As H1N1 influenza, or the so-called “swine flu” continues to spread, companies are increasing their use of technology to keep business productive. As organizations investigate options on how to reduce their exposure, one increasingly popular tool is telepresence. By keeping executives and clients off of planes and in the boardroom, or home, the risk is significantly reduced.

 

With telepresence and video conferencing solutions, companies can instantly communicate between their home offices, conference rooms and desktops, rather than traveling or working in public areas that can promote the spread of germs.

 

Video conferencing and telepresence not only gives users the ability to emotionally connect to coworkers and clients, but also the ability to collaborate, Bob McCandless, CEO of BrightCom, a Huntington Beach, Calif.-based provider of integrated video conferencing and telepresence solutions, told TMCnet in an interview. Meeting participants can use data sharing features to mark up documents, images or videos and brainstorm ideas as if they were in the same room.

 

Even though businesses have a disparate workforce, it does not mean their operations need to slow down, BrightCom officials said. They can still be productive and have flu-free meetings.

 
“Many businesses are still being affected by external pressures such as the swine flu,” McCandless said. “We have seen firsthand how organizations are encouraging their employees to stay at home if they have any flu-like symptoms. It is important to take these precautions; however it is equally important for many of these organizations to continue to be productive and successful.”

 

Public health officials have expressed concern that the H1N1 virus could spread even faster because people are going to work sick with flu. According to a New York Times, a number of people are in jobs that don't pay for missed time. About 40 percent of private-sector workers don’t receive sick days, the report said. What’s more, some firms that offer paid sick days have policies that make it difficult to call in sick, it said.

 

But telepresence and video conferencing technology is giving companies more options to keep their business operating despite the challenges that the flu presents, McCandless said.

 

“Instant communication via video conferencing and telepresence enables organizations to continue their operations, their customer relationships and their everyday productivity despite a disparate workforce working from home or different offices,” McCandless said. “The clear conveyance of emotion and the accomplishment of work are kept, while the physical travel and contact is greatly reduced.”

 

The swine flu is one reason why companies have a growing interest in telepresence technology. Last week, President Barack Obama declared the swine flu outbreak a national emergency, authorizing his health chief to let hospitals move emergency rooms offsite to speed treatment and protect non-infected patients, the Associated Press (News - Alert) reported.

 

The Centers for Disease Control said that swine flu is widespread in 48 of the 50 states and has already hit as many as 5.7 million Americans. It has hit the Ukraine particularly hard. According to the World Health Organization, health officials have recorded more than 440,000 of the H1N1 virus. As of Nov. 3, WHO has reported more than 5,700 deaths from acute respiratory illness.

 

While WHO has not imposed any border closings or international travel restrictions, McCandless said several of BrightCom's recent customers have been affected by foreign policies for flu quarantine regulations. The customer's implementations of telepresence and video conferencing solutions will enable their executives and employees to avoid prolonged business trips, reduce risk of coming in contact with germs and work effectively.