Guide to Use of Video Conference System

By Pha Lo
Updated: July 12, 2012

In an increasingly global business world, using video conferencing to interact with employees, associates and clients is a tremendous benefit for communications and relationship-building. While the initial investment in any new system may seem risky, video conferencing technology has tremendous added value and can grow with the long-term needs of a business.

Here is a rough guide on the most common, along with some very innovative, uses for a video conference system.

Meetings:
The most popular use for a video conference system is business meetings. From virtual meetings to training sessions, video conferencing saves time and money on travel costs while still providing the personal interaction required to move business. What’s more, video conferencing may save time and the improve efficacy of meetings by tightening agendas to fit the allotted conferencing times.

Telecommuting:
Forbes.com recently reported on technology like video conferencing that provides employees with more flexibility to work remotely. The story cited a desire for work-life balance and referenced new legislation from the federal government intended to make telecommuting easier. Video conferencing engages remote employees and offices, streamlines communications and allows for dialogue between critical parties.

Training:
Businesses may have a sales force out in the field every day who need updated information to stay successful. Conducting a traditional type of in-house training, whether it is daily, weekly or monthly, can be costly and time-consuming. Video conferencing solutions come with technological capabilities to support employee training, and eliminates the costs of gathering everyone in one place. Important video conferencing capabilities include animated demonstrations which can be viewed on each user’s desktop, interactive voice and video sync that provide effective instructions to those calling into a training session and opportunities for questions and feedback.

Recruitment:
Using video conferencing as an educational tool in business need not be restricted to an audience made of in-house employees. Increasingly, businesses are conducting seminars to inform and engage new prospects. Specific uses include live demos of new products that can supplement a traditional press release. Another beneficial use of video conferencing involves a one-on-one customer review with a client who may be able to advocate for a business but cannot engage with every new prospect one-on-one. By hosting a seminar or chat session with a satisfied customer, businesses can reach multiple prospects in one take.

The uses for video conferencing technology can be as varied as the companies that adopt this technology. With the range of capabilities available and innovative features added along the way, this type of technology has proven valuable ROI for businesses.