Enterprise Video AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools can work magic on the most consumed type of data which is videos, provided they are used effectively for enterprise use cases. Post-Pandemic most enterprises have increasingly depended on Video communication to get teams working effectively together and also to increase their productivity by sharing microlearning videos. Surprisingly, enterprises are underutilizing the power of Videos due to limited AI integrations. CircleHD Video platform has been one of the initial adopters of AI tools within Video, their AI interactive and indexing tool uses generative language models to index and discover content effectively and quickly. Lets walk through some powerful AI features that work with Video or Media content,

1. Transcribing Videos Automatically

Speech recognition technologies can be used to automatically transcribe audio or video content into textual content, making it highly accessible and discoverable for viewers searching for specific or relevant information. Users searching for keywords, can find those within the video / media content once it’s transcribed, enabling users to find relevant information quickly.

2. Using Facial Recognition

AI-powered facial recognition technology can also be used to identify voices of participants in a video, grouping similar voices together, and structuring them to easily navigate large volumes of content and metadata for organic search. This enables the platform to surface related content in a very efficient manner.

3. Analyzing Sentiments

Using natural language processing (NLP) we can analyze the tone and sentiments of spoken words, enabling enterprises to gauge audience reactions and engagement levels. This in turn creates a richer indexing of content making it discoverable.

4. Automated Video Editing

AI-powered video editing and video creation tools can automatically produce or update videos based on predefined templates, enabling enterprises to create high-quality content quickly and efficiently.

5. AI powered Interactive Elements

Quizzes, polls, and surveys built using AI can enhance the end user viewing experience by providing real-time feedback and engaging viewers more actively in the content.

6. Automated Captioning

Using speech recognition technology Enterprises can automatically generate video captions, to achieve accessibility for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. They can take a step further to automatically translate captions into multiple languages based on the end user’s language.

7. Object Detection

AI-powered object detection techniques can identify specific objects within a video, tag and categorize them which provides enterprises valuable metadata that can be used for increasing their productivity and business.

8. Predictive Analytics

Using machine learning algorithms, enterprise video platforms can predict audience behavior and engagement levels, enabling them to optimize their content strategy to improve the overall viewer experience and providing valuable data and reports to decision makers.

About CircleHD

CircleHD is a leading provider of enterprise video content management and distribution solutions. The platform enables organizations to securely store, manage, and distribute video content for training, collaboration, and corporate communications. With CircleHD, companies can efficiently create, share, and track video content to improve employee engagement and knowledge retention. If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Learning platform can help improve your company’s productivity, we’d love to chat.

Enterprise Video Library is now a “must have” for Employee Training

Especially in Hybrid Work Arrangement Post COVID-19

San Mateo, CA. September 14th 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a massive shift towards remote work, forcing enterprises across the globe to adapt to a hybrid work model. As companies navigate through this new normal, the need for effective employee training and development has become even more critical.

Hybrid work is here to stay – Mckinsey

In order to bridge the gap created by physical separation and to ensure a successful transition to this hybrid work arrangement, investing in a video library for employee training is an absolute necessity. In this blog, we will discuss the reasons why enterprises should prioritize the establishment of a comprehensive learning video library.

As enterprises grow and evolve, the need for scalable training becomes crucial. A video library provides the infrastructure to scale training efforts rapidly, ensuring that new employees can seamlessly access the required training materials. Additionally, recorded training sessions can be stored in the video library as part of the knowledge management system, allowing employees to refresh their knowledge whenever needed and reducing dependency on subject matter experts.

Why need an internal video library when you have Youtube?

A video library allows employees to access training materials that are exclusive to the business, anytime, anywhere. This is of utmost importance in a hybrid work arrangement, where employees may work from different locations and time zones. By providing training videos that can be accessed on-demand, enterprises enable employees to engage with the material at their own pace, increasing productivity and knowledge retention.

Improved Training Efficiency:

A video-based training approach reduces training time by up to 60% compared to traditional methods, allowing employees to quickly acquire new skills and knowledge. Compared to traditional in-person training methods, a video library offers significant cost savings. By reducing or even eliminating the need for travel, accommodation, facilities, and instructor fees, enterprises can allocate their training budgets more effectively. Additionally, the one-time creation of training videos allows for indefinite and repeated use, making it a cost-effective solution in the long run.

Greater Retention of Information

Research suggests that people retain 95% of information presented through video compared to just 10% through reading alone. Video libraries enhance knowledge retention rates by engaging multiple senses simultaneously.

Higher Engagement Levels

Video as a training medium boosts employee engagement, with 92% of individuals acknowledging the impact of video in capturing attention and improving understanding.

Flexibility and Accessibility:

Video libraries enable anytime, anywhere learning. Seventy-five percent of employees prefer accessing training materials at a time that suits them best, ultimately increasing convenience and participation. Video is a powerful medium that captures and retains attention more effectively than textual or auditory training materials. By incorporating interactive elements into training videos such as quizzes, assessments, and Q&A sessions, enterprises can boost employee engagement and enhance the learning experience. This interactive approach fosters active participation, improving knowledge retention and application within the hybrid work environment.

Cost Savings

Traditional training methods incur high costs in terms of travel, accommodation, materials, and instructor fees. Video libraries offer a cost-effective alternative, reducing expenses associated with training programs. Compared to traditional in-person training methods, a video library offers significant cost savings. By reducing or even eliminating the need for travel, accommodation, facilities, and instructor fees, enterprises can allocate their training budgets more effectively. Additionally, the one-time creation of training videos allows for indefinite and repeated use, making it a cost-effective solution in the long run.

