Is Microsoft Stream (on SharePoint) a Viable Video Content Management System?

Enterprise video is on the rise, and businesses are taking notice. More and more organizations are on the lookout for a video content management system that helps them fuel their workflow, collaborate with teams, aid in training and learning efforts, and engage audiences.

The enterprise video market is projected to be around $48.85 billion by 2030. With those kinds of numbers, you can expect an abundance of enterprise video platforms out there to choose from.

Having used Microsoft tools in the past, many organizations may consider using Microsoft Stream for their video content management and live streaming needs. But the question is, how well does it manage to deliver these capabilities?

To answer these questions and more, this blog will discuss the pros and cons of using Microsoft Stream as well as any possible alternatives.

What is a Video Content Management System?

A video content management system is a software platform that lets you host, manage, view, and share video content all from a secure and centralized repository.

What is Microsoft Stream?

Introduced on June 20, 2017, Microsoft Stream was announced as a replacement for Office 365 Video. The platform promised to be a centralized hub for video storage, sharing, and collaboration. Then, in 2021, it was announced that Microsoft would re-platform it as part of its existing content management system, SharePoint.

After its re-platforming, Microsoft Stream was renamed to Stream (Classic). It was retired shortly after on February 15, 2024, for commercial and education customers, with plans to retire it for Government GCC customers on July 30, 2024.

The remaining iteration of Microsoft Stream is called Stream (on SharePoint). It is fully integrated with SharePoint, allowing users to stream their videos from the same hub where they store their files.

Pros of Using Microsoft Stream

Microsoft Stream has been advertised as a video storage and sharing platform that facilitates corporate communication in growing organizations. Although it doesn't offer the bells and whistles of a purpose-built video content management system, it does the job for most people.

Here are some of the major pros of using Microsoft Stream:

• Integrates well with other Microsoft apps.
• Organize videos by channels based on topics, teams, etc.
• Embed and play videos from SharePoint sites/pages.
• Add videos to a Microsoft Teams channel tab.
• Automatically ingest recordings of Microsoft Teams calls.
• Attach annotations and forms inside videos.
• Generate transcriptions in 28 languages.
• Store videos along with other corporate assets on SharePoint

Cons of Using Microsoft Stream

Microsoft Stream helps users in corporate environments manage their day-to-day video workflow without much hassle. However, it isn't an end-to-end video content management system or video delivery platform. Because of this, it leaves much to be desired in both domains.

• Limited video analytics with a maximum history of 90 days. (Advanced analytics require a ClipChamp Premium license)
• Only supports video resolutions up to 1080p.
• No video player customization.
• Limited video security.
• Screen recording limit of 15 minutes.
• No white labeling or branding options.
• Basic functionality has to be accomplished through integrated apps, i.e., live events through Microsoft Teams and video editing through ClipChamp.
• No desktop app/Offline viewing.

Is it Worth Using Microsoft Stream?

While Microsoft Stream presents a enterprise video and streaming platform for most people to get a head start in making and sharing content, it misses a lot of the functionality contained in a fully-fledged video content management system.

Whether Microsoft Stream works best for you and your organization will depend on what you're looking to achieve. For those who regularly rely on Microsoft's application suite, Microsoft Stream offers a familiar experience.

However, if your organization is looking for a standalone tool to get most of the job done, then Microsoft Stream may not be the best fit.

Microsoft Stream is set up to be integrated with other Microsoft tools to accomplish tasks. For those who don't regularly use Microsoft apps, this can present a steep learning curve and increase workflow complications. Users don't only have to learn how to use Microsoft Stream; they have to learn how to use SharePoint, Teams, ClipChamp, and OneDrive.

VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube as an Alternative

Video content plays a crucial role in modern business communication and outreach efforts, from employee training to marketing campaigns. While Microsoft Stream can be a starting point for organizations to get their feet off the ground, they may soon realize that they need a solution that scales with their growing needs.

VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube offers a feature-rich video content management system specifically designed with enterprise needs in mind. It provides flexible customization options, advanced security features, seamless regulatory compliance, and efficient scalability to manage extensive video libraries.

