Interwise recently sponsored a survey, European Business Travel, and concluded from its findings that the use of virtual meetings can combat travel concerns for European businesses executives.

 

Conducted during January and February of 2006, the survey asked 230 business executives about the problems in cost and the environmental issues associated with traveling.

 

Because traveling constitutes a large part of carbon dioxide emission problems, the need for businesses to refine their corporate travel policies has become necessary. According to the survey, 30.2 percent of respondents said they traveled via road, rail and air for more than 4 meetings out of the office each month and 25 percent attended more than 2. However of those questioned, only 22.7 percent said the meetings had to be held face to face.

 

Interwise, who provides complete enterprise conferencing solutions for a fixed price, found from the survey that most executives (64.1 percent) were unsure of their companies offerings or cost for conferencing solutions and that only a limited amount of employees had access the usually offered traditional/TDM conferencing solutions because services are usually based on costly subscription rates. 

 

Tony Gasson, vice president Europe, Interwise commented in a statement to the press: "Businesses in Europe recognise the need to reduce carbon emissions and actively consider environmental issues as part of their corporate travel policies. Virtual meeting technologies now provide the means to make this possible."

 

He also added:  "Face to face meetings are essential in some instances such as introductions, to address conflict or close a deal. But there are numerous occasions where technology could be substituted for travel giving time, productivity and carbon dioxide savings."

 

For more on their conferencing solutions visit: www.interwise.com