Zoom has launched new platform innovations at its annual Zoomtopia event, including Zoom Docs, an AI-integrated workspace for improved collaboration, and enhancements to the Zoom AI Companion.
These innovations aim to streamline the workday and enhance communication tools. Zoom is also enhancing employee engagement, hybrid work, and collaboration tools to support the hybrid work model. Additionally, Zoom’s AI-powered customer experience solutions will help customer-facing teams engage customers effectively. The new features are set to be generally available in 2024.
- Zoom has unveiled new platform innovations at its annual event, Zoomtopia 2023, including the introduction of Zoom Docs, a collaborative workspace with AI capabilities.
- Zoom has expanded its AI Companion digital assistant to include whiteboard capabilities and summarization features for higher education and healthcare customers.
- Zoom introduced several platform innovations to enhance employee engagement, support hybrid work models, streamline collaboration, and strengthen customer relationships.
Zoom’s New AI-Driven Innovations for Streamlined Workdays
As we navigate through the ever-changing landscape of remote work, the need for effective communication and collaboration tools has become more crucial. Zoom recently unveiled its latest innovations, all designed to simplify and enhance our workdays.
Introducing Zoom Docs: Next-Gen Collaboration
At the heart of these innovations is Zoom Docs, a futuristic collaboration tool built entirely on AI technology. Not only does this new platform integrate seamlessly with Zoom and various third-party apps, but it also provides a flexible workspace for creating, managing projects, and staying organised.
What sets Zoom Docs apart are its AI-powered features. From populating documents with content from Zoom Meetings to generating content with the Zoom AI Companion, the tool is designed to streamline tasks and enhance productivity. With traditional document capabilities, wikis, and a drag-and-drop interface for tables, charts, and images, Zoom Docs looks set to revolutionise how we work. It is scheduled for general availability in 2024.
The Power of AI: Zoom’s New Assistant
Another key innovation is the Zoom AI Companion, a generative AI digital assistant. This AI Companion not only allows users to catch up on meetings and summarise lengthy chat threads, but also composes emails in Zoom Mail, and now, helps generate ideas on a digital whiteboard.
This AI-powered assistant is poised to be a game-changer for industries like higher education and healthcare, with new Meeting and Team Chat summarisation capabilities.
Enhancing Employee Engagement and Hybrid Work
Zoom also announced several platform innovations aimed at improving employee engagement and facilitating hybrid work. One such innovation, Workvivo, an employee engagement and communications solution acquired by Zoom earlier this year, will soon be accessible directly from the Zoom desktop client.
For facilitating hybrid work, Zoom introduced new features like Workspace Reservation, My Office View in Huddles, and more. These features aim to make the transition between working remotely and in the office smoother and more efficient.
Revolutionising Customer Relationships
Zoom also unveiled AI-powered customer experience solutions designed to help customer-facing teams support and engage clients more effectively. Innovations like AI Expert Assist and integrations with popular messaging apps like WhatsApp and Messenger aim to streamline workflows, improve customer service, and ultimately strengthen customer relationships.
“As work continues to evolve and present new challenges, one thing will remain the same: effective collaboration and communication tools are crucial for businesses to succeed,” said Eric S. Yuan, founder and CEO of Zoom.
Final Thoughts
Zoom’s new innovations represent a significant leap forward in the realm of remote work, with AI technology playing a pivotal role. As we continue to adapt to the challenges of hybrid work, tools like Zoom Docs and the AI Companion will undoubtedly prove instrumental in enhancing productivity and fostering effective communication.
These advancements not only stand to benefit businesses and employees but also promise to reshape the way we approach work in the future. As Eric S. Yuan rightly said, effective collaboration and communication tools are crucial for success – and Zoom is clearly committed to providing just that.
FAQ
Q: What is Zoom Docs?
A: Zoom Docs is a next-gen way of collaborating that is built from the ground up with AI at its core. It is a flexible, modular workspace that integrates with Zoom and third-party apps, making it easy for teams and individuals to create, collaborate, manage projects, and stay organized.
Q: What features does Zoom Docs have?
A: Zoom Docs includes traditional document capabilities, as well as wikis and drag-and-drop content blocks for tables, charts, and images. Users can also leverage its AI-powered functionality to populate docs with content from Zoom Meetings, generate content with Zoom AI Companion, summarize content quickly, easily search documents, and more.
Q: When will Zoom Docs be available?
A: Zoom Docs is scheduled to be generally available in 2024.
Q: What is Zoom AI Companion?
A: Zoom AI Companion is a generative AI digital assistant that helps users catch up on already-in-progress meeting discussions, summarise long chat threads, compose emails in Zoom Mail, and more. It now also has a new Whiteboard capability and is expanding to new industry customers with Meeting and Team Chat summarisation capabilities.
Q: Is Zoom AI Companion free?
A: Yes, Zoom AI Companion is included at no additional cost for paid users on eligible accounts.
Q: What is Workvivo?
A: Workvivo is an employee engagement and communications solution that provides new ways to keep employees informed, engaged, and connected in today’s hybrid work model. It was acquired by Zoom earlier this year.
Q: How can Workvivo be accessed?
A: Workvivo users will be able to access Workvivo right in the Zoom desktop client in the coming weeks.
Q: What is Workspace Reservation?
A: Workspace Reservation is a feature that suggests where people can sit to be close to key collaborators. It will be adding a Wayfinding feature next year that provides a map to the reserved seat and allows users to review their path on their mobile device when they’re in an unfamiliar office location.
Q: What are Huddles?
A: Huddles are virtual coworking spaces that bring employees together across in-office, hybrid, and remote teams.
Q: What is Zoom Scheduler?
A: Zoom Scheduler is a product that streamlines the pre-meeting process. It allows users to incorporate single-use booking links, add customized booking page logos, and add multiple account support. It will soon incorporate unique schedules of availability per host, delegate support, and integration with Salesforce.
Q: What is AI Expert Assist?
A: AI Expert Assist is a feature that helps streamline contact centre workflows. It provides real-time outputs, contextual, real-time actions, and auto-surfaces useful customer and knowledge base information for customer support agents. It also provides actionable suggestions for supervisors.
Q: What messaging apps will Zoom Virtual Agent and Zoom Contact Center integrate with?
A: Zoom Virtual Agent and Zoom Contact Center will integrate with WhatsApp and Messenger in the coming months.
Q: What support will event managers receive from generative AI in Zoom Events?
A: Event managers will receive support around event prep and live event execution through AI-composed event email invitations, lobby chats (available in the coming months), and sessions (available next year).
Q: Is Zoom an open platform?
A: Yes, Zoom is an open platform supported by an ecosystem of key integrations, apps, and partners that offer customers the choice of third-party solutions that work seamlessly with Zoom.