Posted by Kathleen S on Fri, Jan 29, 2010 @ 08:02 AM
Webinars by way of Web conferencing
technology have become an important tool in the corporate world. Not only are organizations relying on such platforms to communicate internally, they are also using this technology to deliver value to potential clients in the hope they can secure future business.
Such an approach can also be useful in the educational sector. Colleges and universities throughout the nation are discovering the benefits of Web conferencing and webinars to reach prospective students and alumni scattered throughout the world. In utilizing these tools, recruiting for the student body and the alumni fund has become easier and more economical.
Specifics of a Webinar
It is important to note the connection between a webinar and Web conferencing technology as this experience differs from that of a webcast. A webcast only allows for data transmission one way and does not invite or allow for interaction. A webinar relies on Web conferencing technology that allows for complete interaction – as well as complete control over the interaction.
The presenter can decide when and how participants can interact during the webinar. This allows for quality control over the conference and ensures the agenda drives the presentation. When the appropriate time for interaction and discussion is reached, the presenter can change the format of the webinar.
The benefits of such technology integration go beyond recruitment and fundraising in the educational sector. Human resources can use this technology platform to reach retired employees; schools of medicine can use it to communicate with students in residence throughout the country or the world; and Deans can facilitate Web conferences with faculty when traveling.
Importance of Information Availability
Distance learning has become a key focus for a number of colleges and universities. Web conferencing and webinars are an extension of this same progression in technology that allows for collaboration and interaction regardless of limited schedules or geographic locations.
Such platforms are especially important for working professionals in MBA programs. On-site workshops and seminars are not always an option for those who work during the day and attend class in the evening. Webinars using Web conferencing technology provide an alternative method for delivering career management services.
In using this platform, educational organizations are better able to meet specific needs of different audiences. Participants can attend a live webinar when available, or re-visit the information that has been recorded and stored with the opportunity to add his or her own notes and ideas. By making information so readily available, these institutions are delivering the valuable content the different audiences need on a platform they can easily access.
Posted by Kathleen S on Thu, Jan 28, 2010 @ 07:34 AM
Unified Communications (UC) continues to be a key focus for organizations throughout the global economy as streamlined processes are a critical focus to contain costs and improve productivity. One key element within UC technologies is that of audio and Web conferencing solutions.
Like other forms of unified communications, conferencing enables businesses to achieve a more rapid time-to-resolution and improve customer communication. To get at the heart of benefits companies can experience, Boston-based research firm, Aberdeen Group explored UC and conferencing solutions and their application within the enterprise or non-profit.
Conferencing Boosts Productivity
In its report, Unified Communications: Gaining a Competitive Advantage While on the Move, Aberdeen Group found that UC applications such as audio and Web conferencing can boost telecom spend and increase productivity, while also reducing customer churn. Such benefits lend to a strong value proposition for the implementation of conferencing applications.
According to report findings, 79 percent of the 154 companies surveyed broke even on their UC investment within the first 12 months. Savings were realized by participating companies through streamlining internal and external communications, maximizing telecom spend, boosting productivity through improved collaboration and reducing customer churn through increased customer responsiveness.
Knowledge Sharing is Increased
In addition, the implementation of conferencing solutions and other UC applications helped to increase knowledge sharing among workers by 35 percent and workplace flexibility by 35 percent. Competitive performance was improved by 25 percent and collaboration for decision making was heightened by 16 percent. Speed of conflict resolution was accelerated by 11 percent.
"Unified holds enormous promise as a coherent approach to business communications, as a way to cut through 'communications clutter,' and more directly connect a customer to a company, employee to employee, and more tightly bind business partners and suppliers," Andrew Borg, senior research analyst, Aberdeen Group, said in a company statement.
"The challenge of our connected era is that the greater the number of communications options, the more difficult it can be to connect with a specific individual when you want to. UC therefore becomes increasingly important to mend the fractured digital communications landscape."
Conferencing Drives Collaboration
The popularity of conferencing solutions has grown throughout the global competitive landscape for the cost savings as well as the ability to help companies to improve the collaboration process and boost employee productivity.
A recent survey by Insight research predicts that conferencing and collaboration will completely dominate the UC market. As it does, the opportunities for vendors and customers alike will add strength and excitement to a booming market.
Posted by Kathleen S on Wed, Jan 27, 2010 @ 08:08 AM
As a small business owner, have you investigated the benefits of Web conferencing and the ability to conduct webinars? While these technologies are certainly not new, innovations in the telecommunications market have ensured that they are now much more affordable for the small business.
Now that affordability is no longer an issue, there is still some getting used to conducting meetings and presentations via the Internet instead of in-person. As you investigate different options that may be a good fit for your company, make sure you work with a provider who will not only deliver a robust solution, but will also give you the tools and training to make Web conferencing work well within your environment.