All this makes it the ideal alternative for businesses seeking a powerful enterprise video platform for their on-demand and live video streaming needs.

EnterpriseTube builds upon the core functionality of Microsoft Stream and offers a more comprehensive feature set with none of the drawbacks.

Need to edit videos? EnterpriseTube offers video editing functionality without the need for any additional software.

Need an end-to-end video CMS? EnterpriseTube provides a complete solution for organizations to host, manage, and share their video content, along with live streaming, video analytics, and interactive capabilities.

Need to stream videos from SharePoint? EnterpriseTube offers SharePoint integration to allow users to stream video content from their SharePoint.

Looking to store recorded MS Teams meetings? VIDIZMO integrates with major video conferencing platforms like MS Teams, Webex, Zoom, and more to allow ingestion of recorded meetings.

Comparing Microsoft Stream (on Sharepoint) vs. VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube: Which Platform is Better Suited for Your Organization?

So, how does VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube stack up against Microsoft Stream? What advantage does your organization gain from using EnterpriseTube as its storage and video delivery platform?

Let’s compare the two video platforms and see which one is better suited to your organization's needs.

Video Quality

Arguably, one of the most important factors for a viewer’s experience is video quality. So much so that in a TechSmith survey, 11% of respondents reported that they stopped watching an instructional or informational video because the quality was poor.

High-resolution videos and images are important not just for aesthetics but also for maintaining brand standards for quality. If you plan to view these videos on projector screens, signage displays, or large event displays, then the large size of the screen means that even a moderate-quality video may seem grainy or pixelated.

What’s more, high-resolution videos give organizations the flexibility to crop as needed without having a significant impact on quality degradation.

By default, Microsoft Stream supports a maximum video resolution of 1080p. This may be sufficient for some but inadequate for others. On the other hand, VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube offers support for video quality up to 4K.

Even if your organization does not currently use 4K video, it might be worthwhile to prepare its infrastructure for high-quality video in the future.

Interactivity Features

In terms of video interactivity, Microsoft Stream tends to trail behind VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube. Currently, Microsoft Stream only allows the addition of forms and annotations.

EnterpriseTube allows the addition of forms, quizzes, handouts, and annotations to on-demand videos hosted on the platform. For live streams, users can integrate interactive elements such as live chat, Q/As, and social media feeds.

SharePoint Integration

One of the biggest draws of Microsoft Stream is its native integration with SharePoint. This allows organizations that already use SharePoint to view and manage their content in a way that’s already familiar to them.

Fortunately, that functionality is not exclusive to Microsoft Stream. VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube allows organizations to integrate their SharePoint with the platform. This allows them to bring over video content and synchronize existing user groups so they don’t have to deal with migration headaches.

AI-Powered Search

Search capabilities are an important factor worth considering for organizations, especially when there are large video libraries with thousands of videos to sift through.

Microsoft Stream allows users to search via spoken words using automatic transcription of videos or audio files. However, that’s where its AI search capabilities start and end.

VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube allows users to search their entire video library using spoken words, faces, objects, in-video text, and much more.

Video Editing

Sometimes, you may need to perform last-minute edits on a video before pushing it forward. These edits are necessary to polish the video prior to delivery, even if it’s minor edits to cut out certain parts.

Microsoft Stream does not allow users to edit videos by default. Instead, they have to rely on Clipchamp for basic functionality, such as clipping a video. That also means dealing with the learning curve of using another platform.

In VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube, video editing capabilities are offered as part of the platform. This allows users to clip and trim their videos directly from within the video portal.

Microsoft Teams Integration

Thanks to SharePoint integration, you can access your recorded meetings from Microsoft Teams directly onto Microsoft Stream. What’s more, Microsoft Stream also integrates with Microsoft Teams to allow live events.

VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube also integrates with Microsoft Teams to allow the ingestion of recorded meeting videos. Users can also conduct live streams directly from the platform without the need for additional tools.

