Benefits of Web Conferencing
Tony Valle
Web conferencing is becoming common place these days as organizations scramble to cut costs and increase productivity. Have you been on a web conference yet? Chances are you have. If your organization hasn’t embraced web conferencing yet, you might consider these benefits:
No Travel Cost
Traveling takes time and time is money. Gas and lodging are also obvious expenses. Web conferencing allows you to gather virtually any time and from nearly any location. And no Mapquest needed!
Instant Feedback
We used to provide software training videos and still do quite a bit. But nothing can match the instant customer feedback received from giving live training via web conference. We instantly know if we are conveying our message or missing the mark.
Real Time Collaboration
The ability to share a computer desktop while on a phone (or VoIP) call allows for speedy collaboration. You’ll reach your finished product much faster than those working over email.
Low Cost Virtual Training
Any training class can easily be converted into a web conference. Live and pre-recorded training are both growing in popularity. No more rooms to reserve and no catered lunches!
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 Evaluating Web Conference Solutions
Denver Abernathy
It seems that everyone is doing Webinars and Online Meetings these days. If you’ve been thinking this might be a way for your company to effectively communicate with your staff, customers, and/or members it’s often just a question of which software package to use. The most common ones used by small to medium companies are WebEx Meeting Center, Microsoft Live Meeting, Citrix GoToMeeting, and Skype.
The first question to answer is, “What kind of meetings will I be hosting?” If you will be demonstrating a web application, you may need software capable of doing a webcast (a media file distributed over the Internet using streaming media technology). If you need flexibility to switch speakers on the fly, or control a participant’s desktop, you will need the ability to conduct a webinar or online meeting (a collaborative live meeting, training, or presentation via the Internet). Below is a short list of other features that you might be interested in:
- Instant messaging
- Screen sharing
- Webcasting
- Screencasting
- Remote PC access
- Chat room software
- Micro-blogging
- Presentation creation and delivery
- Online meetings and presentations
- Live costumer support system
- Video broadcasting
Despite what the software manufacturers will tell you, the comparison below makes it appear that web conferencing tools are becoming a commodity. The main differences are in video quality and availability of expanded B-to-B services. Of those listed below, Cisco’s WebEx and Microsoft’s Live Meeting are going to beat out Skype and Citrix’s GoToMeeting. Adobe and most other major software companies now have products that are very good, but that tend to be more expensive.
Keep in mind that it can be frustrating for your customers, members, or board if you choose a tool that doesn’t accommodate all invitees. It is also frustrating to invitees to switch platforms after one or two netmeetings. Do your homework and get it right the first time.
Click here for our web conference software comparison
If you have any questions about implementing a web-conference system, please give Promethius a call at 317-733-2388.
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