Standardized Training

Video libraries ensure consistent messaging and content delivery across different locations and departments, maintaining uniformity of information and skill sets among employees. In a hybrid work environment, it can be challenging to ensure that employees across different locations receive consistent and standardized training. By centralizing training materials in a video library, enterprises can guarantee that all employees have access to the same content regardless of their location. This helps to maintain a high level of quality in training and promotes a more cohesive corporate culture.

Remote Collaboration

In a hybrid work arrangement, video libraries enhance remote collaboration and information sharing, connecting distributed teams and enabling seamless knowledge transfer.

Interactivity and Engagement

Video libraries can incorporate interactive quizzes and assessments, providing real-time feedback to employees and allowing managers to track progress and identify areas for improvement.

On-Demand Training Support

Video libraries serve as a readily available resource for employees to refresh and reinforce knowledge. They contribute to ongoing professional development, ensuring employees are equipped with up-to-date information and skills.

Demonstrated ROI

Companies investing in video-based training observe a 45% improvement in employee productivity and a 47% increase in customer satisfaction. Such returns elucidate the value and impact of video libraries.

In the post-COVID-19 hybrid work arrangement, employee training and development play a pivotal role in maintaining productivity and driving organizational success. Investing in a video library for training purposes allows enterprises to provide accessible, consistent, and engaging training experiences to their employees, regardless of their location. Furthermore, it offers cost efficiency, scalability, and knowledge management benefits. By prioritizing the establishment of a video library, enterprises can adapt to the hybrid work model more effectively and ensure that their employees have the necessary tools to thrive in this new normal.

About CircleHD

Sales Enablement Guide: How to measure Sales training effectiveness using these core 7 KPIs

A complex task it is, to measure accurately the effectiveness of sales training programs as it involves multiple dimensions. Especially, when it comes to Sales Training, it’s the overall combination of metrics that gives a comprehensive view of the training’s impact.

Here are a few proven ways that you can measure it:

Sales Performance Metrics: The most direct way to measure effectiveness is to compare sales performance metrics before and after the training. This could include metrics like the number of sales, revenue, average deal size, conversion rates, and the sales cycle length. If there’s an improvement in any or all of these metrics after the training, it’s a clear sign that you are on the right track.
Observation: Managers and supervisors can directly observe sales representatives during their sales interactions and assess whether they’re applying the techniques and skills taught during training.
Assessments and Tests: Use assessments / quizzes within the training to gauge knowledge acquisition to ensure knowledge transfer through training.
Feedback Surveys: Soliciting feedback from the sales team can give you a clear picture of how well the training was received, what was useful, and what areas need improvement.
Employee Retention Rates: High-quality training can lead to increased job satisfaction, which in turn can reduce turnover rates. If you see a decrease in turnover following the implementation of a training program, it might be a sign that your training is effective.
Individual Goal Achievement: Set individual goals related to the training for each sales rep. Monitor their progress towards these goals post-training to evaluate the effectiveness.
Customer Satisfaction Scores: After your sales team has undergone training, monitor any changes in customer satisfaction. Improved interactive skills and techniques applied should lead to happier customers.

Sales Performance Metrics:

Sales Performance Metrics are quantifiable indicators that help a company assess how effective their sales team is at achieving sales targets and contributing to the overall success of the business. By tracking these metrics, companies can identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement within their sales teams.

Here are some commonly tracked Sales Performance Metrics and how to measure them:

Sales Revenue:

This is the total income from sales prior to any deductions for costs or expenses. It’s calculated by multiplying the price at which goods or services are sold by the number of units sold.

Average Deal Size:

This is the average value of each sale. It’s calculated by dividing the total sales revenue by the number of deals closed.

Conversion Rate:

This is the percentage of leads that are converted into actual sales. It’s calculated by dividing the number of conversions by the total number of leads, then multiplying by 100 to get a percentage.

Sales Cycle Length:

This is the average amount of time it takes to close a deal, from the initial contact with a potential customer to the final sale. This can be calculated by tracking each sales process’s start and end dates and determining the average duration.

Lead Response Time:

This is the average amount of time it takes for your sales team to respond to a new lead. Quicker response times can lead to higher conversion rates.

Quota Attainment:

This metric shows what percentage of your sales team reached their sales goals within a given period. It’s calculated by dividing the number of sales reps that reached their quota by the total number of sales reps.

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC):

This is the total cost of acquiring a new customer, including all marketing and sales expenses. It’s calculated by dividing the total costs associated with acquisition by the number of new customers acquired during a certain time period.

Customer Lifetime Value (CLV):

This is a prediction of the net profit associated with the entire future relationship with a customer. It’s calculated based on the average purchase value, average purchase frequency, and average customer lifespan.

By regularly monitoring these sales performance metrics, a company can make informed decisions about their sales strategies, make necessary adjustments, and set realistic goals.

Observation

Observation is a practical, hands-on method of assessing sales training effectiveness. This method requires managers or supervisors to observe sales representatives in real-world situations, such as during sales calls, meetings, or client interactions.

Here are a few ways managers and supervisors can directly observe sales representatives:

Ride-alongs:

This traditional method involves the manager accompanying the sales representative on a client call or visit. The manager can observe firsthand how the representative interacts with customers, presents the product or service, handles objections / situations, and closes the sale.

Shadowing:

Similar to a ride-along, shadowing allows a manager to observe a sales representative during their day-to-day activities. This could be in a physical setting, or in a virtual setting by listening in on sales calls or video meetings.

Live Sales Meetings:

Managers can attend sales meetings, either in person or virtually. This allows them to observe how sales reps present and sell the product, as well as their interaction with clients.

Role-playing Exercises:

Role-playing scenarios during training sessions can provide valuable insights into a representative’s understanding and application of sales strategies and techniques.

Review Recorded Calls/Meetings:

If your company records sales calls or video meetings (with all the required permissions), managers can review these to assess sales rep performance.

