Like many other forms of unified communications, conferencing helps businesses achieve a quicker time-to-resolution and improve customer communication. Those are just some of the reasons why more businesses are deploying the tool.

 

But with the down economy, which is slowly showing signs of recovery, businesses are still looking to trim their travel expenses and stay functional. As a result, companies are tapping conferencing services from firms like The Conference Group (News - Alert), a provider of audio, Web and video conferencing services, to achieve that goal.

 

“Companies are trying to do more with less,” Greg Plum (News - Alert), director of channel development, The Conference Group, told TMCnet in a recent podcast. “They are looking to build their business while decreasing their operating costs. One way to do that is to cut back on travel expenses.”

 

For example, one client uses The Conference Group’s video conferencing service to conduct interviews in India from the U.S. service. That helps the client save time traveling halfway around the world and a significant amount of money. Typically, the client would spend $8,000 on a round-trip ticket. With The Conference Group’s  video option, that company now pays a flat $100 rate for unlimited service.

 

“You can see where that would make sense financially when comparing the two scenarios,” Plum said.

 

Decreased travel costs aren’t the only thing driving the popularity of conferencing services. Companies are also supporting the technology for its ability to help companies “go green.” For example, conferencing solutions let companies conduct face-to-face meetings without having to leave their office setting.

 

“It allows them to reduce their carbon footprint,” Plum said. “And even though that might not be their primary driver, it certainly is a nice added benefit.”


Amy Tierney is a Web editor for TMCnet, covering business communications Her areas of focus include conferencing, SIP, Fax over IP, unified communications and telepresence. Amy also writes about education and healthcare technology, overseeing production of e-Newsletters on those topics as well as communications solutions and UC. To read more of Amy's articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Amy Tierney