What Is a Virtual Meeting Platform? A Complete Guide

What exactly is a virtual meeting platform?

You’ve heard this term come up a lot these days. Especially when today’s world has become geographically free.

Today, more than half of all knowledge workers globally work in a remote or hybrid arrangement. And keeping a remote or hybrid team on the same page is a major challenge. But with “Virtual meeting Platforms”, businesses are able to bridge this gap. These platforms have become a vital tool for modern businesses to thrive.

If you’re looking to understand what these platforms are, how they work, and what to look for when choosing one, you’ve come to the right place. This guide breaks down everything you need to know.

Table of Content:

• What is Virtual Meeting?
• What is a Virtual Meeting Platform?
• Key features of a virtual meeting platform
• 5 Amazing Benefits of Using Virtual Meeting Platforms
• What is the best platform for virtual meetings?
• Ready for Your Company to Work Smartly with inMeet?
• FAQ’s

What is Virtual Meeting?   

A “virtual meeting” is a term people use to label a meeting that is happening between people over the internet. Think of it as multiple people coming into a virtual room to connect, discuss something, or have a conversation about something – exactly what we do in an offline meeting.

Although the core idea of video meetings is the same, you might hear different people calling it a different name. This includes “online meeting,” “remote meeting,” “video conferencing,” “web conferencing,” and “teleconferencing.”

No matter which term you use, what matters is that it connects people from different locations, time zones, and countries to come together in the same place and engage in real-time conversations.

We all know virtual meetings are not the same as offline meetings. However, with the availability of wonderful video conferencing platforms and modern AV solutions today, it is possible to replicate the same feeling of being in the same room.

It’s no wonder that most companies worldwide are adopting such virtual meeting platforms and AV solutions at such a faster rate.

What is a Virtual Meeting Platform?

If virtual meetings are where people connect online in real time, a online meeting platform is the technology that allows us to do that. You can get access to this technology in the form of an app, software, or website.

The single most important goal of such a platform is to host successful virtual meetings that help people feel connected, as if they were in the same physical room. That’s one of the reasons why such online meeting software is designed that way. Every feature that exists in such platforms is designed to support this goal.

Key features of a virtual meeting platform

Here is a simple breakdown of the features that make this possible.

The Basic Features:

These are the essential features that every virtual meeting platform must have to work properly. Examples of such Features include:

• HD Video and Audio: It allows you to see and hear other participants with clarity during the meeting.
• Screen Sharing: It lets you show your entire computer screen, a single app, or a presentation to everyone in the meeting.
• Meeting Recording: It allows you to save a video of the meeting so it can be shared or reviewed later.
• Chat and Messaging: it lets you send text messages, share links, or ask questions without interrupting the person speaking.

Collaboration Tools:

These features are designed to help people to work together as a team on a project in real-time.

• Interactive Whiteboard: Gives everyone a shared digital screen to draw, write, and brainstorm ideas on together in real-time.
• Audience Engagement: Let’s you use live polls, Q&A sessions, and emoji reactions to keep your audience involved.
• Breakout Rooms: Allows the host to split a large meeting into smaller, separate groups for focused discussions.
• File Sharing and Co-annotation: Lets you send files to others in the meeting and allows them to write or draw on your shared screen.

Practical Tools:

These features focus on making the platform easier to manage and use in your daily workflow.

• Calendar Integration: Allows you to schedule meetings directly from your work calendar, like Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook.
• Mobile App: Lets you join meetings from your smartphone or tablet when you are not at your computer.
• AI-Powered Assistants: Use AI to automatically create a written transcript and a summary of what was discussed in the meeting.
• Customization and Branding: Allows you to use virtual backgrounds and add your company’s logo for a more professional appearance.

Difference between Virtual meeting platform & Video conferencing platform & Online Meeting software

You have probably heard these terms come up in everyday conversation. Although the core idea behind them is the same, there are important differences between them.

• Online Meeting Software & Video Conferencing Platform: These terms usually refer to the specific application you use to conduct the live meeting. The main focus here is on real-time conversation.
• Virtual Meeting Platform: This is a bigger and more complete term. A virtual meeting platform includes the video conferencing software, but it is part of a larger solution that can handle everything from start to finish.

5 Amazing Benefits of Using Virtual Meeting Platforms

Using virtual meeting platforms gives companies several important advantages that go beyond just being convenient. Here are five of the biggest benefits:

1. Saves Money and Time: By not having to travel, companies save a lot of money on things like plane tickets, hotels, and meals. This is a big deal for global companies and small startups. The time saved from traveling can be used to accomplish more work. In one survey, 87% of people said that less travel was a top benefit.
2. Makes Work Faster and More Productive: Virtual platforms help businesses move faster. They allow for quick sharing of information, which leads to more focused talks and faster decisions. With tools like screen sharing, teams can review Work and give feedback instantly, which keeps projects moving smoothly.
3. Improves Communication: Video meetings are better than just audio calls or emails because you can see people’s faces and body language. This helps you understand what they really mean and builds stronger relationships with teammates and clients.
4. More Accessible and Inclusive: Virtual platforms make it possible for everyone to participate. They remove distance as a barrier, so companies can hire talented people from all over the world.
5. Get More Flexibility and Better Work-Life Balance: Virtual meetings allow people to work from home. This gives people more flexibility between their Work and personal lives. Having this flexibility makes people less stressed and happier.