When evaluating your options in the marketplace, consider key elements that can make an impact on your business. Evaluate the benefits, the significance to your company or individual divisions of your company, understand the functionality, consider your environment without Web conferencing and then how it will change with it; and understand the limitations in the technology.
Web conferencing benefits – implementing this technology into your communications plan enables you to reach a wide audience at the time and location of your choosing. You no longer have to worry about getting everyone in the same place or even at the same time as recording options allow for on-demand delivery. Web conferencing also allows you to eliminate a tremendous amount of travel, cutting overall costs.
Significance to the company – when you use Web conferencing as a means for communication with individuals distributed throughout the country or around the world, you make broad participation more accessible. A much bigger group can be invited for inclusion and the information can be accessed in real-time or on-demand, depending upon the needs of the company or that particular division.
Understanding functionality – even with all the benefits that Web conferencing and the ability to conduct webinars can provide, your company cannot enjoy those benefits unless all users understand the functionality of the technology and its application within the company. A proven Web conferencing provider will ensure you have to tools to drive adoption and encourage participation. Also count on developing a strategy for implementation and application to ensure Web conferencing becomes a key part of your communications plan.
Consider your environment – not only must your company or office have the necessary equipment to support Web conferencing technologies, so must all of your branches and potential audience members. In many cases, this is as simple as an Internet connection, but this may be harder to come by in certain remote locations. Be sure you understand your current environment thoroughly before implementing Web conferencing solutions to deliver a streamlined approach in communications.
Understand the limitations – remember that while Web conferencing does deliver significant benefits to your organization, it does not fully replace in-person communications. Web conferencing is the perfect alternative, but avoid implementing the technology with the expectation that you will be ignorant of the fact you are not physically in the same room. If you keep this expectation in check, you can gain the most benefit from all of your Web conferencing experiences.
Posted by Kathleen S on Tue, Jan 26, 2010 @ 08:05 AM
The ability to drive revenue as effectively as possible is a key priority for many a small company. In fact, recent industry evaluations conducted by Wainhouse Research determined that smaller companies report conducting meetings online through Web conferencing is used more than any other method to conduct business.
Of those respondents participating in this research, 75 percent believe the ability to involve and reach more people and save travel costs and time are important reasons to use Web conferencing solutions. Another 69 percent of respondents already use Web conferencing to enable new meetings that could not be held otherwise.
Globalization Creates Opportunities
Globalization has been a market movement for some time, but until recently could only be fully embraced by large, multinational corporations. After all, these companies had the infrastructure and operating budgets necessary to take advantage of the opportunities in this movement while the small and medium business (SMB) had no chance. Now, as communications tools have evolved, so has the competitive air of the marketplace.
As the SMB has gained the ability to effectively and efficiently communicate globally, what applications might Web conferencing enable? For one, the SMB may be large enough to have more than one location, thereby demanding ease of communications between the branches. Second, customers, partners, vendors and suppliers could easily be located around the world. A third application is in finding quality professionals who may live anywhere in the world.
Ideal Platform
In any of these situations, Web conferencing can provide the ideal platform for interviewing employees or contractors as it allows participants to interact as if they are in the same room. Customer support and training are also two popular uses for Web conferencing as it allows the company of any size to promote efficient delivery in both so that productivity can continue to be a priority.
Aside from the ease-of-use and application benefits that Web conferencing can deliver, there are additional bottom line benefits. Web conferencing allows for better and more interactive communication. At the same time, travel costs are substantially reduced and key employees can stay focused on business initiatives. Operational costs are reduced as long distance calling can be completely eliminated.
Cost Reduction
On the flip side of cost reduction, Web conferencing can also help to generate revenue. With Web conferencing capabilities, sales professionals can reach areas previously not accessible; sales relationships can be built and strengthened regularly; and customer retention can be a key focus. Business owners can also build company morale by providing their employees with the state-of-the-art tools they need to perform their jobs effectively.
Whatever the key drive for implementing Web conferencing utilities for the SMB, the applications and benefits can be significant as long as the technology is embraced. In a global marketplace, such implementations can erase borders and eliminate travel costs to ease communications.
Posted by Kathleen S on Thu, Jan 21, 2010 @ 09:07 AM
Nonprofit organizations come in all shapes and sizes and needs can vary based on the industry, mission, location and membership. Even if a nonprofit is headquartered in a single location, very rarely are employees, volunteers, donors and board members all in one place.
These individuals may be scattered across the country or even the world. How does the nonprofit best communicate with these individuals? In a technology-based world, snail mail and even email are no longer enough. You need to be able to effectively collaborate with key players and stakeholders within your organization.
To do so, you must either get everyone in the same location or implement a Web conferencing strategy that allows you to drive your initiatives at a fraction of the cost. Attendees need only an Internet connection and a Web browser to meet and collaborate online in real-time.
