The Benefits of VideoConferencing
VideoConferencing has always been looked at as the "ugly step-sister" of communications. The choice of most businesses has been tele-conferencing and over the past few years WebMeetings such as GoToMeeting, Genysis and WebEx which have literally spearheaded their corporate users entry into "the latest in technology adoption".
On the other hand those with prior experience, videoconferencing has often been viewed as "been there done that, did not work", too expensive, hard to use, too technologoical etc... What the videoconferencing industry has not been clear on are the overall benefits videoconferencing brings a company and most importantly the user. There has been too much focus on the latest in technological advances and how one can use H.323. What they have forgotten are the users for the most part and shall I say 95% have no idea what H.323 is. (By the way it is the standard for call signaling and control, multimedia transport and control as well as bandwidth control in point to point and multi-point video calls). Now if that is not enough for you to run to 7-11 and ask for a system I am not sure what is :-)
Some of the benefits are:
1-VideoConferencing Cuts Travel Budgets: Why sit on a plane, use an entire day, stay at a hotel etc... all for a 1-2 hr meeting when one can do it via the IPAD, IPHONE, MAC/PC, work station? While face to face meetings are important videoconferencing simply raises the bar in having adhoc, more productive meetings affording the user to be in Boston, New York and Tokyo at the same time whithout leaving their office.
2-VideoConferencing Increases Productivity and Effectivity: When used properly videoconferencing allows the users not only to be everywhere, but also affords the ability to share presentations and information, monitor the body language interpretation and more. Decisions can be made faster that positively affecting your business keeping you one step ahead of your competition, two if they have yet to adopt videoconferencing into their work environments. With global videoconferencing directories available such as that from easymeeting.net easymeeting search engine directory
3-Return on Investment: Based on average travel costs for the average user, videoconferencing can afford an immediate return on investment (ROI) after only one meeting completed by video conferencing. Add the productivity increases and competitive advantage and one can quickly turn a profit on their use of videoconferencing. New tools available to support this point are useage statistics that show how often systems are being utilized and by whom.
4-Use of existing internet: For most companies their existing internet access is enough to give an HD videoconference. For those not in this group a simple high speed internet line to less than $99.00 a month can do the trick and make your IT teams (if you have) happy that you will not "affect" their networks. -Try it out 14 days
5-Elimination of other communications costs... from WebConferencing licenses to Telephone/ISDN lines and more... Videoconferencing replaces the need for those "ancient" tools. As Henry Ford once was quoted "if I asked my customer what I wanted they would have asked for a faster horse".
6-Flexibility: With the latest in services such as mobile videoconferencing via your IPAD,IPHONE, PC/MAC and more one does not need a conference room type solution. use yhour existing hardware technology and turn it into a superior quallity videoconferencing system. Connect from your home office, office/work station or cafe and have a great meeting. For those that cannot attend a face to face meeting have them dial in to the meeting via their IPAD, IPHONE, MAC/PC etc...
and more...
There are so many true benefits in using videoconferencing and video meetings that it would be hard not to fill a book with them. Videoconferencing is the communications tool of the near future. The great wave is coming and coming fast. As younger generations have become profficient users of Skype, GoogleTalk, FaceTime and more it is time for companies to look at their needs and quickly adapt these great new services that do afford an immediate ROI, Cust travel costs, increase productivity and more... Your kids are using it... why not your company?