Small businesses are branching out. According to research from Software Advice, an online resource for VoIP and telecom software buyers, small businesses have recently begun shifting towards web conferencing. 
Not only can small businesses utilize conferencing solutions to enhance internal communications, web conferencing is also useful for managing client communications. And with powerful and collaborative conferencing tools available for brainstorming, managing projects and setting up shop just about anywhere, the office environment isn’t as rigid as it used to be.
Software Advice surveyed 389 employees about their preference between web conferencing and conference calls. They then turned to telecommunications experts to help interpret findings. From these findings, we have come up with three signs that might indicate your small business should invest in web conferencing tools to stay ahead of the competition.
Should You Invest in Web Conferencing?
1. YOU HAVE REMOTE EMPLOYEES OR MORE THAN 1 OFFICE.
As telecommuting becomes more popular, web conferencing tools are becoming crucial for maintaining workforce efficiency for remote and internal workers. These tools are also becoming vital for driving collaboration.
With conferencing tools, telecommuters and remote employees are now able to stay on track and can add insights into day-to-day operations and new policies more than ever before with online meetings! According to Software Advice, 1 in 4 employees is already using web or audio conferencing at work. This number will increase as more companies adopt this technology.
1 in 4 Employees Uses Web or Audio Conferencing at Work
Nearly one-fourth (24 percent) of the sample, combined, worked in jobs that involve some use of conferencing: 15 percent said they “occasionally” use it, while only 9 percent of the sample reported “frequently” using conferencing technology at work.
2. YOU HAVE WEEKLY MEETINGS.
All businesses have some form of weekly meetings… sales meetings, operations meeting, employee/manager check-points. The reality is key players for each meeting may not always be in the office. They could be traveling or home sick. Having an online conferencing tool available for employees to utilize will ensure that while they are not in the office, they will not miss important meetings!
Employees Evenly Split in Conferencing Preferences
When employees were asked whether they preferred web conferencing or audio conference calls, it was found that allegiances to the two methods were about equal, according to Software Advice.
These percentages are too close for generalizing as to which method of conferencing is ultimately more popular. This finding strongly suggests that these employees favor different conferencing methods for different purposes.
3. YOUR BUSINESS HAS A TRAINING OR ON-BOARDING PROGRAM.
Well-trained employees are essential to the success of your business. Unfortunately, a business’ training budget is often not a priority. Web conferencing software is an essential tool that allows you to have meetings and training sessions with members of your team or clients who are located across the country or even on another continent at any time without spending a lot of money.
In the digital age, it’s not necessary to work only with employees who are local, and the same rule applies to clients. With this becoming the growing trend, great communication tools are essential.
Employees Prefer Video for Training, Audio Conferencing for Internal Communications
- There is not a significant difference in employees’ preference of video conferencing or audio conferencing for communicating with coworkers.
- Respondents favored video conferencing (29%) for interviewing, on-boarding, and training over audio conferencing (13%).
- Audio conferencing was preferred for communicating with management.
- When resolving problems with customers, respondents felt audio and video conferencing tools were equally valuable.
Want to review the full survey on conferencing trends in small businesses? Download the full report from Software Advice.
These findings from Software Advice are powerful for small business owners looking to understand the changing workforce and market trends. A company’s decision regarding which conferencing solution to adopt hinges on what contexts and processes the solution will be used in.
As a small business owner, there are a few things you really need to consider. It is important to consider whether your small business needs a large remote workforce. You should also consider if web conferencing could help streamline your internal processes.
Lastly, ask yourself, does your business model involve a lot of customer service? These needs should guide your decision to invest in web conferencing. For small businesses, web conferencing can play a key role in how successful you are. It can help you save money, look professional, and start collaborating instantly.
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