Simpplr Native video

Matthew Rawls

August 21, 2024 14:41

What is Simpplr Native video?

As a premium feature, videos can easily be added to your Simpplr instance from any device. Videos are uploaded to, hosted on, and played directly in Simpplr.

Note:

Simpplr Native video is a paid add-on to your Simpplr subscription, and must be enabled at the application level by Simpplr. Contact your CSM for more information regarding pricing and enablement.

Add videos to home or site feeds
Video transcripts
Search for videos
Video details screen
Simpplr video analytics
Videos in site folders
Enable Simpplr video
Leadercast (record video)
Edit or replace video thumbnails
Video recording and file upload permissions
FAQ
Use cases & best practices

Add videos to home or site feeds

Videos can be added to home or site feeds through posts and replies. You can select and upload multiple videos. Videos get stored as video files on the intranet site in which they were created.

video upload on a feed post

adding a video to a reply

Upload videos in image and video tile

Users can also upload videos from the Image and Video tile in the home dashboard.

adding a video via image & video tile

Video transcripts

You can view the transcript of a video by clicking video details. If upgrading your version of Simpplr, all video transcripts stored on Simpplr prior to the upgrade will be saved, and videos that don’t have transcripts will have new transcripts automatically generated.

Closed captions

Click the CC icon at the bottom of the video player to activate closed captions and see captions for the video.

Playback speed

Users are able to speed change the playback speed on any video, ranging from 0.25 to 2x speed.

Automatic transcript generation

When any video is uploaded to the feed, content, site files, or tiles, a transcript will be generated and stored with the video, and can be viewed while the video plays. The language of the video’s captions will match the default language of the uploader’s user profile. If other is selected for language, no transcript will be generated. You can change the video language from the video detail screen, and the captions/transcripts will be generated in the newly selected language.

Transcript search

You can use search from anywhere in the intranet to find text in a video’s transcript, and the corresponding video will be found in the search results.

Search for videos

You can search for videos by title, description, or transcript. Type your search into the Global search bar, and you'll see your video results under the Videos tab in grid view.

Auto-complete suggestions will be shown when searching for video content, as well as videos you’ve recently searched for. Search results will show the number of video captions the search keywords were found in, as well as which site the video is uploaded to.

video search results

Video details screen

Clicking video details will take you to the video details screen, where you can see the video’s:

Title
Owner
File type
Size
Language
Sites
Date uploaded
Transcript
Description
References

Edit video details

Clicking edit next to details lets a user with requisite file permissions edit the video’s name, description, and language. If a new language is selected for the video, a new transcript in that language will automatically be generated.

Simpplr video analytics

As of the 24.04 release, Simpplr Native video also comes with app-level analytics on your video content. App managers can see these metrics by heading to Analytics > App > Content tab and scrolling down to the bottom.

Analytics include:

most viewed videos
least viewed
total viewers (of all videos)
total videos played
total video views (of all videos). Note the same viewer could watch a video more than once, and all those views will be added to this metric. So if John Smith watches the same video 10 times, 10 total views will be added
total watch time (of all videos)

app-level video analytics

Videos in site folders

Simpplr Native video introduces the Site videos folder and several new sub-folders for storing site videos. If Native video is enabled, your sites have three default folders:

Content files
Feed files
Site videos

1. The Content files folder has three sub-folders:

Images. Any images added as a cover image, in the content body, or as an attachment will be saved in the content images subfolder.
Files. Any attached files will be saved to the files subfolder.
Videos. Only visible if you have Simpplr video enabled. Any videos added to the content body or attached to content will be saved to the videos subfolder.

2. The Feed files folder also has three sub-folders:

Images. Any images added to the feed will be saved in the images subfolder.
Files. Any files added to the feed will be saved to the files subfolder.
Videos. Only visible if you have Simpplr video enabled. Any videos added to the feed will be saved to the videos subfolder. This folder can only contain videos.