Performance Metrics Analysis:

By observing the sales metrics of individual representatives – such as deal closure rates, sales cycle length, and customer feedback – managers can gain insights into the rep’s effectiveness in sales situations.

During these observations, managers should focus on how well the sales representative applies the skills and knowledge gained during training, their ability to handle different sales scenarios, their understanding of the product or service, and their interaction with the customer. This observational feedback should then be communicated constructively to the representative, highlighting areas of strength and areas for improvement.

Assessments and tests

Assessments and tests are important tools in the sales training process to measure the effectiveness of the training and the knowledge and skills acquired by the sales team. Here’s how they can be implemented:

Knowledge Quizzes:

After each training session or module, you can create quizzes that cover the main points of the topic. This can help reinforce learning and provide immediate feedback on how well the material was understood.

Role-play Scenarios:

Role-playing can be an effective way to assess a salesperson’s ability to apply what they’ve learned. This could involve situations like handling objections, delivering a sales pitch, or navigating a difficult customer interaction.

Sales Simulations:

You can use simulations to create a controlled environment where sales reps can practice and demonstrate their skills. For instance, a simulated sales call or meeting can be used to assess how well a rep can apply different sales strategies and techniques.

It’s essential to provide constructive feedback after each assessment. The goal of these assessments and tests is not just to measure knowledge and skills, but also to guide the sales reps towards continuous improvement.

Sales Performance Tasks:

Assign tasks that reflect real-world sales challenges and measure how effectively each salesperson can complete them. This might involve creating a sales strategy for a mock product or prospect, or developing a proposal for a potential deal.

360-Degree Feedback:

This involves gathering feedback from a variety of sources, such as peers, managers, subordinates, and even customers. This can provide a more holistic view of a salesperson’s skills and areas for improvement.

Post-Training Surveys:

Surveys can be used to gather self-assessment data from sales reps about their confidence in applying the skills and knowledge gained from the training. This can also help identify areas where further training may be needed.

Measuring Individual goals

Setting individual goals related to training for each sales rep is a great way to measure and track training impact and their progress over time.

Identify Key Skills and Knowledge Areas:

Based on the content of the training program, identify the key skills and knowledge areas that each sales rep should master. These could include things like product knowledge, communication skills, negotiation techniques, or customer relationship management.

Set Specific, Measurable Goals:

For each key skill or knowledge area, set specific, measurable goals. These should be tailored to each sales rep’s current performance level and potential for improvement. For instance, a goal could be “Increase conversion rate from 20% to 25% over the next quarter” or “Decrease average sales cycle length from 30 days to 25 days”.

Create a Progress Tracking System:

Develop a system for tracking progress towards these goals. This could be a spreadsheet or a feature within your CRM or sales software. Regularly update this system with performance data for each sales rep.

Regular Weekly or BiWeekly Check-Ins:

Schedule regular check-ins with each sales rep to discuss their progress towards their goals. This is a good opportunity to provide feedback, address any challenges, and adjust goals if necessary.

Recognize Achievement:

When a sales rep achieves their goal, make sure to recognize and celebrate their achievement. This can boost motivation and morale.

Review and Refine:

At the end of the training period, review the progress towards each goal and use this information to refine your training program. If certain goals were not met, it may indicate that additional training or support is needed in those areas.

The purpose of setting these individual goals is not only to measure the effectiveness of the training, but also to encourage continuous learning and improvement among your sales reps.

Tracking Customer Satisfaction Scores

Customer satisfaction scores (CSAT) are a popular metric for understanding how satisfied customers are with your product, service, or a specific interaction. These can provide valuable feedback on how well your sales team is performing post-training.

Here are some ways to measure customer satisfaction scores:

Surveys:

After an interaction with a sales representative (e.g., a purchase, customer support call, or an inquiry), send a follow-up survey to the customer. This could be a simple one-question survey asking, “How satisfied were you with your experience?” with a scale from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied).

Net Promoter Score (NPS):

This is another common metric that asks customers to rate on a scale of 0-10 how likely they are to recommend your company or product to others. Customers giving a score of 9-10 are considered promoters, 7-8 are passives, and 0-6 are detractors. The NPS is calculated by subtracting the percentage of detractors from the percentage of promoters.

Customer Effort Score (CES):

This measures how much effort a customer has to put in to interact with your company or product. For instance, after a customer interaction, you could ask, “How much effort did you personally have to put forth to handle your request?” on a scale from 1 (very low effort) to 5 (very high effort). Lower scores are better in this case.

Feedback Forms:

These can be placed on your website or sent via email, allowing customers to provide feedback about their experience.

Social Media Monitoring:

Monitor your social media channels for unsolicited feedback or comments from customers. This can provide insights into their overall satisfaction.

After implementing the sales training, you would monitor these metrics to see if there are improvements in customer satisfaction, which can indicate that the training was successful. It’s important to note that while these scores provide valuable insights, they are just one piece of the puzzle. They should be used in conjunction with other sales performance metrics to give a complete picture of your sales training effectiveness.

Here’s how to measure employee retention rates:

Employee retention rates are a key metric to measure the stability of your sales team and can also indicate the effectiveness of your training programs. A high employee turnover can be costly, while a high retention rate often indicates job satisfaction and effective training programs.

Calculate the Retention Rate:

The basic formula to calculate the employee retention rate is:

(Number of individual sales reps who remained employed for the entire period / Number of sales reps at the start of the period) * 100

For example, if you started the year with 50 sales reps and 45 of them are still with you at the end of the year, your annual retention rate would be (45/50)*100 = 90%.

Track Over Time:

Employee retention should be tracked over time to identify any trends. For example, you might track it annually, quarterly, or monthly, depending on your needs. If you notice a decrease in your retention rate over time, this might indicate a problem that needs to be addressed.

