Conferences and town hall meetings are a necessary part of running every business, and their frequency can vary depending on what's going on within the company, what projects are being worked on, and even the time of year. If you've been wondering how to make frequently urgent, late, or large, long meetings less of an inconvenience for you and your employees, then perhaps you should consider going virtual.
Video conferencing and virtual communications are becoming ubiquitous nowadays, and if you haven't yet jumped on the technological bandwagon, it might be time to get with the program--literally. Video conferencing solutions offered by providers like Blue Jeans can present you with all the tools to run successful, enjoyable, productive conferences with half the hassle of traditional, in-person gatherings. If you're in need of further convincing, read on for six great reasons to try making the switch.
When you're watching your business' bottom line, every dollar counts. A virtual conference saves you money on materials, refreshments, and the costs of providing transportation for employees who work off-site, or who cannot attend otherwise. The great thing about virtual conferences is that since employees can access the meeting from any of their devices, the only cost you need to be concerned with is the cost of your own hardware and software. You also won't need to worry about paying for transportation for guest speakers who may not be local, and you may not have to pay them as much for their time, since they can easily dial in to a video conference with little interruption to the flow of their day or their valuable time.
Since your employees can access the conference from any device, you're likely to have a higher level of attendance, as doing so is more convenient to the attendees. This can hold especially true with a busy workplace or company. How many times has your to-do list been overloaded at work, only to be interrupted by a mandatory meeting? With a virtual conference, you won't have to leave your office-- or your work-- behind. If you're able to multitask while paying attention, all the better for you. Plus, even employees who are at home can easily connect, and have much less of an excuse to skip the conference.
- Unified Communication Capabilities
Unified communication refers to the bundling of all communication methods--email, messaging, video chat, voice chat, and file sharing, for example--into one connected program or service that runs out of the cloud. With unified communication, there's no need to open multiple applications, as IT Pro Portal points out. Sharing content and interacting with other attendees is easier than ever when it comes to virtual meetings, and since everything is in one place, changes are effectively saved in the cloud and it's less likely that anyone will lose track of their work due to too many programs and versions being open at once.
Thanks to the speedy power of unified communications, virtual meetings can become even more productive by means of quick and effortless collaboration. As previously mentioned, the sharing of materials and documents, as well as the ability of all attendees to access and edit, can speed up the brainstorming process and make it less cumbersome and confusing. Additional files can easily be added into the mix by any attendee with literally the click of a button.
Virtual conferencing eliminates the need for paper handouts, as all of the materials can be uploaded and accessed online through the cloud. You'll also be avoiding the waste created from disposable cups and plates used to serve refreshments at an in-person meeting. Finally, less of a need for transportation cuts down on pollution.
- Virtual Assistants and Remote Employees Can Attend
As Business 2 Community notes, working remotely is no longer a barrier to communication. No matter where your employees are-- even if it's across the country or in another part of the world-- it's still incredibly simple for them to join your conference. This can, in turn, serve to boost morale and make your remote employees feel more included in the team. The same can be said for virtual assistants, who may otherwise feel a bit of a disconnect as they may be part time or just working as needed when it comes to helping out with your office tasks and needs.
Though these are some of the main benefits that come from switching to virtual conferencing, you're sure to discover many more that suit your individual business needs. The ease and convenience of video conferencing, combined with its efficient and cost-cutting nature, is sure to please both you and your employees when it comes time for a meeting. With the added bonus of cloud computing and unified communication, you'll be sure that everyone is on the same page, at the same time, with simple and complete access to what's important.
Abbi Gabasa is the Managing Editor of MsCareerGirl.com and owner of UpraisedLiving.com. Having the background of a Marketing and Public Relations Manager with years of professional experience in various industries has given her an insightful perspective on careers, lifestyles, relationships, and attitudes which she humorously applies in helping people through her writing. Abbi is a training life coach, and an advocate of children's charities, women empowerment, optimistic thinking, and slow Sundays. A self-confessed Jane of all trades, she hopes to help girls all over the world find their calling and pursue their passions.
