More than half of the companies surveyed plan to integrate these technologies more extensively into their workflows over the coming twelve months, supporting internal communication among colleagues and teams and external communication with customers and partners.
One-third of the surveyed companies already use conference calls, while another 40 percent plan to integrate them consistently into business processes. Two-thirds of the companies already communicating this way hold at least one voice conference each week, and 60 percent expect voice-conference use within their own company to increase further during the next twelve months.
Videoconferencing follows a similar pattern. Although it is a relatively new application, more than 40 percent see benefits in using videoconferencing for business. Skype’s internal data also suggests that video is now included in 30 percent of all Skype calls.
A clear trend is emerging among smaller companies towards greater use of voice and videoconferencing both internally and for communication with existing and prospective customers. The most important benefits cited for conference calls are lower business-travel expenditure, simpler and improved communication, and cost savings. With videoconferencing, nonverbal communication through facial expression and body language also plays an important role.
Many surveyed small and medium-sized businesses that do not currently hold video conferences said they would be more likely to use them if higher quality were available at lower cost. Calls between Skype users are free for anyone with a computer and broadband internet connection. Using Skype’s videoconferencing function requires only minimal setup expenditure, such as buying a webcam. Once the hardware is installed, businesses incur no continuing costs. Citing the image quality of its free software, Skype expected videoconference use to grow substantially in 2008.
Stefan Oberg, Skype Vice President and Head of Telecoms, says: “Cost savings are only the beginning. Skype is a great tool for businesses, particularly smaller companies that cannot automatically pay for productivity gains through higher investment. Speaking to customers face to face by video without charge offers enormous benefits that translate directly into productivity. Nonverbal communication remains a key factor in business success.”
Richard Martin of Cotswold Woollen Weavers, a Skype for Business customer, adds:
“Relationships are central to successful businesses. For a fast-growing company, building and maintaining strong business relationships is often far from easy. Because communication is nonverbal in many respects, seeing the people we work with through a Skype video call is an immense advantage. Skype provides enormous flexibility, wherever our customers are located. And because we can speak with them face to face without charge, we have much more time to develop new areas of business while providing greater attention to our customers.”