3. The Site videos folder is visible after enabling Simpplr Video on your platform.

Videos uploaded in a site's Files section will be saved in the Site videos folder.
Videos uploaded in any of a site's custom folders will instead be saved in the Site videos folder.
Videos can be saved directly in the Site videos folder.
Users with requisite permissions can create custom folders within the Site videos folder.

site's Files section, where videos can be uploaded directly to site

Adding videos to custom folders

You cannot add videos to custom folders. Adding a video to a custom folder will display a prompt that the video is saved to the Site videos folder instead. Any videos uploaded to a site outside of the site content or site feed will be saved to Site videos folder.

default folders in a site with Simpplr Video enabled

Leadercast

With a click of a button, Simpplr Native Video users can record video directly from their browser without additional software, and share it directly into the feed or add it to content.

Recording in feed

Launch the recorder from the feed and attach the recording directly to posts, comments, and replies. This can be done in:

Feed posts/comments
Feed replies

Recording in content (pages, events, albums, and blogs)

Launch the recorder from the content add/edit screen and attach the recording directly to the content body or add it to the album. This can be done in:

Content body and attachment
Album

How to record a video

1. Start by creating your content. From the WYSIWYG editor, click the Video icon. Launch the recorder (circle icon).

2. Wait for recording countdown.

3. Recording is live.

4. Recording is complete.

Once recording is complete, you can:

Play the recording
Edit the default recording name
Download the recording to the computer (after initial recording is complete only. Cannot download after a video has been published)
Discard the current recording and re-record
Add video to feed or content

Videos recorded natively will be saved in WEBM format.

Edit or replace video thumbnails

Users with edit video permissions will be able to click into any video and edit or replace the thumbnail image. Editing the thumbnail image allows you to crop the image. The cropped image will shrink to fit smaller players like carousels and tiles.

You can also replace the image with an image from your computer.

To begin editing or replacing the thumbnail:

From the video in question, click the information icon at the top right to open the video information modal.
Click the ellipsis, then Edit video thumbnail or Replace video thumbnail.

Video recording and file upload permissions

App managers can decide who to allow video recording permissions for in Manage > Application > Governance > Leadercast. Choose either:

Only App managers
All employees
Site owners/managers or specific users

App managers can manage video recording permissions for site owners and managers. To do so, go to Manage application > Governance > File upload permissions.

Enable Simpplr video

Simpplr Native video is a paid add-on to your Simpplr subscription, and must be enabled at the application level by Simpplr. Contact your CSM for more information regarding pricing and enablement.

FAQ

What is the maximum file size I can upload?

2 GB

What are the storage space limitations per user?

The maximum storage per user license for video is 5GB. Storage year over year is NOT aggregated. The annual limit is allocated throughout the customer's lifecycle on the platform. If storage is exceeded, videos must be removed in order to upload new ones.

Example of storage limitations: A 1,000 user organization on a 3-year contract will have an annual storage limit of 5TB. This equates to roughly 5,000 3-minute videos played 35,000 times throughout the year.

Which video formats are supported?

Ingest (input) file formats and codecs

When uploading video to Simpplr Video, please note the video formats and codecs below have been tested and optimized for optimal transcoding input.

The Maximum Video Frame Size is 5000 x 5000.

Media file formats

Mpeg-4 and QuickTime Formats (MP4, MOV, QT, and M4V), Flash Video (FLV and F4V), Microsoft Windows Formats (AVI, ASF, WMV and WMA), MPEG-1/2 (MPG, M1V, M2V, MP3), WAV, Matroska (MKV), OGG OGM & OGV, WEBM (videos recorded natively are saved in this format), 3GP, RM, Webex (ARF), MXF

Video codecs

DivX (Div3/4/5, DX50), DV, H.263, H.264 and AVC,H.265, MPEG-4 Visual, MPEG-1/2, MJPG, MP42/3, IV40/50 (Indeo codecs), RV30/40, RMVB, FLV1/4, VP3/5/6/7/8/9, Sorenson (SVQ1/3), Xvid, Theora, WMV1/2/3, VC1, ProRes 422, ICOD, DVCPRO, PXLT, TCSS/TCS2, GoToMeeting Codec (G2M3/4)

