Bells IT Support

Video v Audio Conferencing: Which Should I Choose?

Never before has there been a greater need for virtual conferencing tools. Once the domain of international businesses needing to bring partners and employees into one virtual ‘room’, virtual conferences are now a crucial part of many businesses. And, with the work from home movement continuing to gather pace, online conferencing is big business. But which is right for you and your colleagues: video or audio? Here we go through the pros and cons of each.

Audio conferencing has been around for many years in various guises; on a basic level, it’s possible to connect numerous people via native mobile phone software or by using audio functions on platforms such as Skype. Audio conferencing works well for small groups of participants but can become confusing in larger groups, unless participants state their names prior to speaking. It’s ideal for people who are more comfortable leading a voice conversation rather than communicating face-to-face and, as it requires no specialist equipment, is accessible to most people. It’s easy to set up as no links or permissions are required, although if you use a dial-in service, you will need to provide a password and code.

Video conferencing, on the other hand, requires a little more preparation. Participants will need to be provided with a link to access the call and will need to make sure they are wearing work appropriate clothing! One of the biggest benefits of using video conferencing is the ability to file share — showing other participants documents and presentations on-screen can be more productive than forwarding them for reference prior to a voice call. Video conferencing is far more engaging than audio conferencing and can feel like a face-to-face meeting (remember those?).

The disadvantages of video conferencing are few, although they are significant. Participants will need access to a stable internet connection — dropped lines and poor quality audio can be very frustrating for all participants.

Suffice to say, the choice is down to the aim of the call. If you need to share files, video may be the right choice for you, but for smaller, shorter meetings, you may find it simpler to arrange a good old-fashioned audio call.

Infinity Fitness UK LTD

  • Size: SME | < 20 Employees | 2 locations
  • Industry: Fitness

Infinity Fitness approached Bells IT in 2018 after being recommended by other clients for our services. They were looking for new connectivity and voice solutions for their facility in Kent. They were due to open another centre within a few months and wanted the ability of standardising their WiFi and calls for cross-gym memberships. Infinity Fitness learned about our services within CCTV, Help Points, Alarms and other services and quickly decided that we were the right team for them.

We designed a WiFi an voice solution that was quickly implemented at both sites for the use of staff, members and coffee shop users. Bells IT also supported the door access and CCTV installations. We have developed a long relationship with Infinity Fitness and are providing the on going support for all solutions. For Infinity Fitness, Bells IT Provided the following solutions:

  • Technology (All Solutions)
  • Connectivity and Voice
    • Hosted Telephony
    • FTTC Connections (Multiple)
    • FTTPoD Connection
    • ADSL AnnexM Connection
  • Security Solutions
    • CCTV
    • Anti-Virus
    • Security Firewalls
    • Email Security
    • Door Access

Evergreen Care Bexley

  • Size: Charity | < 20 Employees | 1 Location
  • Industry: Community Care

Evergreen were introduced to Bells IT Support by a mutual client. Evergreen decided to appoint Bells IT Support as their go-to IT department. Evergreen Care required an email migration to Microsoft Office 365 while using all available charitable licenses. Bells IT Support have also deployed a new private cloud for Evergreen Care to store their data and database. This ensures that their IT is kept up-to-date and secure.

Solutions currently provided by Bells IT Support

  • Technology (All Solutions)
  • Security Solutions
    • Anti-Virus

Evergreen care provides an invaluable service to the elderly community with Bexley and Bromley. They rely heavily on support from local community funding and from volunteers. If you are able to assist this great local charity, please do so by going to their website. HTTPS://WWW.EVERGREENCAREBEXLEY.ORG/

DWG Group

  • Size: SME | < 50 Employees | 1 Location
  • Industry: Construction

DWG Group have been a long-standing client of Bells IT Support. Bells IT Support initially started working with DWG Group in 2014 when they were looking to expand and required a server. We proposed a few options and decided the best solution was to provide a small business server, keeping email and files in-house with 4-hourly backups and a daily offsite backup. DWG grew and decided to take on more of the services that Bells had to offer, such as on-premise telephony utilising the Avaya products and more recently our CCTV and Alarm offerings. DWG have now moved to a cloud-based email using the Office 365 infrastructure with an up to date onsite server.

