Is Video Conferencing The Right Tool For Your Business?

Once upon a time, conference calls were cutting edge technology, allowing professionals in disparate places to communicate simultaneously. It was challenging technology – sometimes hard to hear, no visual aids, and people constantly talking over each other – but it had its uses.

Now, however, most companies have moved on to video conferencing, using the internet to connect all necessary parties – but are you on board? If you’re still wondering if video conferencing is right for your company, here are a few factors to consider.

Cut Travel Costs

Traveling is expensive in terms of both time and money. You have to pay for flights, hotels, meals and maybe even special medical care for international destinations. By swapping frequent travel for video conferencing, you significantly cut travel costs while still getting face time with clients. All you need to invest in is appropriate software to connect everyone involved.

Increase Productivity

We’re never as productive on the road as we are in our home offices and that’s the case for a variety of reasons. First, traveling is distracting – it’s hard to focus when you’re in an unfamiliar place or trying to work in a noisy cafe because that’s where you have wifi access.

Second, you just don’t have all of your typical resources at your disposal when you’re on the road. Your files are all back in the normal office, you might have limited server access, and you can’t actively collaborate with your coworkers. Using video conferencing keeps you in your element and maintains a higher level of productivity.

Bring In The Experts

In the past, companies were hesitant to bring on remote workers because they were difficult to communicate with, but this also meant that they were limiting their access to experts in their field. Video conferencing makes it easier for companies to hire remote workers and manage them effectively. Coupled with file encryption and transfer software, companies can coordinate work with remote employees in real time.

Visuals Matter

The worst thing about teleconferencing was always the lack of visuals. If you wanted everyone to look at a chart or slide, you had to share them ahead of time in an email or fax. With modern video conferencing, however, participants can easily show images, share a slideshow, or even share screens and provide a voice over narration. This allows for more informed and engaged meetings and more useful ones, as well.

Video conferencing is changing the way we do business by letting companies spread out further yet be more connected at the same time. With this in mind, all companies should consider what role video communications will play in their business – whether it’s managing international clients or developing a remote workforce. You can’t compete without it.