In order to make this work for your nonprofit, let’s look at specific collaboration tools, why you need them and how to make them work to the benefit of all those involved in a Web conference so they gain the most benefit from the experience. Whether the conference should include simply speaking through a computer microphone on the Web, these collaboration tools can streamline your communications.
Screen Sharing – the ability to see another person’s computer screen while you are not physically in the same location delivers immeasurable benefits. The information being discussed is better understood and retained and decisions can be made much more quickly with the topic of discussion can be viewed by all.
The desktop option is now generally standard on most Web conferencing solutions, although more robust options go beyond allowing the presenter to share certain documents on his or her desktop to sharing chosen applications in full-screen view and allowing the presenter to highlight a specific portion of the screen.
Multiple Presenters – as meetings will often include individuals bringing different levels of expertise regarding a project or an initiative, the original presenter may see the value in handing off presentation duties to someone else attending the Web conference. Allowing for multiple presenters helps the nonprofit to maximize on the potential of the Web conferencing solution.
Tools for Drawing and Annotation – simply talking about what attendees see on the screen is often not enough to drive success in the Web conference. Perhaps you need to underscore certain points or note ideas that were generated during the meeting discussions. The use of digital pencils, pens and virtual sticky notes help to capture the essence of the collaboration during this Web conference.
Whiteboard – as useful as this tool can be in a physical conference setting, it has the same application within a Web conference. This virtual equivalent provides meeting participants with dedicated space to brainstorm ideas or outline projects. Such a tool helps to drive true collaboration instead of simply presenting information.
In this day and age, collaboration is necessary to develop appropriate strategies that can drive the core mission of the nonprofit. When collaboration tools are available through Web conferencing applications, the nonprofit can gain the optimal benefit from this valuable application.
Posted by Kathleen S on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 @ 04:25 AM
Web conferencing is growing as companies in the nonprofit sector continue to demand low cost alternatives when it comes to bridging the geographic gap in face-to-face communications. In fact, according to Frost & Sullivan’s “North American CSP based Conferencing Services Market” report, this market reached $151.3 million in 2008 and is expected to reach $375.5 million by 2014, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 16.4 percent.
One of the key benefits of web conferencing technologies is the ability to collaborate on important projects, strategic initiatives, new products or services and so much more. To ensure professionals within your organization can collaborate effectively with web conferencing by way of Web conferencing technologies, there are specific collaboration tools that can be beneficial. Let’s examine exactly what collaboration features you want to gain from Web conferencing technologies.
- Screen-Sharing – Web conferencing allows all participants to share resources from one computer. Today’s technology takes participants beyond merely viewing the presenters screen. The presenter can now control how much or how little participants can see and experience during the Web conference.
- Multiple Presenters – collaboration is generally more difficult if people are not allowed to interact and draw on the experience and input of others. With Web conferencing technology, multiple individuals in various locations can take on the role of presenter in the same Web conference to maximize the experience.
- Drawing and Annotation – popular design applications are often used in physical meetings; why not utilize these same tools when conducting a Web conference? Robust platforms will offer pencils, pens, virtual sticky notes and more that allow presenters to underscore specific points or to highlight ideas generated during the Web conference.
- Virtual Whiteboard – many organizations will take advantage of the versatility of dry-erase whiteboards during physical meetings to capture the essentials of the ideas generated during the collaboration – why not use a similar tool in a Web conference? This dedicated space can be used for brainstorming, developing strategic points and so much more.
Collaboration is an important element of driving a successful organization, especially for those operating geographically dispersed locations. When travel is not possible – or strains the budget too much – it doesn’t negate the need for face-to-face collaboration. With Web conferencing tools, your organization can overcome these obstacles to drive effective collaboration. Face-time with colleagues is still essential to your overall strategy and Web conferencing provides the platform necessary to get the job done.
Posted by Kathleen S on Wed, Jan 20, 2010 @ 04:16 AM
Web conferencing used to be a technology that was only available to larger companies as the cost could not offset the benefit it delivered to small businesses or nonprofit organizations. As the technology has evolved, Web conferencing has become much more affordable and companies in all sectors can take advantage of this portal to drive effective communications.
When nonprofits put Web conferencing into their technology mix, there are a number of benefits that can emerge. Here we will examine those benefits as well as their application within the nonprofit.
Cost Control – Web conferencing is not the only thing that has come down in price as domestic and international toll-free calling has proliferated in the market. Nonprofits now also have access to enterprise and per-minute pricing plans.
Training – Volunteers can be the lifeblood of any nonprofit, as long as they are effectively trained. Web conferencing provides the benefit of document sharing and recording to bring new people up to speed quickly.
Community – Building the community is important for the nonprofit and new members and stakeholders want to feel like part of the community. Web conferencing allows for this community building through shared communication.
Keeping Records – Nonprofits rely heavily on donations and volunteers, so accurate records are extremely valuable. Web conferencing allows for recordings of sessions, as well as added notes and documents in order to be referenced later. This allows for accurate and detailed information and stakeholders and volunteers.
