| In the mid 1990s a few individuals and companies, | | | | training events, accessible by participants from |
| seeing the potential of the relatively unknown | | | | virtually any location" reports Tim McMahon of |
| Internet, took advantage of this new medium and | | | | McMahon WorldWide Sales Performance. |
| got a head start on everyone else. Similarly, today a | | | | "The ability to offer this kind of programming has |
| few innovative companies have enthusiastically | | | | become a significant source of competitive |
| embraced web and video conferencing and are | | | | advantage for us in the sales training marketplace," |
| reporting great benefits from this under-used | | | | added McMahon. |
| application. | | | | As might be expected, software and Internet |
| Who is making use of web and video conferencing, | | | | companies who are already tech-savy, have been |
| and how are they using it? Here is a look at some of | | | | quick to make use of online conferencing. They are |
| the enterprises and institutions that are being | | | | using these applications to demonstrate their |
| transformed by the intelligent use of this | | | | products and services to clients, and to provide a |
| up-and-coming technology. | | | | new, previously undreamed of level of support. |
| Ever conscious of rising costs, schools and universities | | | | "The technology allows us to access dentists' |
| are using web/video conferencing to conduct | | | | workstations in two clicks.... It's like working without |
| administrative meetings with staff and also for | | | | walls and dentists have really been blown away by |
| setting up online courses and tutoring for students. | | | | the personal touch that's possible with this |
| Web and video conferencing "made all the difference | | | | technology," reports Rich Hirschinger, of a supplier of |
| in turning a scheduling conflict into a magical lifetime | | | | software for dentists. |
| memory for our student," says Jon Fredricks of | | | | Similarly, avant-garde media companies are using the |
| Midland Lutheran College. | | | | latest web/video conferencing applications to present |
| While clergy are not usually pictured as techno-geeks, | | | | videos and conduct business meetings bringing |
| churches and other religious institutions have been | | | | together their offices located many miles apart. |
| quick to see the advantages of video conferencing | | | | Large organizations with many branches such as |
| applications and now use it to enable shut-in | | | | securities companies and banks have also seen online |
| members of their congregations "attend" worship | | | | conferencing as a way to hold staff meetings, meet |
| services without leaving their homes. | | | | with clients and conduct training sessions without |
| Sales organizations are using video and/or web | | | | having to pay high travel costs. |
| conferencing to conduct sales meetings as well as to | | | | But it is not only large institutions that are using these |
| meet and demonstrate their products with prospects. | | | | applications, professionals such as psychiatrists, |
| Taking this further, sales coaches and trainers have | | | | psychologists and insurance agents are using online |
| whole-heartedly embraced online conferencing as a | | | | video conferencing to have intimate, one-on-one |
| way to develop new methods of training, and save | | | | meetings with their patients, clients and prospects. |
| money at the same time. | | | | These are just a few examples of how various |
| Video and web conferencing "enabled us to develop | | | | companies and institutions are getting the benefits |
| a powerful new consulting/training business model in | | | | provided by web and video conferencing. This list is |
| which we blend live classroom training with a | | | | sure to grow in the years ahead. |
| continuous program of interactive videoconference | | | | |