Many a corporate employee can name a time when they spent the morning on a scheduled conference call, muting the sound when they needed to sneeze, trying to pay attention while also completing an expense report and taking notes when the boss planned to ask for an update later. The arrival of video conferencing changed the dynamic of the conference call, for better - or for worse.

For those wanting to complete other work or conducting a call in their pajamas, the introduction of video conferencing was not in their best interest. For those who wanted to save money, collaborate with colleagues and conduct more effective interactions, video conferencing brought a whole new level of productivity to the office environment.

One of the biggest benefits came in the shape of reduced travel costs. With access to low cost technology that enables seamless video conferencing, professionals could accomplish the same goals via the Internet that once demanded a cross-continental flight. 

Employees that may be working in remote regions are also able to stay engaged with other employees and see first-hand what needs to happen on a regular basis to keep the business running.

Personal connections between distant colleagues, partners and customers are better maintained with face-to-face interactions. Video conferencing helps to provide that medium when travel is difficult to complete due to cost or time restraints. Applications with document sharing and real-time collaboration help to add even more value to the interaction.

Finally, video conferencing can also help to improve the work-life balance as excessive travel can burn out even the most effective employee. When frequent travel is reduced or eliminated, a great deal of stress is also removed, preserving a healthy balance for those key individuals.

If you haven’t yet integrated video into your business, How to Integrate Video Conferencing into Your Business, will examine how you can take a rich communication experience and make it a key part of your business success.