Ease of Access – Industry research has proven that people will not use technology if it is difficult, hard to understand or inaccessible. As volunteers and stakeholders can be geographically dispersed and the technology they use varied, the Web conferencing solution must allow multiple operating systems and platforms to connect together in one conference.
Communication – While the aspect of communication is obvious with this solution, the value of face-to-face and nonverbal communication lends to a more satisfying communication experience.
Travel – As stakeholders, donors and volunteers can be geographically dispersed, keeping them involved in the organization and the community can be a challenge when travel is limited or cost prohibitive. Organizations can eliminate this problem and associated costs with Web conferencing.
The overall benefits of Web conferencing expand even beyond this list for the organization operating as a nonprofit. Now that the technology is readily available and accessible, challenges can be overcome and effective communication can be a valuable priority.
Posted by Kathleen S on Mon, Jan 18, 2010 @ 08:15 AM
In a nonprofit world, not everything is viewed in black and white when choosing your next technology solution. Even if you are making a simple upgrade to technology you already use, the innovations that have emerged since your install can overwhelm you with options that you may not understand or simply don’t believe you need.
Web Conferencing and Nonprofits
The same can be said for Web conferencing. It is possible that some in the nonprofit sector may still be in the dark as to what Web conferencing can actually offer their organization. Similar to a conference call, Web conferencing adds an Internet component to the process.
Attendees to the conference can then view slides, applications on a presenter’s desktop or maybe even a whiteboard used for taking notes and capturing ideas. A presentation can be recorded and posted on a website for absent attendees to use at a later time. While it may sound overwhelming, you don’t need to understand how it works to benefit from what the technology offers.
For many nonprofits, this is still a new area of navigation as until recently; it wasn’t economically feasible to implement the technology. Now that Web conferencing has evolved into somewhat of an “offering for every man”, it is no longer financially out of the reach of the nonprofit.
Obstacles Still Exist
Now that the financial obstacle has been removed, there are still some nonprofits that have yet to even investigate the potential of Web conferencing in their environment. This hesitation could be driven by a simple lack of understanding or it is the result of too much to do and too few people to get the job done.
The problem with the latter argument is Web conferencing can streamline productivity and make things more efficient in the nonprofit environment. While implementation and learning the system may seem like time-consuming tasks, innovations in this technology have made the process quick and simple. Now, the most time consuming elements may be simply playing with the new tools.
Social Responsibility
Aside from the technological advances that can benefit your organization, there is also the element of promoting social responsibility in protecting the environment. If a meeting is normally done with 12 people who must travel up to 30 miles to attend – or fly in once a month to cast a vote – Web conferencing can dramatically cut the amount of CO2 being caused by your meetings.
Not only does this greener approach to doing business cut costs and enable a more positive approach to doing business, it also provides your organization with a new marketing platform. In using more socially responsible technology to protect the environment, you can implement this concept into your campaigns to drive membership and donations – priorities for any nonprofit.
Posted by Kathleen S on Fri, Jan 15, 2010 @ 08:21 AM
With travel budgets being cut to the bones in the nonprofit sector, webinars are becoming increasingly popular with professionals seeking to reach a wide audience on a shoestring budget. To make these webinars possible, non-profits are implementing Web conferencing tools.
To make the most of the webinar experience through Web conferencing, there are a few tips to ensure you maximize the experience to gain the most benefit:
- Designate the format – how many speakers are appropriate for your webinar? Should your speaker(s) be able to engage with other individuals on the Web conference? Will conference attendees be in listen-only mode or will they have the opportunity to interact? Determining exactly how your webinar will be delivered via Web conferencing technology is just as important as the content.
- Plan and organize your visuals – one of the benefits of delivering a webinar through Web conferencing technology is the ability to include visuals in your conference. This doesn’t mean the visuals should be the main focus of the conference, however, so focus on their impact and be sure they complement the content.
- Create an agenda – be sure your audience knows exactly what you will be discussing during your webinar. This provides your audience members with the basis for preparing for the conference and developing their own questions. An agenda also provides your attendees with the tool they need to understand why the webinar offers value.
- Practice – as a webinar tends to have an audience of multiple individuals, make the most of the opportunity to communicate in this Web conferencing environment by practicing before the actual event.
- Determine a system for registering attendees – with an internal system, this can be a simple process through Outlook, but it still needs to be done. With key initiatives a priority in your webinar, you also need to be sure key associates are in attendance.
- Reminders – again, this is easily done through Outlook, but don’t automatically assume attendees will remember your planned conference just because you sent an initial email. Reminders with key talking points are important to ensure the people you need to attend the webinar actually attend.
At the end of the day, a webinar is a very effective way to optimize Web conferencing tools within the nonprofit sector. When budgets are tight, no business can afford to neglect key processes that drive revenue. Webinars enable this critical communication throughout the entire fiscal year.
