Sunday, April 19, 2009

Video Conference as a New Business Tool

Video Conference (VC) is an application more businesses are turning to in an attempt to cut travel costs, reduce carbon footprint and keep the time executives spend out of the office to a minimum. Business travel and accommodation costs are rising each year and many executives now prefer to link up with clients and colleagues in other cities or countries by using technology rather than travelling. Besides, air travel is a major contributor of air pollution. The greater the number of people at the meeting, the greater the travel and accommodation savings. Although the technology is expensive for now, costs can be recouped fairly quickly.

The cost benefits of video conference meetings can be huge with savings on flights, taxis, hotels and, not least, unproductive hours spent traveling. As the bills mount up it makes a lot of sense to look for alternative ways of working. Overseas travel expenses are quite high and this adds to the argument for video conferencing. Most companies, nowadays, have more concern about environmental problems and they try to contribute more to sustainability projects. Companies working together on projects, find video conferencing lets people meet and work together more often and more effectively without incurring extra expense and help reducing their carbon footprint. Then there is travelling time to consider, in some cases, people take up to two business days for only 2 hours of face to face meeting.

Video conference increases users involvement and builds trust for a more open, collaborative and productive working environment. The technology also ensures that marketing opportunities are grasped in time because decision makers can be easily brought together at short notice to discuss and decide on the issues at stake.
A wide range of companies, from major manufacturers to multinational corporations, have all been early adopters of the technology, its use is growing fast as its benefits become clear and costs decrease.

With new technology, video conference images and audio are close to television quality and there are fewer restrictions on how many participants can join a multiple-site broadcast. Moreover, the equipment works in conjunction with desktop computers and laptops to show PowerPoint presentations, photos, documents and images.

In conclusion, video conferencing is a cost-effective and environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional business travel. The technology allows executives to communicate and collaborate with clients and colleagues around the world while avoiding the high costs and time-consuming nature of air travel. Additionally, video conferencing offers a range of benefits, including increased user involvement, improved collaboration and productivity, and the ability to quickly seize marketing opportunities. As the technology becomes more advanced and affordable, more and more companies are likely to adopt video conferencing as a key tool in their business operations, helping to reduce their carbon footprint and contributing to sustainable business practices.

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