Even though the pandemic no longer restricts employees from working on-site, a lot of companies still have remote work setups. With that said, video conferencing platforms are still widely used for virtual meetings, making it an increasingly competitive market. Zoom adds a new feature to remain preferable among others.
Collaborative Notes on Call
Virtual meetings are usually hosted to discuss important matters, which is why having note-taking apps handy could make a lot of difference. Instead of using third-party apps or the traditional pen and paper, users can now take notes within Zoom itself.
The platform has added a "Notes" feature where users can create and share a text document, simultaneously editing it during a call. The new addition can be found on the right side of the screen where the chat box appears, as reported by The Verge.
Zoom already has a presentation feature, which displays the host's screen in real time. The document being displayed can then be shared after the call. This only allows the host to make changes, and not the attendees in the call.
While that is enough for academic meetings where an educator presents to students, the Notes feature can be useful for business meetings where everyone is encouraged to pitch in ideas and contribute to the material themselves as the video chat goes on.
Head of Productivity Applications at Zoom, Darin Brown says that the company wanted to offer a "clean user experience that allows users to create agendas and notes while staying within the Zoom platform instead of jumping to other content management tools."
Just like most note-taking apps, Zoom's new feature offers editors several editing options and formats such as font, styling, bullets, colors, and more. Furthermore, participants can also add images and links, which are automatically saved at regular intervals.
The creator of the note can grant access to other users in the meeting or only after the meeting is concluded. Even attendees who are late can still view the notes being presented along with the video call. All they have to do is expand the panel that shows it.
Read Also: Zoom's Terms of Service Now Says User Data Won't Be Used to Train AI
Zoom's Workspace Reservation
Fully aware that remote work is ending for many companies, Zoom also developed a service that can be used by businesses in the office. Workspace Reservation allows employees to book a workspace ahead of time when they plan to go to work physically.
Through the app, they can open a map of the office space and see which spaces are available. The reservations saved are seen by all employees, meaning that users can also see who reserved certain spots on the map.
Zoom also has built-in intelligence that can assist users in booking a space based on preference, as well as the collaborators they might need to work with that day. Upon arriving at the reserved computer or device, it will be customized to fit the needs of the employee.
It gives access to that user's calendar and contacts after scanning a QR code to confirm the reservation of the space. At the end of the day, the computer signs the user out to keep their data from being viewed by others.
Related: Zoom Lifts Remote Working, Asks Employees to Work Onsite Twice a Week
