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There was a time when if you wanted to learn more about Webex, a simple search with your good friend Google would give you a pretty good idea. But recently Cisco has made some changes to its marketing strategy, extending the Webex family to include Webex Meetings, Webex Teams, Webex Room series, and Webex Share.
Just between you and I, there are many useful, and dare I say even ‘wow’ features available, which will make your working life easier and even a bit more fun. I will talk about that in detail in another day, but today I wanted to address the common question; What’s the difference between Webex Meetings and Webex Teams, and what should I use when?
What is Webex Meetings?
Webex Meetings is a virtual meeting place where you can meet in real-time from your web browser, the app on your computer, or even access it on your mobile. This gives one consistent experience, providing options to connect easily wherever you may be. Webex Meetings is globally available, secure and made to optimise bandwidth, to reduce delays so that everyone has a good experience no matter where they are in the world, which I can vouch for having delivered global projects using Webex Meetings.
Webex Meetings gives you HD video with customizable layouts making a good alternative to face to face meetings but without the travel. It keeps teams singing from the same hymn sheet with the help of screen or application sharing, get creative with the Whiteboard, and the list goes on. Basically, you can get stuff done quickly and efficiently using Webex Meetings.
What is Webex Teams?
Formerly known as Cisco Spark, Webex Teams is an app for continuous teamwork with video meetings, group messaging, file sharing and whiteboarding. Webex Teams goes beyond the meeting itself, after all, meetings are just one part of a team journey. It aims to integrate the whole collaboration experience before, during and after meetings.
All this collaboration and action happens within Spaces. You can create Spaces and add people who share the same interest or are on the same project team as you.
Check out Stu’s blog explaining exactly what Webex Teams is
What is the difference between Webex Meetings and Webex Teams?
This question is often asked by people familiar with Webex Meetings, who are then asked to try Webex Teams. As is the typical experience, new tools and products are launched with the drop of an email with little to explain the purpose and benefits to the people. This creates a confused and unsure workforce.
Traditionally Webex Meetings is used for all types of meetings from team meetings scheduled with an invitation, to a 1:1 ad-hoc meeting where a meeting link is shared. Within Webex Teams you can also schedule meetings or schedule from your email calendar. But it’s even easier to start ad-hoc or on the fly meetings with people.
I thought it may be clearer to create a small table showing the feature comparison.
Webex feature comparison
I have a couple of recommendations from my own experience using both Webex Meetings and Webex Teams:
Scheduled, client or more formal meetings
I would advise using Webex Meetings, it’s easy to schedule and amend, there are a number of ways your attendees can join. Maybe they have low bandwidth so the option to dial into the meeting would be perfect for them.
Ad-hoc, 1:1 or internal team meetings
I would suggest using Webex Teams in these instances. It’s my favourite feature and the simplest way ever to start a meeting. It’s even easier than making a phone call and has been my biggest ‘WOW’ to date. We use it numerous times a day, see for yourself give it a try.
Presentation delivery
So, Webex Meetings wins here, you can load your documents before your attendee have even joined and annotate together. If you are using the Whiteboard, however, Webex Teams wins simply by saving your Whiteboard to your space for everyone to see, edit and review. Your Whiteboard in Webex Meetings is gone and lost forever unless you remember to save it to your desktop and email it to everyone.
Continue the conversation: persistent chat
Webex Teams is the definite winner here. Within your spaces, you can start a conversation before, during or after your meeting, keeping the conversation alive and everyone on track.
Host privileges
Amex Webex
Webex Meetings allows for a more professional type of meeting and what I mean by that is, you can mute all attendees on entry so no disturbance if someone is late to your meeting or eating crisps. You can pin the presenter video so everyone is focussed on the message being delivered.
Files and documents
A great feature in Webex Teams, which has saved my bacon a few times is, all files and documents shared are stored in your space and are easily searchable. Taking the stress and frustration away when time is of the essence.
Ford Webex Teams Sign In
My Recommendation: Webex Meetings or Webex Teams?
Webex Meetings and Webex Teams are both great at what they do, the right one for you very much depends on what you want to do with it. Establishing your business drivers early will help you design use cases that work for your people. And, of course, it doesn’t have to be one or the other. Webex Teams and Webex Meetings can work in perfect harmony together if those use cases have already been established and clearly communicated.
Leaving change to chance never works
Employees won’t use your new digital workplace tools if you don’t tell them why and teach them how. Future Worx gets everyone using new tools in the best ways by raising awareness, revealing the value and showing how to work smarter in this digital age. They’ll be happier and more effective. You’ll transform the business.
Webex Home
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