Posted by Kathleen S on Thu, Jan 14, 2010 @ 07:43 AM
While nonprofits were once considered somewhat of an afterthought in the global market, this sector now represents significant growth and is home to organizations that range from hospitals and human service organizations to advocacy groups and chambers of commerce.
Even as this sector accounts for 5.2 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 8.3 percent of wages and salaries paid in the United States according to the Urban Institute, those operating in this sector still face common challenges when it comes to growing the membership base, satisfying stakeholders and maintaining the core mission all on a tight budget.
Technology Delivers Benefits
The good news is that nonprofits have access to technology today that was financially out of their reach not long ago. Most nonprofits today are networked, have Internet access and e-mail addresses. The focus now has to shift from basic technology options to those that can actually improve efficiency as the organization drives awareness and membership as well as educates and trains constituents.
In order for these tools to make the desired impact in the nonprofit, they must be easy to use, affordable and be able to support high volume. Many of these organizations function across large geographical boundaries and communication can be a challenge if the right tools are not in place. Even more important is communication with donors and other stakeholders, which must be made a priority where possible.
Continuity Matters
With tighter budgets, nonprofits also have to be able to easily and cost effectively replace staff members or volunteers when they leave the organization or a program. If staff or volunteers cannot be easily brought up to speed, programs may be reduced to inefficient or ineffective operation, which can hurt creditability in the community and donations and other support in the long run.
To prevent problems internally and drive effective communications both inside and outside of the organization, nonprofits need a solution that can overcome the challenges of training, communicating, building community and membership while controlling costs. One proven solution is that of Web conferencing.
Advanced Communication Tools Now in Reach
This advanced technology tool was easily out of reach of the nonprofit in the not too distant past due to the substantial cost. As the technology has evolved, its cost has come well within an affordable range for this sector. Now, such organizations can use it to build community and disseminate information.
Now that Web conferencing is within the financial range of the nonprofit, the organization can enjoy such functionality as document sharing, call recording, chat transcripts, support of multiple presenters and platform support. In addition, participants can gain the value of face-to-face communication when travel is not an option.
Challenges will always exist for the nonprofit, but with access to new technology, these challenges are more easily overcome so the focus can be on the core mission.
Posted by Kathleen S on Wed, Jan 13, 2010 @ 08:05 AM
As the global workforce continues to grow, sophisticated technology tools are growing in demand to ensure this workforce can still get the job done efficiently. According to a new Frost & Sullivan study, Meetings Around the World II: Charting the Course of Advanced Collaboration, professionals throughout the global economy are getting their work done using advanced collaboration tools.
Tools of Choice Include VoIP
These critical tools include voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), instant messaging or meeting via web conferencing. The Frost & Sullivan study measured the impact of using collaboration technology on business performance, while it also identified emerging business technology adoption trends and attitudes throughout the world.
Key trends identified in this study include the fact that VoIP is leading the way for delivery of advanced communications and collaboration applications. While IT managers were once skeptical of VoIP, they are now leveraging IP networking investments to drive more advanced communication and collaboration tools, including high quality web conferencing.
Keeping Balance
Busy professionals responded to the survey that collaboration technologies can help manage stress and strain. When a professional has the option of audio or web conferencing solutions, they can drive greater balance between work and personal life. These communication technologies help these busy professionals stay connected, while also moving business forward.
Even with the benefits that collaboration tools can provide, professionals can also have a love-hate relationship with technology. In fact, 58 percent report there are times they do not want to be reached. Another 47 percent report they could not operate productively or efficiently without the ability to conference remotely.
User Confidence and Telecommuting
The growth in virtual meeting technologies is growing partly due to the growth in user confidence. Roughly 61 percent of collaboration technologies are proven to reduce the need to travel for business and more than half believe that conferencing tools – such as audio conferencing and web conferencing – are a good alternative to visiting business contacts face-to-face.
Another growing trend driving conferencing and collaboration is telecommuting. Nearly half, or 47 percent, of respondents report they have a formal telecommuting policy in place. By contrast, only 27 percent telecommute at least once a week and 22 percent telecommute on a daily basis.
Environment and Growing Demand
The environment continues to be a trigger point for a number of professionals and their companies. More than half, or 53 percent, of respondents report the reduction in an organization’s carbon footprint and other environmental concerns are significant factors in considering collaborative technology requirements.
With the different factors that are driving the demand for collaboration tools – including conferencing – end users are bound the benefit the most as technologies improve, price declines and adoption spreads.
Posted by Kathleen S on Tue, Jan 12, 2010 @ 08:10 AM
As Web conferencing has become an increasingly viable option for those organizations operating in the nonprofit sector, some decision makers may be unclear as to how to search for the right solution provider. Without a clear understanding of what a solution can offer or what the organization truly needs, a wrong decision can easily be made.
