It’s important to understand how consistently improving technical skills is crucial in order to succeed in the workplace. Embracing technology is seemingly becoming mandatory.

Video conferencing, being one of the many technology skills required today, employees and employers need to adapt to it for efficient functioning.

Justine Gatera, an educator and counsellor says the current situation of Covid-19, led to people shifting to working from different areas.

Video conferencing, he says helps connect teams as it integrates those working remotely with those in office.

Gatera goes on to note that it’s also vital to understand that video conferencing, also improves productivity.

Here, he explains that depending on what is being discussed, one is able to be responded to and share their inputs right away during the meeting, unlike with emailing.

Alphonse Uworwabayeho, a lecturer of mathematics at the University of Rwanda’s College of Education says as technology continues to advance; work adoption is also needed as employers’ expectations for technical skills increase with time.

For this reason, he advises that it’s just essential for employers to be open-minded as well as enrich their knowledge of workplace technology.

"This will allow an individual to be more productive as well as have a sense of accomplishment in whatever they do,” he says.

Why it’s important

Uworwabayeho says video conferencing comes with countless opportunities for an organisation; a company has a chance of engaging all its workers, including those working remotely as well as collaborating across departments.

He adds that video conferencing also comes with a strong level of engagement and efficiency at the same time.

"With video conferencing, we have seen it save time as one doesn’t have to move from where they are. This means that it will save the time of one commuting from one area to another in order to meet with other members,” he says.

In addition to this, he points out that not only does video conferencing save travel time; it’s also less expensive as it saves money for travel too.

Depending on the organisation and the type of conferences they normally hold, this can also mean that the company would be in a position to set such money (spent on organising physical meetings) aside for other business priorities.

Meanwhile, research has also shown that humans process visual information more quickly and accurately than text and audio. Therefore, when you have a meeting via video conferencing, your attendees will retain more information and comprehend it more effectively than they would if you held the meeting via audio.

Kevin Shema, a final year student at University of Rwanda says the mobility and flexibility offered by video conferencing can give one more control over their workdays.

This, he believes can lead to improved retention. Besides, video conferencing allows flexibility which can boost meeting attendance rates.