That may be because tech companies are generally more willing to invest in the hardware and software that are needed to make long-distance supervision work. Participants can see one another while conversing and can simultaneously look at maps, slides or software demonstrations. Web conferencing is still new to most companies, but it's catching on fast. In the WorldCom survey, a slightly greater number of companies reported using Web conferencing than videoconferencing. Jaclyn Kostner, president of Denver consulting firm Bridge the Distance , says that Web conferencing, if it's done right, far surpasses other technologies.
People can brainstorm on an online white board or cast anonymous votes with a live poll.
They can collaborate faster. A client of Kostner's, a large chemical company, had to change a manufacturing process to meet environmental, health and safety standards across 132 plant sites that use 12 languages. With Web conferencing, the company completed in 10 months a project that used to take five years. Even simpler tools can make certain problems go away faster and shrink expense reports. Then the New Jersey team e-mailed the designs to Egypt and arranged a conference call with the franchise designers and operators in Sharm El Sheikh.