For openers, when videoconferences replace meetings, the company saves not only travel expenses but also the time of valuable employees. Both are measurable and they hit the bottom line directly. For example, our research shows that an individual who eliminates two overnight trips per month may increase his or her productivity by as much as 8 to 10 percent. This is based on saving a day of unproductive travel time while in transit to and from each meeting location. While tactical benefits alone usually outweigh the costs of videoconferencing, the most successful videoconferencing users find that strategic benefits represent an even better return on the investment.
Product quality is improved.
Dispersed teams operate more efficiently and at lower cost. Measuring strategic benefits takes time and effort. Look for problems that are being addressed in new ways through the use of videoconferencing. Talk to users about specific business processes and what they did before they had videoconferencing. Then learn how videoconferencing has been integrated into the process and what the impact has been.