Item: Zoom
Rating: 9
Author: Paul Li

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I use Zoom to do video conference calls with others. This makes it very practical to replace the need to meet in person especially during the covid-19 pandemic.

Pros and Cons

Breakout rooms.
Still backgrounds.
Enhance audio & vide effects.

A method to sync audio from various participants especially for the purpose of music lessons over the internet.
Feature to allow for more than a single designated speaker camera zoom window.

Most Important Features

The ability to see multiple cameras and to enlarge the speaker's camera vs participants.
The ability to provide a background to create a different meeting atmosphere.
The option to have breakout rooms to have private meetings and then come back to the main room for additional meeting time.

Return on Investment

Zoom has a major positive impact especially during the time of the pandemic when business offices were shut down. Zoom played a key role in making it possible for team meetings to continue to occur virtually even though not in person.
Zoom at the beginning did negatively impact business meetings when the security was relaxed allowing for hackers to easily come into a virtual meeting uninvited causing havoc.
It's a huge saving every time I'm able to use Zoom to share/show information on my Desktop and also see other participants desktops.

Alternatives Considered

Webex App, Microsoft Teams, Skype and GoToMeeting

Zoom's more cost-effective compared to the competitors. Initially, Zoom also offers a free option for the first 40 minutes of use. Zoom is easier to install and implement compared to other competitors. Even Microsoft Teams offers a Zoom plug-in to allow for Teams to access Zoom. Though competitors like WebEx & GoToMeeting have been around longer and used by the business world, they were more complex to learn. But Zoom is very simple and straightforward.

Key Insights

Do you think Zoom delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Zoom's feature set?

Yes

Did Zoom live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Zoom go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Zoom again?

Yes

Other Software Used

Microsoft Teams, Webex App, GoToMeeting, Skype

Likelihood to Recommend

Zoom can be used for multiple participants to meet from different locations as long as the participants have an internet connection, camera & microphone. During the time where the pandemic kept us from meeting in person, we used Zoom as the alternative of choice to perform virtual meetings allowing everyone to still come together and virtually see each other simultaneously on the computer screen. Unfortunately, Zoom cannot be used to perform musical instrument rehearsals since there would be feedback from the various participants.

Zoom To The Rescue

Software Version

Modules Used

Overall Satisfaction with Zoom