DWG currently use Bells IT Support for the following solutions:

  • Technology (All Solutions)
  • Connectivity and Voice
    • On-Premise Telephony
    • FTTC Connection
    • EFM Circuit
    • ISDN Circuits
  • Security Solutions
    • CCTV
    • Alarm
    • Anti-Virus
    • Security Firewalls
    • Email Security

CSCS

  • Size: SME | < 20 Employees | 1 Location
  • Industry: Construction, Health and Safety

CSCS contacted Bells IT Support in 2017 after putting their technology requirements out to tender. Bells IT Support placed a tender and met with the board to discuss their requirements and produce a plan of different options to understand what was best for them. After a couple of meetings and discussing different options and how things would work going forward, CSCS knew that Bells IT Support were the right company for their needs. With the immediate changes approaching such as moving offices, server upgrades, telephony upgrades and the ability to reduce their IT support queries, Bells IT understood all of their requirements and discussed options and plans to suit their needs and budget, as well as delivering all services on-time.  With users now working globally, they are able to all function and work from anywhere.

 

Bells IT Support currently provide CSCS with the following solutions:

  • Technology (All Solutions)
  • Connectivity and Voice
    • Hosted Telephony
  • Security Solutions
    • Anti-Virus
    • Security Firewalls
    • Email Security
  • Digital Solutions
    • Copier Solutions
    • Video Conferencing

A testimonial from CSCS:

“Switching IT provider can be a daunting prospect for your business. What if something goes wrong and the business is impacted. However, during our first consultation with Bells IT we were sure that we were talking to the right people. The team at Bells are very knowledgeable and act professionally at all times. The actual migration was carried out seamlessly and much quicker than expected. Since switching to Bells IT our technical issues have significantly reduced, response times have greatly improved and our IT support costs have come down. Bells IT have surpassed our expectations.”

Carepoint Services LTD

  • Size: < 50 Employees | 4 Locations
  • Industry: Community Care

Carepoint Services began using Bells IT Support in 2016 after deciding to switch IT provider. Carepoint had a newly installed server and required some support for their staff and software. Bells IT support put a proposal together to support their end users, manage their server and maintain their backups. Over the last two years, Carepoint have grown into three new locations and have required more services from Bells IT. We have delivered a bespoke private cloud solution utilising Dell thin clients for access their servers in any office. Carepoint now have the peace of mind knowing that their servers are up-to-date and secured. This allows them to undertake bigger tenders and grow their business further.

 

Current solutions provided by Bells IT Support are:

  • Technology (All Solutions)
  • Connectivity and Voice
    • Hosted Telephony
    • FTTC Connections (Multiple)
    • Fibre Leased Line (Multiple)
  • Security Solutions
    • Anti-Virus
    • Security Firewalls
    • Email Security

Supreme Care Services

  • Size: > 65 Employees | 12 Locations
  • Industry: Community Care

Supreme Care Services first contacted Bells IT to discuss the support for their entire IT infrastructure. Supreme Care have an enterprise setup with 65 users spread across 12 sites. Upon our first discussions, Supreme Care felt that Bells IT was the right company to choose. After being left with unresolved issues from their previous IT company, they decided it was time to change. The system previously implemented included over 30 servers all for basic roles. Bells IT redesigned their infrastructure and have narrowed this down to jus 5 servers without any performance loss. A shift from on-premise exchange to Microsoft 365, reducing exchange licensing and the need for servers has allowed Supreme flexibility and better integration with their other core systems.

Since working with Supreme and building a growing relationship, Bells IT now supply manage the following solutions :

  • Technology (All Solutions)
  • Connectivity and Voice
    • Hosted Telephony
    • FTTC Connections (Multiple)
    • Fibre Leased Line (Multiple)
  • Security Solutions
    • Anti-Virus
    • Security Firewalls
    • Email Security

Rainbow Medical Services

  • Size: < 30 Employees | 1 Location
  • Industry: Specialized Care

Rainbow Medical Services were introduced to Bells IT after being recommended by another client. Based on the support and knowledge they received, they suggested we were the right company for their needs. After our first discussions, Rainbow Medical Services, who have staff in multiple countries, decided Bells IT were best to take over their services.

While reviewing the current setup for Rainbow, Bells IT have made suggestions to migrate their email to Microsoft 365, migrate their database to a cloud system and provide a new file server.

 

We are currently providing Rainbow Medical Services with Technology Solutions and Broadband Solutions.