Is video conferencing really a viable green alternative to travel for most companies
http://www.internationalmeetingsreview.com/technology/video-conferencingis-it-a-viable-alternative-face-face-meetings-36924
http://www.theguardian.com/travel/2008/sep/07/green.greenbusiness
Read these two articles and let us know what you think.
Determining whether video conferencing is a viable green alternative to travel for most companies involves considering several factors. Here's how you can approach finding an answer to this question:
1. Assess environmental impact: Compare the environmental impact of traveling (such as emissions from transportation, accommodation, and activities during the trip) to the environmental impact of video conferencing. Look for studies, reports, and data on carbon footprints associated with both travel and video conferencing technologies. This can help quantify the difference in environmental impact.
2. Consider company requirements: Evaluate the specific needs and requirements of your company. Identify the instances where travel is necessary, such as building relationships, attending conferences, or visiting sites that cannot be adequately assessed remotely. Determine if video conferencing can effectively replace these situations or if any alternatives can be explored.
3. Examine video conferencing capabilities: Evaluate the capabilities of your video conferencing tools. Consider factors such as the quality of video and audio, connectivity issues, ease of use, and potential barriers to effective communication. Compare the reliability and efficiency of video conferencing to in-person interactions.
4. Analyze cost implications: Consider the financial costs associated with travel versus video conferencing. Compare expenses related to flights, accommodation, meals, transportation, and other travel-related costs with the costs of video conferencing infrastructure, software licenses, and necessary equipment. This analysis can help determine the economic feasibility of switching to video conferencing.
5. Evaluate employee preferences and productivity: Assess the willingness of employees to adapt to video conferencing and their overall productivity while using this technology. Consider factors such as employee satisfaction, engagement, and collaboration capabilities in both travel and video conferencing scenarios.
By conducting a comprehensive analysis of these factors, you can determine whether video conferencing is a viable green alternative to travel for your company. It is important to consider the specific requirements and circumstances of your organization, as the feasibility may vary from one company to another.