Let’s take a look at the key elements the nonprofit should consider when searching for a robust Web conferencing solution:
Complete System – Any Web conferencing software selected for the nonprofit should be able to support various operating systems and browsers as this can greatly impede member ability to participate in a conference. At the same time, each individual’s knowledge and capability will be different and the solution must be able to adapt.
Domestic and International Calling – Multiple access options and points are important and toll free calling should be readily available. The nonprofit must also have access to international toll free calling to help contain costs.
Call Recording – Both commercial and nonprofit organizations must have the ability to record Web conferences in order to store the information or make it available for recall later. The provider must be able to provide both Web and audio recording and it should be built into the solution.
Document Sharing – A Web conference does not deliver on all promises if documents cannot be shared. The solution should allow for easy sharing of documents, desktops and specific applications, regardless of end user systems.
Support – Like any technology implementation, 24/7 support is critical. The nonprofit will benefit the most from a solution that provides support according to its needs. The length of wait times and the availability of live operators are critical considerations.
Transcripts – Transcripts of the Web conference can be vital for recordkeeping and information storage. The nonprofit will benefit from this capability, as well as a robust backup process to protect the chat transcripts.
Partnership – When searching for the right Web conferencing solution, the nonprofit should take the approach that they are looking for a partner. By doing so, the provider will take a consultative approach and gain an understanding of the nonprofit organization and ensure the optimal experience.
With a myriad of options available in Web conferencing solutions, it can be a challenge for the nonprofit to determine exactly the right one to fit their needs. The important thing to keep in mind is that the optimal solution for the commercial company is not necessarily going to fit in a nonprofit world. Decision makers must be diligent in determining needs before examining available options.
Posted by Kathleen S on Mon, Jan 11, 2010 @ 08:11 AM
Audio conferencing has been an effective communications tool within the corporate world for a number of years. The difference today is that many organizations have implemented new technologies that allow for much lower communication costs with audio conferencing, which is helping to drive its use.
For the nonprofit sector, this form of communication and collaboration with board members, contributors, partners and colleagues can help drive streamlined operations while adhering to strict budgets.
The Technology of Audio Conferencing
With audio conferencing, two or more people can communicate and collaborate across vast distances. The technology available today allows participants to an audio conference to share more than just verbal ideas.
Audio conferencing is a simple enough concept as it involves the use of a standard telephone or a computer telephone. A regular telephone connection allows users to dial in to hear other participants on the call.
A computer telephone uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology in which the user will wear a microphone and earphone headset plugged into the computer’s USB port. The participants’ voices are then carried over the Internet just as they would be a traditional phone conference.
These individuals can now use their computers to work on the same document or navigate through other software applications at the same time. Digital whiteboards allow for notes, pictures and even outlines to move the process of collaboration in a positive direction.
Nonprofit Application
If you are unclear as to how this might apply within the nonprofit sector, consider the art museum that is planning a $2 million building project to extend a wing of the museum. A lot of planning among a broad group of people is involved in such a project.
If a change needs to be made within the architect’s plans to accommodate an overlooked issue, the ability to include all decision makers on one call to view changes in one application can save considerable costs as moving forward does not rely on the ability to gather all parties in one physical location.
With audio conferencing technologies, nonprofit organizations can drive effective communication and collaboration while saving considerable travel costs. More than $60 billion dollars is spent on gas driving to business meetings and other work-related appointments every year. Audio conferencing enables organizations to still communicate at the same level they need to remain focused on their goals, while keeping better control over costs.
Time is Money
Nonprofits can also save a considerable amount of time when utilizing audio conferencing in lieu of physical meetings. When a number of people are involved, scheduling a physical meeting can take a number of hours, weeks or even months to get organized. An audio conference can be scheduled through a simple Outlook invitation and those who cannot attend can revisit the recording later.
Even with today’s technology advancements, there are still situations where face-to-face meetings cannot be replaced. For the majority of communications, however, audio conferencing can ensure effective communications continue, without breaking the budget to get it done.
Posted by Kathleen S on Fri, Jan 08, 2010 @ 08:07 AM
Productivity improvements continue to be a key focus for companies of all sizes and segments as the economy demands efficiency in order to be profitable. This productivity is much more realistically accomplished when geographically dispersed organizations can gain face-time with partners and colleagues without the need to travel.
To address this issue, an increasing number of companies are turning to Web conferencing solutions. According to numerous studies conducted by IntelliCom Analytics, the business appeal of remote conferencing and collaboration applications continues to rise.
Analysis from these studies of more than 3,000 decision makers reveals that that affordability and ease of use continue to be the biggest two selection criteria for organizations seeking to adopt Web conferencing solutions.
Web conferencing and collaboration technology has advanced far beyond traditional fixed room systems and now includes software-enabled laptop and single-user desktop units. Even with a new ease of accessibility and implementation, there is still a common perception throughout the global market that such solutions are of high cost and are difficult to use, blocking rapid adoption.
