More and more small companies and individuals are adopting video conferencing and collaboration platforms as a way to stay connected. As working from home becomes more common and prices for videoconferencing come down, the compelling reasons for utilizing video communications technology are starting to pile up. Web meetings are not just a good way to connect a far-flung team. They also cut costs, boost productivity and more.
Here are four potential benefits that self-employed professionals and small- to medium-sized companies can realize by utilizing web conferencing.
1. Saving Money
Travel costs are becoming increasingly prohibitive. With a video link, however, you can maintain quality relationships with clients and stay in touch with colleagues on a regular basis. Yes, there are initial upfront costs, but return on investment is usually swift. This way, you can save your travel budget for a few high profile, important face-to-face dates each year.
In addition to cost-savings, taking meetings online can also help reduce your firm's carbon footprint. In fact, a recent study suggests that driving one hour for a meeting uses the same electrical power as 1,000 hours of web conferencing. That’s both good for the environment and your wallet.
2. Connecting Disparate Employees
Studies show that nearly 80% of Americans say they’d like to telecommute. Retaining valuable employees who relocate or need to work from home a few days a week saves on office space, costly recruiting and retraining. This is particularly important for small firms that rely on the expertise of a handful of critical staffers who have long-time customer relationships and institutional knowledge.
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