What does async video mean in tech companies?

Async video refers to pre-recorded video messages that team members send to colleagues to watch at their own convenience. It is a form of asynchronous communication that does not require everyone to be online at the same time. This is particularly useful for distributed teams across multiple time zones.

When should I use async video instead of a live meeting?

Use async video for status updates, feedback, onboarding, explanations, and announcements that do not require real-time discussion. Use live meetings when you need immediate feedback, collaborative problem-solving, or interactive discussion. If your team spans multiple time zones and scheduling is difficult, async video is usually the better choice.

Is async video formal or informal?

Async video is neutral in formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts depending on content and delivery. A technical architecture review async video would be more formal, while a quick team update might be casual. The professionalism depends on the script, video quality, and tone rather than the medium itself.

What tools are commonly used to create async videos?

Popular tools include Loom, Vidyard, Slack clips, and built-in screen recording features. Many teams simply use their laptop camera and screen recording software. The choice depends on your company tools and integration needs.

Async Video meaning in tech — Speak Tech English

Commonness	4/5
Versatility	4/5
Formality	CasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ Written	SpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ Diplomatic	DirectDiplomaticDirect
Region	US and UK

Say it like this

✓Send an async video instead of scheduling a call

✓I will record an async video for the team

✓Check the async video I shared in Slack

Real examples

in a standup

"Since half the team is in Asia, I sent an async video with the sprint update this morning."

in code review

"The architect recorded an async video explaining the design decisions for everyone to review."

in team communication

"Instead of rescheduling the meeting three times, lets just do an async video walkthrough."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Not to be confused with asynchronous communication in general. Async video specifically refers to recorded video messages, not live async discussions or documentation.

✕We need to have an async video meeting together right now.

✓We should record an async video for the team to watch.— Async video is asynchronous by definition, so you cannot have one together in real-time. If you need to meet live, use video call or meeting instead.

✕The async video was 45 minutes long and very detailed.

✓The async video was concise and covered all the key points.— Best practice is to keep async videos brief (5-10 minutes) so people actually watch them. Very long videos defeat the purpose of async communication.

✕I will async video this to you tomorrow.

✓I will record an async video for you tomorrow or send an async video.— Async video is a noun, not a verb. You record, send, or create an async video, but you do not async video something.

Other forms

noun

async video

"The product manager sent an async video explaining the roadmap changes."

noun phrase

async video message

"I left an async video message in the project channel."

adjective

async video update

"The async video update was more efficient than a full team meeting."

Often used with

record an async videoTo create a video message for asynchronous viewing

send an async videoTo share a pre-recorded video with team members

watch an async videoTo view a pre-recorded message at your own time

async video updateA pre-recorded status or project update

async video feedbackRecorded comments or criticism instead of live discussion

Similar words

recorded messageMore general; includes audio and video messages, not video-specific

pre-recorded videoLess common in tech; emphasizes that it was recorded beforehand

video walkthroughMore specific; usually refers to explaining a process step-by-step

Opposites

live meetingsynchronous meetingreal-time callvideo conference

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Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your distributed team is spread across five time zones. What do you do?

Record an async video explaining the project status.Send an async video to explain the status.Create an async video update for the team.All of the above are equally natural.

Complete the sentence

2. Instead of scheduling another meeting, I will _______ an async video for the design team.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses async video incorrectly?

We should async video this to everyone.She recorded an async video explaining the new feature.They watched the async video during their lunch break.The async video was much more convenient than a meeting.

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using async video: The team had trouble finding a time to meet, so we should send them a recorded message instead.

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "async video" in a standup this week?

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