In fact, nearly 40 percent of all companies participating in this survey cited budget concerns as their number one barrier to Web conferencing deployments. The second most significant barrier appeared to be cultural issues as one out of five decision makers indicated that collaboration did not fit for the way they currently do business.
Even with these apparent barriers for some companies, the adoption of conferencing solutions is continuing to grow. In a recent Frost & Sullivan report, it was determined that more than half of respondents believe using conferencing tools –whether audio or Web – is an effective alternative to making in-person office visits.
As this technology continues to evolve, companies of all sizes are finding that this approach to collaboration and face-to-face communications are an efficient way to drive business while also controlling costs.
Whether a company needs to set up scheduled conferences or use the technology on-the-fly, Web conferencing delivers the communication method necessary for multi-state or multi-national location communications when simplicity and flexibility are a must have.
Not every company culture will be ready to utilize Web conferencing as a primary source of business communications. In fact, some may have to slowly introduce the concept in order to ensure adoption and use within the organization.
At the same time, some organizations may be operating a branch in a location where Web conferencing goes against cultural norms. Certain obstacles may always exist, but even small changes in communication strategy can drive improved productivity that can be measured in the bottom line.
Posted by Kathleen S on Thu, Jan 07, 2010 @ 08:42 AM
Collaboration is an important element in driving productivity and efficiency in any business, but especially those corporations that traverse international borders. This collaboration is truly only possible with the use of conferencing solutions such as audio and web conferencing.
In a recent survey conducted by Harris/Decima, North American business employees support the use of TeleCollaboration in the workplace. In fact, 68 percent of survey respondents support the investment in TeleCollaboration, which is defined as the combination of collaboration tools with multi-party, high-definition, conferencing software.
Value of TeleCollaboration Tools
These tools are designed to provide full visual interaction with real-time desktop sharing, collaboration and recording. Each of these functions can be essential in driving effective collaboration by way of robust conferencing solutions.
Such solutions are essential in today’s business environment and when asked whether or not collaboration tools such as conferencing would benefit their businesses, almost 70 percent of respondents confirmed that it is the new way to meet and communicate with clients and colleagues.
Another 68 percent of respondents agree that they would use TeleCollaboration at least once a month in their business operations. Such a response is indicative of the growing necessity for conducting business over a disparate workforce. TeleCollaboration is also growing as the preferred means of connecting employees, customers and partners.
The Demand for Conferencing Grows
The demand for new tools is increasing, especially among those business users who rely on newer communication tools such as instant messaging and social networking sites. In fact, 57 percent of respondents report a growing demand for desktop audio and web conferencing.
For softphone users, 50 percent have reported an increase in the overall use of collaboration tools. With the rapid growing rate of adoption among this segment of users, it is easy to assume they are becoming more mobile and are capturing the benefits from collaboration tools so they are more accessible and productive.
Even with the proposed cost benefits in TeleCollaboration, there is still debate over its implementation. Of those who participated in the survey who travel for work, 39 percent would prefer communication and/or collaboration tools in place of travel. With the advancements in technology, face time can still be a reality. The challenge is overcoming initial costs in implementation.
"Surveys of this nature are great because they offer a bird's eye view into an organization's thoughts and priorities regarding its collaboration needs," said John Fricker, SVP technology of Harris/Decima. "Our work [highlights] the pulse of what North American business employees think about collaboration tools, and provides valuable insight for addressing the rapidly changing needs of today's businesses."
Posted by Kathleen S on Wed, Jan 06, 2010 @ 07:38 AM
Tight budgets are generally a standard business practice for a nonprofit, so looking for ways to streamline operations to cut costs is nothing new in this sector. A new trend that could be causing pressure for the nonprofit is the focus on being “Green”. While it is considered to be good for the environment, not all Green processes are light on the pocketbook.
So, why should the nonprofit worry about whether or not they follow this latest trend? For one, many of the same people responsible for supporting the nonprofit with donations and volunteer hours are also socially conscious and want the nonprofit to be carbon friendly. The best way to achieve this goal is through Web conferencing.
Environmental Cost
Consider the environmental cost of air travel. One 2,500 mile flight for one person emits 760 pounds of CO2, which is the equivalent of 5 percent of a U.S. home’s electricity use for one year. When Web conferencing provides the face-to-face collaboration time you need without the air travel, your organization does not contribute to energy waste and saves the cost of the plane ticket, the hotel stay, the rental car, etc.
Web conferencing provides a platform for virtual meetings where live interaction is possible. Participants all sit at their own computer and are connected to other conference participants by way of their Internet connection. When live attendance is not possible due to scheduling conflicts or time differences, the conference can also be recorded in its entirety so absent attendees can later listen to the presentation and interaction, view slide shows or demonstrations and more.
Ease of Participation
One of the key attributes of Web conferencing that makes it so easy to use is not all participants are required to have specific software on their system in order to participate in the event. While the software can be downloaded, it can also run on a virtual server that allows the participant to simply click on or enter a URL to join the conference.
