Today's business leaders need to provide flexible, reliable ways for employees to collaborate while working at home or in the office. Video and call conferencing have proven to be the best meeting options for most businesses. However, traditional video and call conferencing solutions can be costly and require businesses to host in-house servers to keep them up and running. The alternative to this is a cloud-hosted video and call conferencing service. Cloud-based phone systems provide businesses with a cost-effective alternative to traditional conference call services — and one that is just as reliable and effective.

Below, we discuss what to look for when choosing the best conference call services for your business.

Features to look for in cloud-based conference call services

There are several key features that you should look for when selecting the right cloud-based phone system for your business. While it's important to consider the specific needs of your employees, as well as your high priority functions, give some consideration to video and call conferencing services that include the following features.

HD video conferencing with screen share

Whether your employees telecommute or work in separate offices, it is vital that they have the ability to share ideas on-screen and connect face-to-face. Search for a system that allows for cloud-based video conference calls in HD, so that your employees can effectively collaborate and share presentations, reports, and other important information.

Moderation controls

In some meetings, it's important for the host to have the ability to control the actions of certain participants. This might mean being able to mute those whose microphones are picking up excessive background noise or only allow certain users to share their screen. Other important moderation controls to consider include enabling lobby mode, which allows the host to provide a waiting room for individuals and only admit them into the meeting as they see fit.

In-call invitations

During your conference calls, you or your team may want the ability to invite another colleague, manager, or client to join while the meeting is taking place. The right conference call services include the ability to send invitations from within the meeting, as well as the ability for users to dial in — even after the meeting has already started.

Unlimited access

When you're in a meeting, the last thing you want is for your call to time out or have a participant denied because you've reached your limits. Make sure the conferencing service that you select doesn't limit you when it comes to meeting length and is capable of handling up to 100 participants.

Cloud-based recording capabilities

Meetings are an important part of business, and as such, it's vital that employees who weren't in attendance, as well as those who were and need to reference presentations or discussions, are able to access recordings. Search for a conferencing service that enables you to record audio and video from conference calls and store them in the cloud.

High-level security and encryption

Nothing is more important than your business's trade secrets, so it's important to find a system that offers reliable, high-level security and encryption. Make sure that your service blocks outsiders from accessing your meeting space and that all recorded meetings are stored securely.

Cloud-based video and call conferencing with 8x8

If you're looking for a conference call service that offers all of the features listed above, plus training and ongoing support, 8x8 can help. Get in touch with us now to discuss your needs and request a quote.