Segment by Team or Role:

You might also consider segmenting your retention rate by team or role. For example, you might calculate separate retention rates for your inside sales team, your field sales team, and your sales management team.

Compare Before and After Training:

If you want to measure the impact of a specific training program on employee retention, you could compare the retention rate for a period before the training to the retention rate for a period after the training. If the retention rate increased after the training, this could indicate that the training had a positive impact.

Remember, while a high employee retention rate is generally a good sign, it’s also important to consider other factors, such as employee performance and productivity. A high retention rate is not beneficial if it’s due to retaining low-performing employees. Therefore, it’s best to use the retention rate in conjunction with other sales performance metrics to get a more complete picture of your team’s performance.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Learning platform can help improve your Sales Training, we’d love to chat.

Secure Live Streaming and Enterprise Webinars for Employee and Internal Use

In today’s fast-paced, digital world, staying connected and informed is essential for the success of any organization. Enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a powerful, interactive way for businesses to engage with their employees, streamline communication, and enhance collaboration.

By leveraging Live streaming and Enterprise Webinar for internal use, companies can harness the benefits of modern technology to foster a more connected and productive workforce. In this article, we will explore the use cases and benefits.

Use Cases:

Training and Onboarding

One of the most common use cases for enterprise live streaming and webinars is for training and onboarding new employees. These platforms offer a convenient, cost-effective, and efficient way to deliver training content to employees, regardless of their physical location. Live streaming enables trainers to conduct real-time sessions, while webinars provide an opportunity for employees to revisit the content at a later date, ensuring everyone has access to the same information.

Company Announcements and Updates

Keeping employees up to date on company news and developments is crucial for maintaining a strong corporate culture. Live streaming and webinars offer a platform for executives and managers to deliver important announcements, share updates, and discuss changes in the company’s strategy, all while engaging with employees through Q&A sessions and interactive polls.

Virtual Town Hall Meetings

Town hall meetings are a valuable way for employees to voice their concerns, ask questions, and discuss ideas with company leadership. By hosting virtual town hall meetings through live streaming and webinars, companies can ensure that all employees have an opportunity to participate and engage with the leadership team, regardless of their location.

Collaboration and Team Building

Live streaming and webinars can also be used to promote collaboration and team building among remote or distributed teams. By hosting virtual workshops, brainstorming sessions, or project updates, employees can work together and build rapport, even when they’re not physically in the same location.

Benefits:

Cost Savings

One of the most significant benefits of using live streaming and webinars for internal communication is the cost savings. With no need to cover travel, accommodation, or venue expenses, companies can allocate resources to other areas of their business.

Increased Employee Engagement

Live streaming and webinars promote a culture of open communication, giving employees the opportunity to actively engage with company leadership and their peers. This increased engagement can lead to higher job satisfaction, improved morale, and better overall retention rates.

Time Efficiency

By delivering content through live streaming and webinars, companies can ensure that employees receive the necessary information in a timely manner. This can help streamline workflows and reduce time spent on redundant meetings and presentations.

Scalability and Flexibility

Enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a scalable and flexible solution for organizations of all sizes. As a company grows, it can easily expand its streaming capabilities to accommodate more viewers and cover additional topics, ensuring that all employees remain informed and engaged.

Security

In an era where data breaches and cybersecurity threats are on the rise, ensuring secure enterprise live streaming is crucial for protecting sensitive company information and maintaining the privacy of employee communications. In this article, we will explore the best practices and key considerations for implementing a secure live streaming solution, exclusively for employees within your organization.

Also keep in mind that security comes in layers. Implement one or more of the following techniques discussed below to secure your internal broadcast from prying eyes.

Choose a Secure Live Streaming Platform

When selecting an enterprise live streaming platform, prioritize security features and ensure that the provider has a solid reputation for protecting user data. Look for platforms that offer end-to-end encryption, password protection, and single sign-on (SSO) integration with your company’s existing identity management system.

Use a VPN or Private Network

To ensure the privacy of your live streaming sessions, use a virtual private network (VPN) or a private network to encrypt your internet connection. This will help prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data transmitted during the live stream.

Implement Access Control

Restrict access to your live streaming events by implementing access control measures. This can include using unique access codes, requiring user authentication, or integrating with your organization’s SSO system. Access control measures help ensure that only authorized employees can view the live stream.

Utilize Password Protection

Password-protecting your live streaming events adds an additional layer of security. Require employees to enter a secure, unique password before gaining access to the live stream. Update passwords regularly to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.

Monitor and Moderate the Live Stream

Assign moderators to monitor the live stream, ensuring that only appropriate content is shared and that employees adhere to your organization’s guidelines for conduct. Moderators can also help manage interactive features, such as Q&A sessions and chat rooms, to prevent the sharing of sensitive information.

Implement Secure Storage for Recorded Sessions

If you plan to record live streaming sessions for later viewing, ensure that the recorded content is securely stored. Use encrypted storage solutions and restrict access to the recordings using the same access control measures implemented for live events.

Train Employees on Security Best Practices

Educate your employees about the importance of maintaining security during live streaming events. Provide them with guidelines on secure login practices, password management, and how to report suspicious activity or potential security threats.

Regularly Review and Update Security Measures

Continuously evaluate your live streaming security measures and update them as needed to stay ahead of emerging threats. Conduct regular security audits and stay informed about the latest developments in cybersecurity to ensure your organization is protected.

As organizations continue to adapt to the evolving landscape of remote and distributed work, enterprise live streaming and webinars offer a reliable solution for maintaining strong internal communication and fostering employee engagement. By leveraging these tools, companies can enhance collaboration, increase efficiency, and ultimately drive success in today’s competitive business environment.

