There is no need to spend time and money travelling to meetings |
Business-level conferencing facilities can be expensive and everyone who is going to attend the meeting needs access to suitable hardware and software. Although domestic conferencing is virtually free as long as you have a computer and a fast internet connection. |
You can have a 'meeting' with people from many different offices /countries without any of them having to travel |
A very reliable, fast data link is needed. Many companies hire a connection specifically to allow video conferences to take place |
You can see people as well as hear them. This means you can see their body language which you can't do with a telephone call. |
Even with a fast connection, there might be a slight delay between responses. Especially from one side of the planet to the other. |
You can all view a document on the screen at the same time. People can work together and add their ideas. The document can be emailed to all of the people at the meeting later on. |
If the hardware breaks down for any of the participants, they cannot 'attend' the meeting |
Ideas and knowledge can be communicated between all those at the meeting very quickly and responses gathered. Video conferencing is good for 'brainstorming'. |
People could be in different time zones around the world. This might mean that some people have to stay up through the night in order to attend the meeting. |
Video conferencing is an excellent way of keeping in touch with friends and family, even if they are in a different country. |
The video camera might not be able to see all parts of the room at the same time. Some people might not be easy to see at the meeting. |
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There is no substitute for a face-to-face meeting in getting to know someone. |
