Remote Working and Learning Boosted Video Calls on Microsoft Teams by 1000% in March

With the worldwide outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic forcing many people to work and learn remotely, Microsoft has reported that total video calls on its Microsoft Teams teleconferencing platform grew by over 1000% in March.

The report by Microsoft follows similar reports by other teleconferencing platforms like Zoom and Google Meet on the massive rise in the usage of video chat tools.

Record 2.7 billion meeting minutes in one day

As more people around the world turn to remote work, the number of minutes spent on Microsoft Teams has increased exponentially. On March 16, Microsoft reported that 900 million meetings were held on Teams. On March 31, just two weeks later a new daily record of 2.7 billion meeting minutes in a day was recorded.

The number of people who opted to turn on their video during Teams meetings also doubled since the pandemic caused many people to work from home full-time.

The company also reported that the number of streamed videos on Microsoft Teams has increased over five times in the last month as a result of people moving events online.

According to the company, hundreds of hours of video were uploaded per minute to Microsoft Stream. Microsoft Stream is the service that powers live events and meeting recordings in Microsoft Teams.

Less than 20% of Microsoft Teams calls in Nigeria used videos

The countries with the most active Microsoft Teams users are Norway and the Netherlands with about 60% of calls including video.

In Africa, South Africa was one of the highest with 36% of their Teams calls using video. In Nigeria, less than 20% of calls made using Microsoft Teams used videos. Microsoft attributed the low use of video in some regions including Nigeria to access to devices and availability of stable Internet.

People are embracing a more flexible work schedule

The increase in the use of Teams and other video chat tools means people are spending more time of the day on the platform. According to Microsoft, the average time between when somebody first used Teams and the last use of the service increased by more than an hour in the month of March.

However, Microsoft has argued that it doesn’t necessarily mean people are working long hours. The company highlighted that productivity hours was different for everyone and that the flexibility of remote work is allowing people to work during their personal productive hours or makes space for obligations outside of work.

Although the way we work has changed, Microsoft’s report has shown us that technology like video calls can help people connect to one another and keep business, schools and organisations running smoothly.