Secure enterprise live streaming is essential for maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of employee communications. By implementing strong security measures and best practices, organizations can reap the benefits of live streaming while safeguarding sensitive data and protecting employee privacy. With the right combination of technology and security protocols, companies can confidently leverage live streaming as a powerful tool for communication and collaboration within their workforce.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD’s Enterprise Video Management and Learning platform can help you engage with your employees better, we’d love to chat.

6 Tips to Transform Performance & Boost ROI with Video

Video has become an essential part of digital marketing and is becoming increasingly popular with businesses of all sizes. It’s a powerful tool for improving performance and boosting ROI, but it can be difficult to get the most out of your video campaigns. Here are six tips to help you transform your performance and boost ROI with video marketing.

1. Focus on Quality. Quality is one of the most important factors when it comes to video production. Investing in quality equipment and production will ensure that your videos look professional and are engaging for viewers. Investing in quality video production will also help you to stand out from the competition.

2. Make Use of Analytics. Analytics are essential for measuring the success of your video campaigns. You can use analytics to track the performance of your videos and make sure that you are getting the most out of your campaigns.

3. Optimize for Search Engines. SEO is an important part of video marketing. Make sure that you are optimizing your videos for search engines, so that they can be easily found by potential customers.

4. Utilize Social Media. Social media is a great way to spread the word about your videos and increase engagement. Use social media to promote your videos, and encourage viewers to share them with their friends and followers.

5. Incorporate Video into Your Website. Video should be an integral part of your website. Embed videos into your website to engage visitors and increase conversions.

6. Invest in Professional Services. Investing in professional video production services will ensure that you are getting the most out of your video campaigns. Professional video production services can help you create high-quality videos that will engage viewers and improve your ROI.

These are just a few tips for transforming your performance and boosting ROI with video marketing. By following these tips, you can ensure that your video campaigns are successful and that you are getting the most out of your investment.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

Microsoft Stream Alternatives to Consider in 2023

Is your team stuck using Microsoft Stream for your internal content distribution?

Unsurprisingly, Microsoft has force-fed its video platform Stream to IT departments and leaders in the Office365 eco-system for years. But with a lack of features, support and news that Microsoft is sunsetting its platform’s “Classic” version, it might be time to switch.

Luckily, there are plenty of options for enterprise and mid-market businesses looking for an easy-to-use and secure video hosting platform.

Doomed from the Start: Microsoft Stream Lacked Product Strategy

Microsoft Stream is one of the most popular enterprise video platform services out there. With millions of users already using apps like Outlook, Teams, and Sharepoint, it would seem a no-brainer for companies to make Stream their go-to service for content hosting.

Unfortunately, Microsoft Stream lacks the advanced features found in many of its competitors—things like custom reporting and robust security protocols—which has left many users feeling disheartened.

The platform’s lack of product strategy hasn’t done it any favors either: updates have been few and far between, while questions posed to the Microsoft Stream support team have gone unanswered.

When you look at the timeline of the product, you can see it’s never been a priority for Microsoft:

2015 – Microsoft Office 365 video
2017 – Microsoft Stream
2019 – Microsoft Steam Classic and Microsoft Stream 365
2021 – Microsoft Stream (on SharePoint)
2023 – (just kidding) Stream Enterprise on SharePoint that runs on Azure

The product lacked direction, commitment, and investment. Therefore it has suffered a loss of functionality over time – limiting users to a basic feature set while competitors have leapfrogged the product.

Use Cases for a Microsoft Stream Alternative

Back in 2020, when the pandemic first hit, the need for remote collaboration skyrocketed. Zoom meetings became the norm, and remote work was no longer an inconvenience but a necessity.

With that came a dire need to easily share and disseminate information with colleagues, customers, and partners. Enter enterprise video solutions for internal communications, training, and more.

The main use case for enterprise video for employees is typically for internal communication and collaboration. Enterprise video platforms are often used to share information and updates from leadership, deliver training and onboarding content, and facilitate team meetings and presentations.

Microsoft Stream seemed like the perfect tool to alleviate newfound information-sharing struggles. It had some exciting features, such as automatic closed captioning, aka ML-based transcription, that was powered by Azure. You could live stream events, upload and share videos, and integrate with other Microsoft tools like Office 365 and SharePoint.

However, in practice, Stream was clunky and difficult to use, and users could never find the content they needed.

Video content should capture knowledge and expertise from subject matter experts and be easily accessible to a broader audience. This can be particularly useful for organizations with a decentralized workforce or remote employees.

Your internal videos should also create a sense of connection and community among employees, especially when remote work is more prevalent. This can include things like virtual town hall meetings or employee-generated content.

Another great use for video in enterprise settings is for e-learning and training of employees or performance evaluations; video can be used to create engaging and interactive learning experiences, improving retention and understanding of the material.

With the right tools, Corporate Communications Managers, HR Departments, and Sales Leaders can easily distribute consistent messaging with just a few clicks… but Microsoft Stream creates gaps in the workflow regarding user engagement, content searchability, and more.

What is an Enterprise Video Solution?

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, enterprise video solutions are web-based platforms for hosting and distributing corporate videos. They often include features like analytics, security protocols (e.g., encryption), and configurable user permissions to control who can view or share content.

These tools enable companies to quickly and easily disseminate information, such as product launches, company updates, training materials, etc.

The best enterprise video solutions come with features like live streaming, powerful security settings, customizable branding options, and integrations with other popular business applications like Salesforce, Slack, or Zoom.

Why Microsoft Stream Doesn’t Work as an Enterprise Video Platform

Microsoft Stream is a well-marketed enterprise video platform that is included in Microsoft 365 and offers a range of features for managing, sharing, and tracking videos within an organization.