Audio codecs

MP3, MP1/2, AC3, EAC3, AAC, Vorbis, AMR, PCM, WMA7/8/9, WMSpeech, FLAC, QDM2, RA, Nellymoser, Cook, GSM, SPEEX

Supported file extensions

The following file extension are supported:

flv, asf, qt ,mov, mpg ,mpeg, avi, wmv, mp4, m4v, 3gp, vob, f4v, mkv, mxf, mts, ts, rm, arf, webm, lxf, m4v

How fast can video be uploaded?

With a 10 mbps connection, a 5 MB video should ideally take 6-15 seconds. Be aware that larger video files will take longer to upload.

Can video be downloaded on mobile?

No, only on web. Videos cannot be downloaded after publication. You can only download a video after the recording and before you publish the content.

Where are the video files stored and hosted?

Videos are stored and organized in the folder “Files” within your intranet. Videos are hosted and secured at Kaltura. As for the hosting service, Simpplr partners with Kaltura’s enterprise solution for corporate communication, and is using Kaltura’s video technology to provide and host all native video capabilities. Kaltura is a SOC2 compliant service.

Who can create and upload videos?

By default, all users will have access to create videos once the feature is enabled on your instance. This show the product was designed. However, there is an available workaround for organizations who don't wish to allow full access to all their users. Follow the instructions here for more information.

How is total watch time measured on videos?

Total watch/viewing time is measured in hours with decimal point So if your number is 97.6, that means the total watch time is 97.6 hours.

Use cases & best practices

Use cases for internal communication:

Simpplr Native Video Service can be used for a variety of internal communication purposes, such as:

Employee onboarding: Use Native video to create and share videos that introduce new employees to the company, its culture, and its values.
Corporate training: Native video can be used to deliver corporate training videos, making it easy for employees to access and learn new skills and knowledge.
Town hall meetings: Native video can be used to host company-wide meetings, making it easy for employees to watch and participate, regardless of their location.
Knowledge sharing: Native video can be used to share knowledge across the organization, making it easy for employees to learn from one another and stay up to date on the latest developments in their field.

Best practices for encouraging people to use Simpplr Native video:

Provide training and resources: Provide training sessions and resources on how to use Native video to help users get started. Offer support and guidance as they familiarize themselves with the platform.
Make it available: Ensure that both video upload and record options are enabled for end users to upload and record videos.

Provide step-by-step instructions on how to upload and share videos, as well as how to search for content.

Incentivize Usage: Offer incentives, such as recognition to employees who create and share the most engaging and informative videos.
Show Examples of Successful Use Cases: Share examples of successful use cases of Simpplr Native video within your organization. This will help users see the value of the platform and inspire them to create their own videos.
Highlight Benefits: Highlight the benefits of using the feature, such as improved communication, knowledge sharing, and productivity. Help users understand how the platform can make their jobs easier and more efficient.
Collaborate and Share Feedback: Encourage collaboration and feedback on video content. Create a community of video creators and encourage them to share ideas, feedback, and support for each other.

Best practices for internal communication managers to use Native video to increase engagement and video adoption:

Create a video content strategy that aligns with your organization's communication goals and objectives.
Keep videos short and to the point to increase engagement and retention.
Encourage employee participation and feedback by allowing commenting and sharing on videos.
Make videos accessible by using captions and transcripts for all content.
Promote videos through various channels such as email, intranet, and social media.
Analyze video engagement data and use it to optimize your video content strategy.
Allow all the users to upload and record videos to increase engagement.

Best practices for End users to use Native video to communicate better:

Keep videos short and focused on a specific topic.
Use a clear and concise script to deliver your message.
Use visual aids such as graphics, images, and animations to support your message.
Use closed captions and transcripts to ensure that your videos are accessible to all employees.
Encourage feedback by allowing commenting and sharing on your videos.
Practice before recording to ensure that your message is clear and well-delivered.