Some people may remember the days before conference calls were commonplace. Standard phone calls were present, of course, but hosting meetings with multiple people was a hassle if not outright chaotic. It was not uncommon to fly employees to another place and pay for lodging, meals, transportation, and other necessities, all for a two-hour conversation.
Virtual meetings changed all of that. With video capabilities, web conferences became integral to countless businesses. They didn’t just make life easier for business people, though—they changed the landscape for every organization and future enterprises.
Business News Daily reports that according to recent research, over 98 percent of medium to large organizations are likely to invest in video conferencing solutions, and two-thirds of small businesses intend to do the same. Why is this so? Many survey respondents cite remote work as the reason, with 75 percent saying that they want the right software to support remote employees, and another 75 percent noting that they have multiple office locations. Such companies would have a challenging time operating without web conferencing solutions. So, how exactly is online meeting software changing the face of business?
Connecting people around the world
Phones can connect people, but video chatting adds a personal touch, almost like physically being in the same room as another person. While not the same, of course, web conferencing is the next best thing that technology allows—wouldn’t you rather jump on a call with someone for five minutes in the afternoon than spend three days traveling? Thanks to video conference calls, businesses can open their doors to people all around the world, both employees and customers alike.
Making the workforce more remote
On that note, online meetings make it much easier to hire remote team members. It’s not just about finding talent, either. The workplace is growing more remote as business leaders realize that their employees do not need to be on-site, and more folks are launching inherently remote companies. They realize that productive work often entails flexible schedules and location independence. CEO of Comunicano, Andy Abramson, says:
“By eliminating the impact geography has on team members and availability, we are able to keep the same people working. We don’t lose a person who needs to relocate to another city. They just plug in where they move, picking up from where they left off. There’s no change to the business and no impact on our clients. This is a big benefit as it avoids the need to have to replace someone you’ve invested in overtime, and the time it takes to get the new hire up to speed.”
The person best suited for an open role in your business might live in another state or even another country. Why reject them when long-distance communication is easy?
Saving travel costs
As mentioned previously, it was once common to send team members to far-off places for meetings that took all of two hours. Yes, a phone call would have sufficed, but sometimes it’s desirable to speak with someone face-to-face; especially with a client as opposed to a colleague. Stacey Hanke from Business.com notes that the average business trip cost companies $949 per person in 2016.
Strong professional relationships still require a personal touch, which is why business trips are seen as necessary, but video conferencing can dramatically reduce costs because you can talk to someone face-to-face without leaving your office. Relatedly, 62 percent of executives believe that video conferencing enhances communication and builds stronger relationships than standard audio calling, so why spend money on travel when a simple video chat will do?
They streamline workflow
Web conferences can make internal business workflow much smoother. Not just with remote organizations, either; many on-site teams take advantage of screen sharing and polling features that video conferencing solutions provide. Senior director of intelligent technology solutions at Diversifield, Stephen Jenkins, says:
“Video is everywhere now, starting with apps like FaceTime, so it’s come to be expected everywhere, including in collaboration. What’s changing is that video collaboration is being extended throughout the companies and organizations that use it, to interact with functions like calendaring and directory services. It’s being used to not just connect with customers but as a way to solve [internal] business issues. It’s becoming a part of workflow optimization.”
While conference calls with large numbers of people can be frustrating, many people appreciate the convenience and personability of web chatting. Online meetings make meetings with freelancers easier, too. For example, instead of giving external developers access to your entire system, you can share your screen and have them walk you through the necessary steps.
Online meetings are an integral part of the business landscape nowadays. How have they changed how your organization functions?