The benefits of conferencing

Over the last five years, BT�s own use of audio, web and video conferencing has stopped nearly 300,000 tonnes of CO2 being pumped into the atmosphere

These services also save us money and time. For example, on average we save �256 every time we replace a face-to-face meeting with conferencing. In a company as big as ours, that means we can save lots of money every year. And we cut unproductive time spent traveling to meetings too.

We provide three types of conferencing. Audio conferencing lets people use their phone � either landline or mobile � to talk to several colleagues at once. Web conferencing lets people talk to colleagues, while using the Internet, to share papers and presentations. And video conferencing lets people see who they�re meeting and have nearly the same experience as they would from meeting in person.

Customers can choose just one of our conferencing services or combine more than one in a package that best suits their business. For example, web conferencing is a perfect partner for audio conferencing.

Aaron McCormack, CEO of BT Conferencing, says, �New technology means we are always improving our conferencing services. Video conferencing is now so much better than it was. We offer what we call an �immersive experience� where everyone on the call feels like they are in the same room, with life-size video images allowing people to make eye contact and read body language.�

Using audio, web or video conferencing will reduce annual spend on travel by cutting unnecessary journeys. Other costs associated with meeting face-to-face, like accommodation, are also cut. We estimate that using conferencing to cut travel spend has saved us over �192 million in the last 12 months alone.

Aaron says, �Some of our biggest clients, like Unilever and Philips, have made major savings on their annual travel budgets since choosing BT Conferencing. We are confident that all of our customers will get a return on their investment within a year of starting to use our services. In today�s economic environment, this makes good business sense.

�So being greener and saving time and money can go hand-in-hand.�

Conferencing also helps people to balance their work and personal lives. Aaron explains, �Cutting out millions of journeys every year means people no longer have to spend time traveling to and from meetings. And if they have to travel to these meetings outside of their working hours, this can really benefit their personal lives too.�

The market for conferencing is still in its infancy, but is likely to grow rapidly in the next three to five years. Aaron says, �Only two per cent of European workers, who could use conferencing to replace real meetings, actually do. We plan to invest in our conferencing so that we deliver the best audio, web and video services and get more people using them.�

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