However, like any software, it has some limitations and potential downsides.

Some of the demerits of Microsoft Stream include the following:

Limited Customization: Some users have reported that the platform’s customization options are limited, making it difficult to fully brand and tailor the platform to their organization’s specific needs.

Limited Integration: Microsoft Stream is integrated with other Microsoft products, like Office 365 and SharePoint, but it may not integrate as seamlessly with non-Microsoft tools and systems.

Limited Analytics: While Microsoft Stream offers analytics on how videos are used and viewed, the data is not as robust as other enterprise video platforms, making it difficult to understand viewer engagement and fully make data-driven decisions.

Limited scalability: for large enterprises with a huge number of employees, videos, and content, it may be difficult for the platform to scale to meet the organization’s needs.

Limited support: some users have reported that the support options for Microsoft Stream are limited and that getting help with the platform can be difficult.

However, other enterprise video platforms, such as CircleHD, Kaltura, Brightcove, and Vimeo Enterprise, offer similar features and benefits and might better fit certain organizations.

If you are evaluating different platforms, we have put together a checklist and RFP template you can use to see which one fits your needs.

How to Choose the Right Enterprise Video Solution for Your Company

When choosing an enterprise video platform, there are several factors to consider. Some important considerations include the platform’s scalability and security and its ability to integrate with other tools and systems within the organization.

Additionally, it’s essential to consider the cost and support options available for the platform. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a platform that doesn’t have the features you need or adequate support when an issue arises.

Finally, it’s important to evaluate how easy the platform is to use and customize. The video platform should be easy for employees to adopt quickly so they can use it effectively immediately.

4 Reasons to Choose CircleHD as a Microsoft Stream Replacement

CircleHD is a full-featured enterprise video platform; it’s important to evaluate all options and choose a solution that best fits the specific needs and goals of your organization.

Scalability, security, integration, and cost should all be considered when deciding.

1. CircleHD offers better video quality.

Microsoft Stream’s streaming quality is often subpar, resulting in choppy, pixelated videos. CircleHD, on the other hand, offers smooth, high-quality streaming that users can rely on.

2. CircleHD is more user-friendly.

Microsoft Stream can be difficult to navigate, with a clunky interface and inconsistent user experience. But CircleHD is intuitive and easy to use, making it much more enjoyable for users.

Plus, with full integration with single sign-on solutions, such as Azure Active Directory, Okta, or OneLogin. It’s easy for your users (no matter their level of technical skill) to log in, access content, and learn quickly.

3. CircleHD offers a better learning experience.

Microsoft Stream doesn’t do a great job tracking and reporting user engagement with videos. CircleHD, however, has powerful analytics tools that help you understand how users engage with content and make data-driven decisions. And with a simple interface, leaders can easily create courses tailored to job functions and roles.

4. CircleHD is more affordable.

Microsoft Stream can be expensive, with its monthly subscription plans ranging from $5 to $15 per user. CircleHD, on the other hand, is much more affordable for scaling and growing enterprises.

Getting Started with a New Enterprise Video Solution

Changing your video platform is no small task – it can seem daunting, especially if you have a large library of existing videos. That’s why choosing the right vendor and platform for your organization is important.

Once you’ve chosen an enterprise video solution, create a plan for migrating your content and ensure that everyone is properly trained on how to use the new platform.

Finally, take advantage of all the features available within your new platform. Enterprise video solutions like CircleHD offer exciting ways to share data with your team — you just have to make the switch.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

Democratization of learning at work

The rise of the internet and mobile technologies has led to a democratization of learning at work. With more and more employees working remotely or in different time zones, traditional learning models are no longer feasible. Video is an ideal solution for this problem, as it can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

There are a number of advantages to using video for learning at work. First, it is a very engaging format that can hold attention better than text or audio. Second, it can be easily paused and rewatched, which is perfect for employees who need to learn at their own pace. Third, video can be easily shared, so employees can learn from each other as well as from experts.

How can employees use videos to learn at work from peer to peer?

There are a few things to keep in mind when using video for learning at work. First, make sure the videos are high quality and professional. Second, ensure that the videos are properly captioned so that employees can follow along. Third, consider using video quizzes or surveys to gauge employee understanding.

When used correctly, video can be a powerful tool for on the job learning. By following these tips, you can create videos that employees will watch and that will help them learn new skills and improve their performance.

This video is an excellent resource for sales training. It covers the basics of selling, including customer service, product knowledge, and sales techniques. It also provides helpful tips on how to close a sale and handle objections.

Video for employee onboarding

This employee onboarding video will help your new hires learn about your company culture, values, and expectations. It will also introduce them to their fellow employees and give them a chance to get to know the company better.

When it comes to employee onboarding, there are a lot of different methods that companies use in order to help new hires acclimate to their new roles. Some companies opt for more traditional methods, such as in-person meetings and orientations, while others are starting to use more modern approaches, such as online learning platforms and video conferencing.

There are a lot of advantages to using video for employee onboarding. For one, it’s a great way to connect with remote employees who may not be able to come into the office for an in-person meeting. Additionally, video is a great way to deliver a lot of information in a short amount of time. And, lastly, it’s a great way to create a more engaging and interactive experience for new hires.

If you’re thinking about using video for employee onboarding, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you’ll want to make sure that the video is high-quality and professional. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that the video is clear and concise, and that it covers all of the important information that new hires need to know. Finally, you’ll want to consider using video as just one part of a larger employee onboarding strategy, and not the only method.

Peer to peer learning

There are a few ways employees can use videos to learn at work from peer to peer. One way is to create a video library of how-to videos that employees can access when they need help with a task. Another way is to use video conferencing to connect employees in different locations so they can collaborate on projects or share knowledge. Finally, employees can use video chat to connect with remote co-workers or customers.

