Whether you own or work for a multinational corporation or are part of a small business with clients across county or state lines – or even international borders – the odds are good that traveling for work is part of your reality. Not only do face-to-face meetings help improve business communication, after all – tone is difficult to infer from an email or instant message, but they allow you to see and hear your clients, which can help you understand them better.
Unfortunately, business travel can be expensive monetarily and in terms of productivity – and if flights are canceled, delayed or rerouted, those costs can rise even higher. In addition to the impact that business travel has on your company, travel also impacts your employees by exposing them to chronic jet lag, unhealthy levels of radiation, weakening their immune systems and disrupting their home life – all because you, or your team needs to meet with a client.
Of course, some in-person meetings are important, but for those times when they’re not imperative, there are communication solutions that allow you to see and hear your clients even when you’re miles apart. Yes – video conferencing is the key to reducing travel. But not all solutions are created equally, so choose your communication software wisely, and try to find an option that includes:
- Multi-party HD video conferencing. Look for business meeting apps that give you plenty of room on the line, and on the screen, for everyone to join in. And make sure that you have access to HD video and audio. This way, you’ll be able to see and hear everyone clearly.
- Content sharing. In virtually any meeting, content is shared – usually on a screen in a conference room. So it only makes sense to look for a video conferencing tool that allows all parties to share documents, apps, URLs, presentations, and screens seamlessly. In addition, look for a solution that allows you to collaborate on documents in real time – which will make working together even easier.
- Single-touch join. The more steps users have to take, the less likely they are to use a product, so look for communication software that makes joining meetings simple. With one-touch access from a meeting reminder, calendar, etc., meeting participants can join a meeting with minimal effort.
- Third-party hosting. By using a business communication solution that’s hosted by a third party, you won’t have to make any infrastructure investments in order to get the tools and functionality you need. And all of the upkeep is the responsibility of the host, which can help you save money, as well.
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