
Control
By passing the choice to your customer, you're giving them control over the meeting. When they get to choose the option they prefer, they're more likely to think well of your organization. You eased the way by prioritizing their needs over yours. A cohesive business relationship is already forming before you even speak to them.
Awareness
Anyone who gives meetings regularly through a video conferencing app understands well the frustration on both ends of a customer who wasn't aware that video conferencing would be the channel used for the meeting. This is often the case despite information provided in the confirmation details.
Offering them a choice of video conferencing options places the decision firmly into their hands, which in turn solidifies for them that this meeting takes place in the video conferencing app they chose. You're much more likely to start the meeting on time, without playing email or phone tag as they figure out how to join.
Trust
When they see they have a choice among video conferencing options, this raises their confidence both in the booking app they're using, as well as in your organization. You've provided them with a means of selecting the date and time of their meeting, using the video conferencing app of their choice. Both you and your usage of booking software come off as useful, credible, and considerate. All these factors raise their confidence in the meeting process and in you.
Rami demos three options for offering choices
Rami demos three primary ways to offer multiple video conferencing options to customers:
We've outlined details on how to configure the demos he shows in a separate blog post.