Carlos Montenegro asked:




When companies have to buy something, it has to be approved by management. With the cost of air travel going up, it is only right to justify the use of video conferencing since it is more affordable to do so in the long term.

How do you justify that? Most companies use numbers as their basis in making a decision so if you look at the expense report and notice that a huge chunk is spent on traveling, they will realize that they can cut cost here and use the money saved somewhere else.

But doesn’t video conferencing equipment cost a lot of money and isn’t the system very complex? For a time but this has changed. This is because vendors no longer use ISDN lines and they have now shifted to IP networks. This is the same system used by the Internet thus making it easy to integrate with other systems.

For those who are concerned about how much it costs, the price of video conferencing equipment has gone down through the years making it more affordable for businesses.

A decade ago, a video conferencing system costs $75,000 or even more. Nowadays, you can find one for less than $10,000. Other accessories like a webcam will cost you less than thousand.

As a result, it is no wonder that a consumer report has shown that there was a 22% increase in sales of the equipment in 2006 versus 2005. So although you may need a lot so this can be installed in each office, in the long term it doesn’t because you already have the system in place which is not affected by the price of oil in the world market.

Another way to justify the need for this technology is to do a study by interviewing those who have gone on business trips in the past and ask how well it went. Previous reports have shown that traveling takes a toll on your body due to fatigue and stress. By the time they get to where they are going, their mind is not focused with what needs to be done thus decreasing their productivity.

You can also argue the other benefits of video conferencing like the ability to increase the sales and product development cycles, improve the quality of communications, better delivery of training and coaching to the other offices as well an improvement in the quality of the work after a staff meeting.

There have also been other improvements both in audio and video quality so you get to communicate with the other party in real time. But the best part about such systems is that they are user friendly since most of the systems currently available are menu driven so you don’t need to study a manual inside out and no special expertise is needed.

When management has approved your request, it is time to go out shopping for the right system. Ideally, you should get one that has an audio and video channel but the latest is the kind that allows multi-media communications. This allows the user to send and receive data in a dual stream IP environment.

Do I need to say more to help you justify the need for video conferencing systems? Maybe not so do your research and use the system to your potential.

Jane

Jim Poniente asked:




While conferencing through the use of the web or the telephone will probably be done through equipment you already have, video conferencing will require the purchase of some additional products. Some companies will need a specialized dual screen display which will allow you to see the other side of the conference on one screen and any charts or reports on the other. If you do not need a dual screen, you may be able to use computer screens already in your conference room, but often a display will need to be purchased to accommodate the demands of video conferencing. A system will also have to be purchased that has been designed with the components necessary for video conferencing. This system should include all of the audio and video components needed as well as any wiring that will be necessary to connect component to the display screen.

This may sound like a hefty investment, but in the long run, it will still save you thousands over travel expenses when sending one or more associates to attend conferences out of state. With today’s gas prices, it may also save money over sending associates to conferences in state. The components and displays necessary will be a sizable investment, yet your company can hardly afford to do without. This allows you to communicate with other companies anywhere in the world without having to leave your office.

Once you have all the necessary components for the video conference, you will need to find a video conferencing service to provide you the connection between yourself and the business you’re interested in conferencing with. Once you’ve done your homework and found the service that will provide you what you need at the most efficient price, you can begin to plan the conference. Again, you’ll need to choose a time in which you all parties are free and available for a certain block of time. You’ll also need to prepare any presentations and visual aids in advance. Once those have been prepared, you can set up the actual service with the service provider. They will provide you with the connection needed and any assistance from an operator while the call is taking place.

The video conferencing services will allow your connection to be made and allow your conference to take place. Pricing is typically done through a monthly charge based on how many participants will be included. Dependent on how many will participate in the conference will decide whether your monthly fee is close to $50 a month or up to $500 a month when you have up to 100 people involved in the conference.

A video conference will give more of a feeling of being directly in the conference as if you’re all in the same room. Presentations can be given flawlessly and charts and other visual aids can be included with no miscommunication. The one time investment in the tools necessary for this type of conference is well worth the investment as business can be done easily and quickly through this advanced technology.

Emma