If you’re looking for a modern and effective way to onboard new employees, video is a great option to consider.

Remote work

There are many ways to collaborate remotely, and one way to do so is by using video. This can be done through video conferencing, video chat, or even just by sharing a video of what you’re working on. This can be a great way to stay connected with team members and to get work done more efficiently.

Hackathon / Engagement / collaboration/ ideation

There are a few things to keep in mind when creating a video demo for an employee hackathon. First, make sure to keep the video under two minutes. This will help to keep your audience engaged and ensure that your message is clear. Second, focus on demonstrating how your idea can be used to solve a real-world problem. This will help to show how your idea can be impactful and useful for employees. Finally, be sure to end your video with a call to action, such as encouraging employees to participate in the hackathon.

Video can be a powerful tool for on the job learning. When used effectively, it can help employees learn new skills, retain information and improve performance. Here are some tips for using video for on the job learning:

1. Make it engaging: Use engaging visuals and audio to keep employees engaged.

2. Keep it short: Videos should be short and to the point. Employees are more likely to watch and retain information from a short video than a long one.

3. Use multiple examples: Use multiple examples to illustrate a concept. This will help employees better understand and remember the information.

4. Use real-life scenarios: Use real-life scenarios to show employees how the skills they are learning can be applied in the workplace.

5. Provide follow-up: Provide employees with follow-up activities or resources to reinforce what they have learned.

Overall, video is a great way to democratize learning at work. It is engaging, flexible, and easy to share. When used properly, it can help employees learn at their own pace and improve their understanding of complex concepts.

CircleHD offers cloud-based Enterprise learning and engagement solutions that enables businesses to create and share engaging all types of content. Wizy, is one of the products under CircleHD, that has helped businesses to connect with their audiences through video, media, documents along with an engaging and interactive learning experience.

With Wizy, you can

Create, edit, and share videos, medias
Manage, distribute, and measure the impact of your video, media content
Easily find and reuse medias
Integrate videos, medias into your existing L&D programs

If you’d like to learn more about how Wizy can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

OSHA guidelines for protecting returning employees from COVID-19

Many employers have asked employees to return to work. As the COVID-19 pandemic still continues to evolve, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a new mandate for employers. The COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) requires employers to take steps to protect and minimize the impact to workers from exposure to the virus. This is a general summary of guidelines that should not be considered as medical advice.

The ETS includes provisions for engineering and administrative controls, personal protective equipment, and medical surveillance. Employers must also develop and implement a written COVID-19 exposure control plan.

The ETS is effective immediately and will remain in effect until the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. OSHA will continue to monitor the situation and update the ETS as necessary.

The guidelines for employers to develop and implement an effective COVID-19 exposure control plan are as follows:

1. Assess the workplace and identify potential sources of exposure to COVID-19.

2. Identify and implement engineering and administrative controls to minimize exposure.

3. Implement personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines.

4. Establish and maintain a respiratory protection program.

5. Implement work practice and hygiene controls.

6. Educate and train employees on the exposure control plan.

7. Monitor compliance with the exposure control plan.

8. Evaluate the effectiveness of the exposure control plan and make modifications as needed.

Here are some most frequently asked questions

1.Is COVID-19 vaccine mandatory by OSHA. Since when and how to enforce it?

There is no federal mandate from OSHA (as of January 2023) requiring employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. However, some states and localities have adopted their own mandates. Employers may require employees to be vaccinated as a condition of employment.

Note: The influenza vaccine has been mandatory by OSHA since 1980. The vaccine must be administered annually.

2. What is OSHA doing to protect workers from exposure to COVID-19?

There is currently no specific OSHA standard for protecting workers from exposure to COVID-19. However, OSHA’s existing personal protective equipment (PPE) standards require employers to provide workers with PPE to protect them from workplace hazards, such as respiratory infections. In addition, OSHA has published guidance on protecting workers from exposure to COVID-19, which recommends that employers take steps to protect workers from exposure, such as implementing engineering and administrative controls, providing PPE, and establishing and maintaining a respiratory protection program.

3. What are the guidelines for employers to protect their workers from COVID-19?

There are many guidelines employers can follow to protect their workers from COVID-19. Some of these guidelines include:

-Encouraging workers to stay home if they are sick

-Encouraging workers to wash their hands often

-Encouraging workers to avoid touching their face

-Encouraging workers to cough or sneeze into their elbow

-Encouraging workers to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces

-Providing workers with personal protective equipment (PPE)

-Encouraging workers to practice social distancing

4. What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

This is a developing topic due to the mutating nature of the virus and new variants continue to evolve. Best to redirect employees to official recommendations from CDC here

5. What should workers do if they think they have been exposed to COVID-19?

Best to redirect employees to call the medical provider for any symptoms that are severe or concerning.

6. What should employers do if they have workers who have been exposed to COVID-19?

If employers have workers who have been exposed to COVID-19, they should have them self-isolate and get tested for the virus. Follow CDC guidelines and seek attention from the medical provider.

7. What are the guidelines for employers to clean and disinfect their workplaces? What are the guidelines for workers to protect themselves from COVID-19?

