The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting hybrid work model are fueling explosive growth in HR applications that feature video and audio. According to a recent study by Agora, a real-time engagement solution provider, real-time engagement video in HR apps grew 4,120% compared in 2020 and RTE audio grew by 1,404% last year.
“RTE video and audio has been essential for HR, as well as others amid the pandemic,” Tony Zhao, founder and CEO at Agora, said in a press statement. “These technologies are at the center of digital transformation and will continue to be cornerstones both now and in the future.”
What it means for HR leaders
RTE functionality that includes video and audio is no longer a nice-to-have option; it’s a necessity within HR platforms and services, says Zhao. He adds that the demand for those experiences will continue well into the future for employee engagement and communication.
Agora’s analysis doesn’t include Zoom or Microsoft teams or other web conferencing tools, he says. It does, however, include any app that uses Agora’s API development tools to embed real-time engagement functionality directly within the app. This could mean, for example, employee engagement materials that HR rolls out to an organization’s workforce.
As video and audio continue to grow and appear in business tools, employees will expect these features in their HR applications, says Zhao.
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“More employees expect RTE functionality in the HR and workplace services they use, especially as the world embraces a hybrid work model,” he says. “They want live interactive features like real-time messaging, voice chat, video chat, whiteboards, screen sharing, document sharing and more.”
He adds that video and audio will drive what Zhao calls “seamless” onboarding that optimizes the sharing of employee resources and promotes team productivity. Video and audio can also help HR leaders create apps that click with the workforce more strongly than traditional apps with static graphics and text.
According to Zhao, “We are seeing a paradigm shift in the types of functionalities and features (that) end-users expect from their apps. Developers must adapt to deliver on desired RTE experiences.”