White labeling

Organizations often require white labeling for their video platform. This allows them to present their own branding on the video portal, ensuring a consistent user experience that aligns with their overall brand identity.

As of yet, Microsoft Stream does not offer any white labeling options. The platform is presented as-is and with existing Microsoft branding.

For organizations looking for a customizable experience, VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube offers complete branding capabilities with options to change logos, fonts, colors, and more, as well as extensive branding potential through custom CSS styling.

Screen Recording

In addition to hosting on-demand and live videos, organizations may also need to record their screens directly for lecture capture, product demos, training, and more.

Microsoft Stream includes built-in screen recording capabilities. However, all recordings have a maximum cap of 15 minutes. This means that long-form demos and training videos are out of the question, leaving you to look elsewhere.

You may be glad to know that there are no such arbitrary limits in VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube. The video platform allows you to have unlimited screen recording capabilities so that you can record your videos with ease of mind.

Why Choose EnterpriseTube

VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube is a Gartner-recognized enterprise video platform that allows organizations to store, organize, view, and share their videos internally and externally.

But EnterpriseTube is much more than that. It allows you to embed surveys, forms, quizzes, and handouts into your videos. You can also go live directly and take advantage of live interactivity options such as live chat, Q/As, etc.

Here's a sneak peek of what else you can expect from EnterpriseTube:

• Automatically transcribe your videos in 40+ languages, translate transcripts into 50+ languages, and show closed captions on screen.
• Embed videos on any website with customization options for your video player.
• Add surveys, forms, handouts, and quizzes to videos.
• Use AI-powered search capabilities to find videos across your video library using keywords, categories, and custom attributes. Search within videos using faces, objects, spoken words, and more.
• Enjoy offline viewing using the dedicated desktop app.
• Integrate with leading apps for SSO authentication, analytics tracking, video conferencing, content management systems, and more.
• Showcase your brand with a fully customizable enterprise video platform, including options to change logos, fonts, colors, and more with extensive CSS styling.
• Rest easy knowing your videos are protected with best-in-class encryption, role-based access control, password protection, custom security policy, domain restrictions, and more.
• Exercise content restrictions with support for DRM and IP restrictions.
• Monitor your content strategy with detailed analytics for users, media, and engagement trends, as well as content performance analytics for error heat map, load time data, and cache hit ratio.

Curious to know what else VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube can do? Click here to learn more.

Do More with EnterpriseTube

Microsoft Stream offers a solid foundation for basic video viewing and sharing within the Microsoft ecosystem. But, for organizations looking for a more comprehensive video content management system with advanced features, security, and scalability, VIDIZMO EnterpriseTube presents a compelling alternative.

Take your video strategy to the next level with EnterpriseTube's robust functionalities and explore how it can transform the way your business communicates, educates, and collaborates.

Get started with a 7-day free trial today, or contact us to learn more.

People also ask

1. What is a video content management system?

A video CMS is a platform designed to store, organize, and deliver video content with ease.

2. Is Microsoft Stream free to use?

No, Microsoft Stream is not free to use. Microsoft Stream is available as a cloud service licensed on a per-user subscription basis. Users have to purchase select Office 365 Enterprise subscriptions to access the basic application and additional features available on higher subscription tiers.

3. How do you add a video to an enterprise video platform?

Adding a video to an enterprise video platform typically involves logging into the platform, navigating to the upload section, selecting the video file from your device, and providing relevant details like title and description.

4. Why do people use a video CMS?

People use a video CMS to efficiently manage their video content, control access, analyze viewership metrics, and deliver a seamless viewing experience to their audience.

5. Can you live stream with Microsoft Stream?

Yes, live streaming through Microsoft Stream is possible. However, Microsoft Stream is not a standalone live streaming platform as it requires integration with Microsoft Teams to host a live event.

6. How do I start a live stream?

To start a live stream, you typically need to access the live streaming feature within your chosen platform, set up your camera and audio equipment, configure stream settings, such as an encoder for live streaming, and then start the broadcast.