The CDC has released a series of guidelines for employers to clean and disinfect their workplaces. The guidelines include:

1. Identifying and cleaning high-touch surfaces regularly.

2. Encouraging employees to clean their workstations and equipment.

3. Providing employees with the proper cleaning supplies.

4. Implementing proper ventilation in the workplace.

5. Monitoring employee health and providing prompt medical attention if needed.

8. What are the guidelines for workers to protect themselves from COVID-19?

9. What are the guidelines for employers to provide personal protective equipment to their workers?

OSHA requires employers to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to their workers if the workers are exposed to hazards that could cause injury or death. PPE includes items such as gloves, safety glasses, and earplugs

10. What are the guidelines for employers to conduct health and safety training for their workers?

OSHA has established guidelines for employers to conduct health and safety training for their workers. The guidelines include the following topics:

• Health and safety hazards in the workplace

• Safe work practices

• Personal protective equipment

• Emergency procedures

The guidelines for employers to develop and implement an effective COVID-19 exposure control plan

The first step is to create or update your exposure control plan. This should include a list of all job tasks and corresponding exposure risks. Once you have identified the tasks and risks, you need to determine how to eliminate or minimize the exposure. This may include implementing engineering controls, work practice controls, and personal protective equipment. Once you have determined the controls, you need to train your employees on how to properly use them.

Educate and train employees on how to properly use personal protective equipment

Educate and train employees on how to safely work with and around bloodborne pathogens and how to clean up.

Educate and train employees on how to safely dispose of contaminated materials

Educate and train employees on how to safely handle and dispose of needles and sharps

Educate and train employees on the importance of getting vaccinated against hepatitis B

Educate and train employees on the importance of reporting any exposure to bloodborne pathogens

Educate and train employees on the importance of following the exposure control plan.

There is no proven method to effectively train employees about COVID-19 prevention. The commonly used measures include using clear and concise communication, providing employees with opportunities to ask questions and receive feedback, and using a variety of training methods (such as online resources, in-person training, and hands-on demonstrations) to cater to different learning styles.

We wish you and your employees a very happy new year and look forward to having a successful return to work. If are looking for a platform to train employees, please checkout CircleHD.com

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

Post Pandemic Learning Engagement Roadmap for 2023 and beyond.

When the pandemic first hit, many organizations were scrambling to figure out how to keep their employees learning and developing despite the disruptions. Many turned to online videos as a way to keep employees engaged in learning.

Now that we’re starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s time to take a look at how we can learn and develop in the post-pandemic world. Here are a few ideas:

1. Use videos to deliver just-in-time training.

In the past, employees might have been sent to off-site training courses that were expensive and time-consuming. With videos, you can provide employees with training on demand, whenever they need it. This is especially helpful for employees who are working remotely.

2. Create microlearning videos.

With attention spans shorter than ever, it’s important to keep learning videos short and to the point. Microlearning videos are a great way to do this. They can be used to deliver bite-sized pieces of information that employees can easily digest.

3. Make use of video analytics.

With video analytics, you can track who is watching your videos and how long they are watching for. This information can be used to improve the content of your videos and ensure that employees are getting the most out of them.

4. Use videos to promote social learning.

Videos can be used to facilitate social learning, which is when employees learn from each other. This can be done by creating videos that show employees working together to solve problems or by sharing video testimonials from employees about their experiences with a certain product or service.

5. Use videos to create a learning community.

A learning community is a group of employees who share a common interest in learning. You can use videos to create a learning community by sharing videos that employees can discuss and provide feedback on. This is a great way to create an environment where employees can learn from and support each other.

CircleHD is the perfect enterprise video learning platform for businesses who want to provide their employees with the best possible learning and development opportunities. Our platform is easy to use and provides access to a wide range of video content that can be used for training, development, and education purposes. We also offer a variety of features that make our platform the perfect solution for businesses of all sizes.

If you’d like to learn more about how CircleHD can help support your sales training and team enablement efforts, we’d love to speak with you. Get in touch here.

Welcome to CircleHD’s New UI Design

At CircleHD, we continue to invest in the innovation of workplace video and podcasting. We are always thriving to enable the media industry with the best use cases and workflows to power everything in an enterprise. Since the day we launched in 2016, we have gone a long way in understanding how enterprises can use media to their fullest in areas of learning and engagement, and empower their employees by having all information available to them quickly and easily.

Our UX design has gone through series of usability analysis to understand user’s unique preferences and patterns. And Our steady vision of simplifying user experience for smart learning and engagement has helped many customers succeed in all scenarios, may it be pandemic, work from home, remote or distributed global teams.

This journey of continuous improvement wouldn’t have been possible without support from our large successful customer base. We thank all our Customers for putting their trust in our platform and allow us to contribute in meeting their goals of smart learning and engagement.

What’s new?

New Responsive UI Design
CircleHD believes that if an application design is simple, you don’t need to train anyone on how to use it. Simplicity is hard to achieve, and we have put a lot of efforts automating many scenarios in our platform, so each user can focus on their main requirement of creating, sharing, consuming and analyzing. The new UI breaks down the inactive and active components in a way that user can get to his content quickly with some personalized experience. User can also personalize between dark mode and light mode view, as per his preference.
Powerful Performance for any bandwidth and device
CircleHDs application has been highly performant from day one, we still feel we can do more. This constant push has allowed us to keep improving the application performance on all types of devices and bandwidths and given users the best possible experience in terms of speed, availability and reduced latency.
Enterprise Podcasting Taken to the next level
CircleHD is proud to be the first company that has successfully launched a podcasting solution that works with video and audio both at the same time. This is a big innovation step for CircleHD by using the full potential of active and passive employee engagement and leading the space of smart effective learning and engagement. Executives and Enterprises can share their messages and announcements with employees and also get statistics on its engagement.
“Wizy” – AI based Smart Learning Platform
In this release, CircleHD announces it latest Smart Learning Platform “Wizy” which will serve as the easiest platform to use for internal employee learning and external Partner or Customer Training. Not only is the platform simple to use for end users, but it’s equally simple and quick to create a new course or record a training video and make it available to all required teams or employees in no time, on any device. Wizy has been developed after years of pilots done with large enterprises and usability studies across various demographics and regions. This is the answer to all enterprises having distributed teams and want to increase their effectiveness in employee development and training, thus increasing their overall reach and ROI.