Companies Opting for videoconferencing to Cut cost on Business Travel

Business travelers are trading in their suitcases and boarding passes for a trip to a videoconferencing studio.

 

According to the Regus Group, operator of a network of public access studios with more than 600 global locations, there is an increase of 40 percent in videoconferencing bookings as companies are cutting on business travels.

 

"Given the tough economic conditions, we expect the slowdown in business travel to continue," said Regus Group CEO Mark Dixon.

 

Dixon said the quality of virtual tools available have improved dramatically in recent years and reverting back to old way of conducting a meeting will eventually be difficult.

Determined to survive the continuing economic slump in 2009, companies will need to look into every process and procedure and make significant modifications in order to effectively see through the times, according to Dixon.

 

Dixon also says that this may be the year companies finally embrace applications and technologies that have been on the periphery of their radar screen and bring them to the forefront resulting in increased productivity and reduced operational costs. He also said that videoconferencing is a greener way to work.

 

Regus reports that a videoconference meeting cuts the average cost of business travel by 75 percent and also removes the hassle of the travel.

 

These virtual meetings can also help collaborating with dispersed colleagues.

 

Regus plans to roll out an advanced telepresence product this year. Telepresence (News - Alert) can help in various ways. It has the ability to expand services to a wider customer base ; can provide access to experts or employees in remote locations easily and cost-effectively; better hiring decisions due to wider and deeper recruiting from anywhere in the world.

 

Connie Adair, CEO of Taylor Winfield, has used Regus' videoconferencing services for the past several years and says her company's use of the service has increased about 40 percent over the past year.

 

"Our clients have cut back on their corporate travel. Anyone who owns a service company has to be cognizant of what their clients are doing," said Adair.