Conferencing Connectivity: Can there be a better way?

Despite advances in conferencing technology, and the growing dependence on connected conferencing solutions from an increasingly remote workforce, the experience remains sub par. Business professionals report wasting an average of 15 minutes per conference call, struggling to connect to the meeting technology. The inefficiency of meeting connectivity has real implications to business and to the bottom line. It’s simple math, anywhere from 5-15 people in a meeting, and you’ve wasted hours out of the day. New technologies, such as connecting via ultrasonic tones, offer smooth and seamless connected meetings in a low or no touch offering. We’ll examine conference connectivity more closely, explore the challenges, and show how @LISNR makes meetings and other smart office applications better.

Meetings start late, we all know it, we’ve all felt it, and it’s often because we’re trying to fix the conferencing system connection so we can show our presentation. It goes something like this: first, we have to figure out the hardware in the room (e.g., polycom), which varies from company to company, and sometimes from conference room to room. Next, the user needs to access the ‘correct’ software chosen by the meeting scheduler which could be anything from GoToMeeting to Zoom to Bluejeans and more. Then everyone puts in the meeting ID, and sometimes also an access code. Finally after connectivity is achieved, users fumble through content/screen sharing tools, audio quality controls, etc. All of this before even one piece of meaningful information is exchanged!

It’s exhausting and easy to understand how clunky and inconvenient the whole experience can be.  It’s no surprise, then, that most often attendees forgo the conferencing software altogether, and resort to connecting only via landline or mobile phone. In fact, only 29% of web conference calls use a web conferencing component.

Despite all of these challenges, pent up demand exists, and 86% of people would do more web conferencing if better solutions were available, and if it weren’t more difficult than ‘emailing out the slides.’  This all comes at a cost, businesses waste over $34 billion a year in inefficiencies. This doesn’t even factor in security risks inherent in controlling call attendees (who’s on the call?) and the contents shared. While 70% of business professionals report that it’s quite normal to discuss confidential information on conference calls, over 50% report that it’s also normal not to know who’s on those calls.

Collaboration solutions need to offer seamless connectivity without a lengthy, complex kick-start process. Working professionals deserve better. As reported recently in ZDNet, Millennials are bringing forth a new set of workplace expectations, with 52% saying they believe flexible working elements are the most important aspect, and 29% saying energizing workspaces, including the latest technology, was most important.

All of this inefficiency begs for innovation which is where LISNR can help.. By integrating LISNR’s inaudible audio tones, conference systems can automatically discover attendees, initiate the authentication protocols, and connect them to their conferencing hub.

The process is seamless – for all of those involved:

1. A unique, secure “conference ID” is configured.
2. The “conference ID” is sent over an (inaudible) LISNR tone to facilitate the ‘discovery’ of nearby devices.
3. Once the end-users are identified, the user can fully connect with the conferencing hub via a simple single-click connection, without any additional hardware required.

Why use LISNR:

• • Security: security options may be embedded (e.g., encrypted data, one-time password tokens, timed connections, etc.).
  • Simple Discovery: significantly reduces friction when attempting to discover and connect to hardware.
  • Reduce Interference: Unlike other protocols that use Radio Frequency (RF), LISNR tones will not “leak” to other rooms nearby due to physical sound barriers (walls, doors etc.)
  • Simple Integration: No software or firmware is required. Create and broadcast tones using a RESTful API. This enables legacy as well as new devices.

We’re excited to be a solution to the inefficiencies long-plaguing meeting connectivity. To learn more about how LISNR’s solutions can help your business, get in touch!

Learn more: http://lisnr.com/solutions/authentication/

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