Several years ago I was in a computer store and a salesman was trying
to sell me something, in fact, he was trying to sell me anything that
he could. I said that I had the latest computer and really didn’t need
anything more. Then he showed me a web camera and I thought for a few
seconds, but I really couldn’t figure out why I would need that gadget.
Now things have changed and that salesman could get the sale from me,
because the time is right to start conducting online web and video
conferences. Here are a few reasons why the age of web conferencing has
truly arrived:
1. Transportation costs are rising and web conferencing is one way to conduct meetings without getting into a car or plane.
Imagine how much money you could save if you were able to hold a staff
meeting with your distant branches without paying for fuel, hotels and
all the other costs associated with outside meetings?
2. The cost of conducting a meeting outside a main office is much
higher than you can calculate by only adding up the material costs.
When you leave your office or home, you have to put everything aside
and subject yourself to delays in traffic, airports, trains and taxis.
Sure, you can take your laptop with you, but are you really as
productive using a laptop in a busy airport as you are while you are in
your own office? Web conferencing allows you to get back to your other
work as soon as the online conference ends.
3. Web conferencing allows you to meet face-to-face with your colleagues no matter where they are.
Globalization is not just a slogan. Business, educational and social
organizations are now working in increasingly wider networks which are
spread throughout the world. If you have clients, employees,
representatives or students in another country or in a distant
location, think how convenient it would be to be able to turn on your
computer and hold a meeting with them. Well, this is not a distant
dream, it is possible right now using existing web and video
conferencing technology
4. Online conferencing allows you to give support and help to clients without sending out a technician or a representative.
If you are selling a product or service that must be supported, then
think of the improvement in customer relations and reduction in costs
that you could achieve if you could effectively meet online with your
client. Today’s conferencing technology even allows your staff to “take
over” the computer of a client and demonstrate how an application
works.
5. Video and web conferencing is now extremely affordable, easy to use and very functional.
Gone are the days of proprietary systems and cameras. Today you can use
standard PCs and inexpensive web cameras to conduct your meetings. The
online meetings do not require equipment or software that is not
already found in most offices. In addition, several companies now offer
conferencing services at a price that even individuals and small
organizations can afford.
If you need to hold meetings, or meet with staff and colleagues who
work in far-flung locations then you should consider online
conferencing. The spread of online meetings could change the way we all
work, just as the widespread adoption of email did fifteen years ago.
Dan Richmond is CEO & Co-founder of MegaMeeting.com. MegaMeeting provides Web Conferencing & Video Conferencing services
for individuals, businesses and educational institutions. For more
information, or for a free live demonstration, please visit www.MegaMeeting.com/ or call (818) 783-4311.