Companies must use a variety of software programs in order to conduct daily business. From project management systems to timekeeping, these software enable businesses to meet the needs of daily tasks. However, one type of software that many companies neglect to use is screen sharing software.
With easy to use screen sharing software, you give employees the ability to share their screen with others, allowing for easy collaboration, editing, and troubleshooting. This software is beneficial for program managers and IT team members.
As with any type of software, screen sharing programs can be expensive. But, you will find many free and open source options, and free is the best price tag, right? While the free software does have its benefits, it also has its disadvantages.
Keep reading to learn about 4 problems that you may face when using free screen sharing software.
1. Lack of Real-Time Customer Support
Most software companies these days offer real-time customer and technical support. This minimizes business downtime and provides a way for customers to get answers to any problems that they’re facing with the software.
But more often than not with free screen sharing software, there is no customer service staff available to answer software questions or to troubleshoot when a problem arises. While this is an acceptable reality if the software works 100% all of the time, we all know that this is a rare occurrence.
When free software breaks, it’s often your IT team’s responsibility to pinpoint the problem and to provide a solution. But since the software wasn’t written in-house, figuring out the issue, let alone determining a fix, can be time-consuming.
A lack of customer and technical support for important business software greatly impacts productivity. Without a fully functioning screen sharing software your company may be unable to complete certain tasks.
2. Unavailable Features
Depending on the developer of the screen sharing software, the free version may fewer features than the paid version. More often than not, companies that offer free vs. paid software use the free version to allow customers to get the bare bone functionality. Rarely will you find all of the bells and whistles available with free software.
Without having all of the features of screen sharing software, you may only be able to just screen share. This means you may be without important features such as:
- Remote control
- File sharing and storage
- Cross-operating system desktop sharing
- Whiteboard drawing
- Multi-monitor display
- User access control
Before using free screen sharing software for business, be sure that it offers all of the features you need on a daily basis. Otherwise, you may need to pay to use these features or find a new software company altogether.
3. Distracting Ads
As with any type of business, software companies need to make money to compensate for the time that was put in to create a specific piece of software. While most companies make this money through sales, free software obviously doesn’t generate this type of revenue. In order to balance the lack of purchases, many companies incorporate ads into the software program.
Similar to ads you see when using a search engine or on social media, the ads are often entirely unrelated to the software you’re using or your business’ interests. Depending on where the ads are placed and how they function, you may find that the impact the usability of the screen sharing software. For others, the ads can be a visual distraction.
4. Less User-Friendly
As with any new software that you bring on board, employees expect it to be user-friendly. Software that isn’t designed with user-friendliness in mind can quickly become frustrating to use. When employees don’t buy into a new piece of software by viewing it as convenient and beneficial, they aren’t likely to use it at all.
A lack of user-friendliness is common with free software, including screen sharing programs, because there is no need to develop a commercial product that sells and makes money. This means that more often than not, the software is tailored to what the developer wants versus the end user. This can result in a poorly designed user interface that leaves a lot to be desired.
Conclusion
When it comes to software and other expensive business purchases, it’s nice to be able to save money where possible. However, relying on free screen sharing software to meet your business needs may not be the ideal way to cut company expenses. If you’re considering any type of free software, keep these drawbacks in mind before making the final decision.
