Despite the advancements in technology that are allowing video communications to become part of VoIP solutions, companies aren’t fully leveraging these innovative tools to their full potential. In fact, most companies aren’t taking the video communications outside the office; rather, they’re utilizing it as a tool for internal uses only.
A recent Teo
blog post focused on this information gleaned from a survey by Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert), a research firm that gives companies the information they need to grow and innovate. The top form of communication, according to the survey, is the face-to-face method, which will probably never change. However, VoIP solutions are allowing a variation on face-to-face communication through video conferencing.
Nearly 30 percent of those surveyed said they use video conferencing tools on a monthly basis while around 10 percent of respondents said they utilize VoIP solutions with video tools on a daily basis. Both figures suggest significant room for
improvement in adoption to ensure these companies leverage their full investments.
No level of technology can replace the face-to-face meetings where confidential information is exchanged, which is why many companies realize that any type of contractual discussions or matters that involve human resources are generally only carried out face-to-face, which would suggest that VoIP solutions in these interactions offer little benefit.
But according to findings, video usage is growing within many industries, and around 75 percent of companies surveyed said they would bring in these new technologies and an array of VoIP solutions to their employees this year.
Companies are starting to see value in the video technology in that it can provide tremendous costs savings, especially costs directly tied to travel. Business interactions that once required a long drive or flight, hotels, and meals, can now be done from the home office via VoIP solutions like video conferencing.
This technology has a quick return on investment, but video conferencing can also improve the quality of transactions. It has not gone unnoticed by those who have adopted this tool that personal connections, even though they aren’t technically face-to-face, are helping to develop better relationships among business partners.
Video conferencing usage rates continue to spike and the technology grew by around 15 percent in the last year alone. Helping to push this growth are VoIP solutions that are adopting unified communications platforms. And as high-definition cameras become cheaper and more accessible, the growth rate of video conferencing and meetings taking place in the office will definitely continue to grow.
Companies that have a focus on taking on more “green” initiatives are also looking to video conferencing, which creates virtually none (production of equipment and shipping has its toll) of the carbon emissions associated with traveling to meetings, whether it’s by bus across town or on a 747 across country. As a total VoIP solutions package, it allows companies to get more done at a lower cost and improved quality.
Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO West 2012, taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX. ITEXPO (News - Alert) offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. For more information on registering for ITEXPO click here.
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Edited by Jamie Epstein