Robust tools allow for more than just voices and images on a computer screen. Online collaboration and conferencing is maximized through voice, chat, instant messaging, desktop sharing, virtual sticky notes, whiteboards, editing capabilities and so much more. Such robust tools are now more readily available to nonprofits as their cost no longer negates the benefit they can deliver.
With Web conferencing technology tools – now available at a fraction of the cost of first generation systems – the nonprofit can take a more environmentally friendly approach to doing business, while keeping their sights set on the main goals of the organization.
Posted by Kathleen S on Tue, Jan 05, 2010 @ 08:02 AM
It is not uncommon in this economy for a budget planner within a company or non-profit to feel the pressure associated with travel prices. After all, too many commercial organizations have seen their sales take a drastic decline and profits suffer as price competition intensified. To reverse this trend, it is even more important to push customer face-time and internal collaboration – but how do you offset this cost with fewer financial resources?
Communication Technologies
The good news is that new advancements in the communications technology space have enabled companies with geographically dispersed clients and employees to drive these important communications without breaking their travel budgets. Audio conferencing has long been an effective tool of collaboration, but the much-valued face-time is missing. To fill this gap, more and more companies are turning to Web conferencing.
Web conferencing is gaining a lot of attention in this current market as businesses continue to move toward greater globalization and virtualization. Businesses continue to spread across multiple states or countries and effective communication is a necessity for market success. In addition, consumers are putting increased pressure on companies to “Go Green” and reduce their carbon footprint. Such eco-friendly goals are easily accomplished with conferencing solutions.
Web Conferencing Offers Benefits
Audio conferencing continues to be the most used application throughout the global economy, although companies of all sizes are increasingly adopting Web conferencing solutions to drive greater communication capabilities. One of the key differentiators for Web conferencing is the ability to not only incorporate face-time with your colleagues or clients, but also other visuals that make it an interactive experience.
Web conferencing also offers a significantly low implementation cost, while it is simple to deploy and use. What was once considered technology out of reach for smaller companies or non-profits with tight budgets is becoming readily available for those willing to take the risk with a new way of communicating. If such processes are built into the culture of the organization, a move toward this type of face-to-face communication is practically seamless.
There will continue to be a need for audio conferencing in the corporate and non-profit environments, but the ultimate goal is to drive collaboration and revenue. If travel costs are preventing the optimization of either key focus, a change must be made. With today’s conferencing solutions and low deployment costs, there is no reason why any company should lose a sale or suffer a strategy breakdown as a result of poor communications.
Posted by Kathleen S on Mon, Jan 04, 2010 @ 09:07 AM
Even as the economy is trying to right itself toward a recovery, companies are still making decisions that will ensure financial strength into 2010. As a result, travel expense reduction continues to be a key budget initiative, while productivity remains a priority. For global markets, how does a company effectively balance the two?
Frost & Sullivan recently examined this phenomenon in the European market and found that hosted web conferencing services continue to be a focus tool as companies seek significant reductions in their capital expenditure (CAPEX). This has spurred strong growth across the enterprise communication sector.
European Hosted Web Conferencing Services Market, a report from Frost & Sullivan, found that the market earned revenues of $162.6 million in 2008 and estimates it will reach $657.1 million in 2014. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is projected at 26.2 percent.
Research Analyst Iwona Petruczynik said in a company release, "The global recession and stringent environmental laws introduced by the European Parliament in 2008 are driving organizations to reduce their travel expenses and comply with 'green' policies. Web conferencing services certainly help in achieving these objectives."
Web Conferencing Awareness Grows
In terms of hosted solutions, this segment grew at 14.9 percent from 2007 to 2008 as a result of the growing awareness of the value of web conferencing and a greater penetration throughout vertical, small and medium businesses (SMBs). A high demand for web conferencing services is likely in Germany, France and the United Kingdom due to high awareness of the tool, well-developed infrastructures and the presence of several global companies.
Traditionally, the perception among companies has been that web conferencing is difficult to use or expensive to implement. This perception kept many SMBs believing that web conferencing was out of their reach as a collaboration tool and stunted the growth rate in this sector. New integrated solutions now entering the market are changing the game, making web conferencing more affordable and within reach.
Challenges Remain
In the European market, continued globalization and the continued drive for virtualization are both boosting the growth of web conferencing services. At the same time, this market is also facing specific challenges, including intensifying competition, increasing price pressures and the general low awareness of web conferencing services.
"The entry of big, global web conferencing services vendors such as Cisco and Microsoft into the European market is likely to threaten the smaller regional participants," added Petruczynik. " These local independent providers are responding by offering more competitively priced services which, in turn, will impel the larger vendors to lower prices."
While price will play a role in selecting the preferred provider for web conferencing solutions, those companies who can deliver the best value in conferencing solutions will enjoy strong market performance.
