Busy professionals and small business owners everywhere understand the value of video conferencing technology; however, it’s the people who are unfamiliar with its capabilities that write it off as useless and irrelevant. If you fall into the latter category – or are merely unsure about the value of video conferencing in the business world – it’s important that you take a careful look at the benefits of this technology.
As video conferencing technology has changed, so have the primary benefits. Currently, most small business owners and employees who interact with the technology on a regular basis would claim the following to be most valuable:
- Increased efficiency. An impressive 94 percent of 4,700 surveyed users claim the biggest benefit of video conferencing in the workplace is increased productivity and efficiency. The primary reason is that video conferences usually have a predefined start and end time, as opposed to face-to-face meetings that almost always include unnecessary small talk.
- Less travel costs. According to Nexgen, one of the leading suppliers of video conferencing technology, their customers report diminished travel costs as one of the primary benefits of this service. Instead of having to pay for unnecessary airline tickets, hotel accommodations, hotel conference room fees, and other expenses, companies can conduct meetings from the comfort of their own offices. It can literally save a business thousands of dollars.
- Improves relationships. For businesses that hire remote employees, video conferencing has a way of enhancing relationships and humanizing the employer in the employee’s eyes. It lets both parties put facial expressions and body language to voices and is much healthier than strictly communicating via email or phone.
- Allows for flexibility. According to one recent study, 36 percent of employees would choose the ability to telecommute over a financial pay raise. What that says is that employees want flexibility. And while video conferencing doesn’t necessarily remove the need for employees to come to work, it can significantly change company policies and allow people more flexibility to work from home on certain days.
- Better client contact. Video conferencing technology also allows businesses to maintain better contact with clients. Instead of making a phone call, you can actually interact with customers in a face-to-face manner. This is ideal for product demonstrations, sales calls, and follow up discussions.
- Better engagement. While conference calls have their purpose, you may be surprised to learn how many of your employees on the other end of the line are doing something other than listening to you. With video conferencing, though, you remove the likelihood of employees being distracted by forcing them to make a visual appearance. In most cases, video conferencing has been shown to increase engagement during these calls.
What do you think? Could video conferencing have a positive impact on your small business? It’s certainly worth a shot, and thousands of small businesses all over the world are already experiencing the tremendous benefits of this flexible technology. For additional information, talk to your tech department or contact a service provider. The future of business is already here; you simply need to be willing to adapt.
