Virtual Meeting Software for Creative Work Environments
Zoom has become a verb for virtual meetings and conferences, but Zoom is not the only available software meeting platform. A recent New York Times Magazine article, “The Future of Work: The Race to Fix Virtual Meetings,” highlights additional software that can create a creative and collaborative virtual environment. The software can be placed in three categories: virtual office space, virtual event space, and both virtual office and event space. I will be highlighting two software platforms in each category. While this is not an exhaustive list, it will help you think about new software that might work for your organization.
Virtual Office Space
The two software platforms that I will be highlighting in this category are Teamflow and Branch. On both platforms, you create your own virtual office space. Members can move around in the office space and talk to different people in that space. The movement allows for natural and spontaneous conversations. Both platforms also allow members to work together on projects. The platforms provide tools for collaboration, such as the share screen option.
Teamflow
Website: https://www.teamflowhq.com/
Description from Website: “Teamflow is a virtual office for your team to hang out in. Bring back the presence of being in the office, the energy of working in the same room, the spontaneity of hallway conversations — the joy of feeling like a team.”
Price: There is a free option for up to 10 members. There are two different paid options for those companies that want to scale-up.
Demo: There is no demo on the website of the software, but the website gives a brief description of how it works and a few pictures.
Branch
Website: https://branch.gg/
Description from the Website: “The virtual HQ for your remote team branch brings back serendipity with spatial conversations.”
Price: There is a free option for teams of up to 10 members. There are two different paid options for those companies that want to scale-up, and there is an enterprise option.
Demo: There is a short video on the website that shows the platform and how it works. There are also a few pictures with descriptions of the software.
Virtual Event Space
The two software platforms that I will be highlighting in the virtual event category are Run The World and Hopin. Both platforms are similar in look to traditional virtual meeting software, but they offer more options for breakout rooms, such as separate rooms for networking, mainstage, and tradeshow booths. Organizations can use both software platforms for conferences, workshops, and fundraising events.
Run The World
Website: https://www.runtheworld.today/
Description from Website: “Fire up your virtual events. Organize interactive events for groups to learn and socialize.”
Price: According to the website, “Run The World is free to use. We make money through a 15% revenue share on ticket sales.” This is for events with up to 500 attendees. There are two other paid options for bigger events.
Demo: There is a video on the website introducing the software. There is another video where you can tour the platform, and it explains how to set up an event using the platform.
Hopin
Website: https://hopin.com/
Description from the Website: “Create virtual events people love. Hopin is an online events platform where you can create engaging virtual events that connect people around the globe.”
Price: There are four different pricing options.
Demo: The website says you have to request a demo. It does show the different solutions that you can use the software for, which are: conferences and summits, expos and tradeshows, recruiting and career fairs, trainings and workshops, social gatherings, and agencies.
Virtual Office and Event Space
The two software that I will be highlighting that can be used for virtual office space and event space are Gather.Town and Kumospace. If you are familiar with the Nintendo game Animal Crossing, these two software platforms have a similar kind of feel. Both platforms feel and look like a video game where your avatar or picture moves through a created virtual world. On each platform, people can move around, talk to different people, and do various activities.
Gather.Town
Website: https://gather.town/
Description on Website: “Better spaces to gather around. Spend time with your friends, coworkers, and communities like you would in real life.”
Prices: The platform is free for up to 25 users, and there are three different paid options.
Demo: You can demo this software for free, and you will get an explanation of the different options as you demo it. One neat feature is that there are diverse avatars to choose from.
Kumospace
Website: https://www.kumospace.com/
Description from the Website: “Free immersive video chat built for groups. Say goodbye to boring video calls. Get started in 10 seconds.”
Price: The platform is free to use for up to 200 members. There are options if you need to add more members.
Demo: There is a brief video describing how the software works.
Link to Reference Article:
*This is not a sponsored post. This is a list of available software options that were named in the above article.
⭐ Join our weekly newsletter where we share tons of exclusive tips, tools, grant opportunities, and resources to our subscribers. Subscribe on the Spark Group home page.
