As travel costs soar and staffs get smaller and busier, organizations of all sizes are looking at ways to cut the costs of face-to-face meetings.

Enter virtual meeting technology, which has matured in recent years to become both practical, affordable and a boon to productivity.

Instead of traveling thousands of miles to chat with customers, clients and vendors, many busy workers now meet “virtually.”

Big outfits, of course, save big. In fact, tech consulting firm Accenture recently reported that it saved 240 international trips and 120 domestic ones in May alone by going virtual.

But any size organization can cut expensive travel by adopting a number of technologies that allow information sharing without humans interacting in person.

Among the tools you can use:
• Web conferencing
• Online document sharing
• Wikis
• Internet telephony, and
• Videoconferencing.

Few experts believe that face-to-face meetings have gone the way of the horse and buggy. But these new tools help workers travel more selectively and productively. They’re also increasingly being used for training and customer service.

Even the most dedicated road warriors – consultants, accountants and lawyers – are beginning to use virtual meetings to minimize their time and energy outside the office.

Read more about virtual meetings here.

Tags: meetings, savings, technology, travel, virtual