What is the best platform for virtual meetings?

The marketplace of virtual meeting software is crowded. It has many different companies, from big, well-known general types to smaller specialized ones. While general platforms are great for most situations, other options are better for very specific jobs. Understanding this vast market will help you find the online meeting platform that fits perfectly for your needs.

List of Popular Online Meeting Platform

Three platforms currently stand out as the clear market leaders: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. They have become so popular due to their different strengths.

• Zoom: Became a household name because it is reliable, easy to use, and has many features to keep people engaged during meetings. Its generous free version also helped millions of people learn to use the tool for both personal and professional reasons.
• Microsoft Teams: The biggest reason for its popularity is that it is included with the Microsoft 365 package. For companies that already use Microsoft Office, Teams is an easy and natural choice. It acts as a central hub for chat, video meetings, and working on documents together.
• Google Meet: Like Teams, Google Meet is popular because it is part of Google Workspace. Its main advantage is its simplicity and the fact that it works directly in a web browser, meaning people don’t have to download any software to join a meeting.

Is there any platform better than Zoom and Google Meet?

When you think of virtual meetings, names like Zoom and Google Meet immediately come to mind. They are excellent general-purpose platforms and work well for most situations. But often times, such platforms come with a hefty price.

Most traditional platforms charge on a per-host or per-user basis. As a company, you have to pay a monthly fee for every single employee who might need to host a meeting. This is okay, but this way you are paying for a license that your employees rarely use.

This is where inMeet offers a smarter approach with its concurrent licensing model. Instead of paying for every potential host, your company only pays for the maximum number of meetings happening at the same time. This way, you are not wasting your money on useless subscriptions.

Ready for Your Company to Work Smartly with inMeet?

We began with a simple question: “What is a virtual meeting platform?” By now, you have a complete answer. You know what these platforms are, the features they offer, and the powerful benefits they bring to modern businesses.

But knowing what a platform is is only the first step. The next, more important step is choosing the right online meeting platform that helps your company work smarter.

If your main priority is an all-around familiar platform that’s already integrated into your existing office software, we recommend that you choose the well-known market leaders. However, if your business is focused on significantly cutting costs with a smarter licensing model, providing a seamless, download-free experience for your clients, and presenting a professional, custom-branded image in every call, we recommend that you try inMeet.

Take the Next Step

Ready to stop overpaying for unused licenses and start providing a seamless experience for your guests? It’s time to explore a platform built for modern business.

Discover how inMeet can make your virtual collaboration more cost-efficient and professional.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What do you mean by video conferencing?

Video conferencing involves the integration of audiovisual technology to facilitate two-way communication between people located in diverse areas. Video conferencing technology has gained popularity with the advent of remote meetings using virtual meeting apps, e-learning, telemedicine, and collaborative developments.

How does a virtual meeting platform work?

It works by using the internet to send live video and audio between participants’ devices, like computers or phones. You simply join a meeting through a link or an app, and the platform manages the connection, allowing everyone to see and hear each other instantly.

What are the key features of a virtual meeting platform?

The key features are HD video and audio, screen sharing, meeting recording, and chat. Many also include collaboration tools like interactive whiteboards and breakout rooms to help teams work together more effectively during the meeting.

How do virtual meeting platforms save time and money?

They save time and money primarily by eliminating the need for business travel. Companies save a lot on flights and hotels, and employees can use the time they would have spent traveling to get more work done.

Why are virtual meeting platforms important?

They are important because they are essential tools for supporting modern remote and hybrid work. With teams spread across different locations, these platforms are vital for keeping everyone connected, making quick decisions, and maintaining a strong company culture.

How secure are virtual meeting platforms?

Reputable virtual meeting platforms are very secure, using features like encryption to protect your conversations. Most professional platforms also include security tools like meeting passwords, waiting rooms, and the ability to lock a meeting to prevent uninvited guests from joining.

Can virtual meeting platforms support large events or webinars?

Yes, many platforms can support large events, but some are specifically designed for it. While standard meeting software can host many people, specialized webinar platforms offer extra tools for managing large audiences, like advanced Q&A and networking features.

How do virtual meeting platforms improve team collaboration?

They improve collaboration by allowing teams to work together in real-time as if they were in the same room. With features like screen sharing and interactive whiteboards, team members can instantly share ideas, review documents, and provide feedback, which keeps projects moving forward quickly.