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August 04, 2008
Rising travel costs + enhanced technologies = virtual meetings
By Ann Stofflet
If we wait long enough, all things come full circle. Bell bottoms were big again, the shag made its comeback. And virtual meetings are once again wildly popular.
When first introduced to corporate America, online meetings were all the rage. Fast forward to 2008, with the escalation of fuel prices, travel costs, and the weakening economy, and virtual meetings are once again in vogue. These aren’t the only factors contributing to their resurgence. With the passage of time and enhanced technologies, virtual meetings promise a richer, more lifelike experience. While most companies use more common online meeting tools, such as WebEx, Microsoft and I.B.M., there are varying degrees of sophistication in the teleconferencing industry.
The most elite product, Telepresence videoconferencing, offered by H.P., Cisco and Polycom, may require as many as 4 huge curved screens, customized acoustics and lighting, and can cost up to $350,000. However, with regular use, analysts estimate that the rooms pay for themselves within a year.
Most companies using these tools for corporate education and training find they are a match made in virtual heaven. Of course, for building relationships and closing deals, there will never be a perfect substitute for the old fashioned face-to-face.
Check out more information in The New York Times feature, “As Travel Costs Rise, More Meetings Go Virtual.”
Posted by Alicia Dorset at August 4, 2008 01:04 PM
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