We've all been in situations where just a chat isn't enough—where a meeting is the best and fastest way to communicate. However, for meetings to truly work, they should include everyone and benefit every participant. Yet in reality, many barriers get in the way.
Decoding the challenges in online meetings
The barriers to effective meetings are much bigger than minor inconveniences in today's hybrid workplaces. Unstable internet connections can break the flow, fast-paced discussions make it difficult to keep up, and accent or language differences can leave participants struggling to follow along. And these challenges are especially frustrating for participants who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The global nature of work makes this an even more pressing concern. Teams now operate across time zones, conversations happen swiftly, and critical decisions are made quickly. When even one participant falls behind due to connectivity, comprehension, or accessibility issues, the entire collaboration loses its effectiveness.
Where AI steps in
One of the stand-out ways that AI makes meetings more inclusive is through live transcripts. We've all been in meetings where we've found it difficult to follow someone because of their pace or accent. But with AI, transcripts are generated in real time, allowing participants to read along, keep pace, and revisit points they may have missed.
Live transcripts also remove the pressure to take notes, freeing people to focus on contributing. For those who couldn't attend, transcripts serve as a searchable record, instantly bringing them back into the loop.
The benefits go far beyond convenience
First, collaboration feels more natural. Accents, pacing, or language differences no longer stand in the way of understanding.
Second, hybrid meetings become more fair. Remote participants gain the same clarity as those sitting in the room.
Last and most importantly, accessibility is prioritized. Colleagues who are deaf or hard of hearing can engage fully and confidently.
To put it simply, live transcripts don’t just make meetings easier to follow; they make them more inclusive, engaging, and productive.
Making the most of live transcripts
In addition to improving accessibility and inclusion, live transcripts can greatly improve team productivity.
They can be repurposed into blog posts, video scripts, or knowledge base articles, cutting down the time and extra effort spent on content creation. Transcripts also serve as searchable meeting records, making it easy to retrieve decisions or action points without replaying hours of recordings. This is especially helpful for new hires; they can use transcripts to review organizational knowledge and catch up with their team.
When it comes to accountability, transcripts help highlight who is responsible for what, avoid miscommunications, and boost team morale.
The future
As AI evolves, it will not just be about capturing meetings but also about contextualizing them.
Imagine a scenario where you discuss something in a meeting, and AI detects and connects it with specific projects, tasks, or workflows. Every idea becomes an actionable step, and every discussion or decision is fed directly into the platform or tool you use.
That's the future we're moving toward: meeting transcripts that don't just record but also drive work forward.
Building inclusive meetings with Zoho Cliq
We at Zoho Cliq have already laid the foundation for this and are working on it in line with AI evolution. With AI-powered functionalities like meeting transcripts, summaries, and action items, teams can cut through the chaos and focus on other important work. As we continue to evolve, our broader vision is not just adding to our feature list but making the meeting experience more inclusive and smooth. In essence, it will be a place where every participant can contribute and stay on the same page without any hassle.
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