As many organisations undertake a digital transformation strategy, finding suitable collaboration tools is often essential to enable employees and customers alike. Microsoft Teams is swiftly becoming popular as many organisations find it bundled in with their Microsoft licensing, springing to the forefront as a file and chat collaboration tool for employees. Often however, organisations find that Microsoft Teams requires a third-party technology to complement what it can offer. Incorporating Zoom into a digital strategy offers businesses a best-of-breed video, voice and conference room solution that complements Teams. By introducing Zoom, organisations are provided with a video meeting solution that is reliable, easy to use, scalable for dispersed teams, and supports modern workstyles. The modern workplace is no longer confined to the static office, and businesses must ensure that they have a suite of collaboration tools which allows employees to work and collaborate efficiently.
Zooms and Microsoft Teams – Why Choose Both?
Launched in 2017, Microsoft Teams is being integrated into many enterprises who are embracing Office 365, recently hitting 20 million daily active users. Benefits of using Microsoft Teams include:
- Increased productivity – Everything that users need is simplified into one platform – conversation threads, chats, online meetings, shared files and more are all accessible through a single interface. As Teams has developed, it has also added the ability to integrate third-party apps as well.
- Increased collaboration – Through Microsoft Team’s chat-based platform, confusing email threads and people accidentally not being CC’d in are a thing of the past. Users have access to a messaging system which allows fast collaboration and flowing conversations.
- It has already been bought – Teams comes as an integrated part of an Office 365 license! As a result, companies who are already on their Office 365 journey won’t have to shell out any additional costs.
Microsoft Teams is a sophisticated collaboration tool but lacks some key features in the area of video collaboration. In the Modern Enterprise, using a video collaboration solution that enables employees, freelancers, consultants, partners and customers to connect over video, no matter where they are located, is essential. Combining Zoom and Microsoft Teams provides the best of both worlds, ensuring continuous collaboration between teams both internal and external. Businesses will find that incorporating Zoom can greatly enhance your Microsoft Teams platform.
Use Case
Zoom
Microsoft Teams
Everyone is on video in a meeting
Shows up to 49 participants. Up to 1000 people all on video in a meeting
Shows the latest 4 speakers. Up to 80-audio only participants in a meeting
Meetings with external stakeholders
Simplified join/meeting experience regardless of internal or external attendees
External attendees must be added as guests before the meeting, otherwise, they will join anonymously
Webcasting to reach broad audiences
Enables webcasting through YouTube Live, Facebook Live, or an organisation’s own system
Webcasts to up to 10,000 people on MS Stream
How does Zoom integrate into Microsoft?
Zoom has native interoperability which supports customers who want full integration into their Microsoft applications. It does this all whilst complimenting and assisting existing workflow.
Microsoft Teams Integration
The current Zoom integration found in the Teams App Store allows users to start an instant meeting or join a scheduled meeting through Bots commands. Meetings that are created in Teams will appear on a user’s Zoom account.
The next step
The next iteration of Zoom’s Teams integration will focus on simplifying the user experience to satisfy core use cases. Soon, users will be able to add a Zoom Tab that will provide a click experience to start, schedule and view Zoom meetings relevant to a Team. Following this, a Zoom app that lives within the Teams interface will be released, which will provide visibility into all Zoom meetings of a user.
Zoom doesn’t stop there!
Zoom is a multi-layered platform which is creating a consistent Enterprise experience.
Benefits of bringing Zoom into your business include:
Collaboration– Zoom makes collaboration easy, as its features make it feel like users are in the room together. Features such as screen sharing (including mobile screen sharing) and co-annotating, which allows participants to annotate shared screens with pens, highlighters and more, make it easy for users to collaborate, no matter their location.
More than just video – Zoom is reducing complexity by eliminating the need for separate Voice Bridge, Video and Desktop Sharing technologies. Incorporating Zoom ensures a smooth user experience, as users operate through a single centralised platform for their communication needs. Plus, users can chat with groups and benefit from integrated file sharing.
Cost – Zoom is often cheaper than the technology it replaces, offering a simple solution to more than just video conferencing needs.
Meet securely – Users will benefit from end-to-end encryption for all meetings, role-based user security, password protection, waiting rooms, and the ability to place attendee on hold.
How can we help?
Understanding both user needs and the impact on a business’ environment when pursuing a coexistence strategy between Zoom and Microsoft Teams is essential. Mobliciti will work with you to create a tailored collaboration tools strategy that is based on your organisation’s needs.
Complete the form to see how Mobliciti can combine Zoom and Microsoft Teams to enable your organisation to create the perfect unified comms package
*A member of the Mobliciti team will be in contact within 2 business days.
