RHUB Blog

A Web Conferencing, Remote Support, Remote Access, and Current Events Blog

Archive for the ‘How Tos’ category

Why Spend When You Can Save with Web Conferencing

June 18th, 2010

Cutting costs and reducing spend has always been at the core of the corporate philosophy regardless of the economic environment. While it can lead to less palatable decisions such as job cuts, it also encourages the development of new technology. There are many relatively inexpensive ways companies can save money and reinforce their sense of corporate responsibility.

The Path to Reducing Consumption

save with web meetings These days the idea of cost savings has taken on a life of its own. This is largely due to the worldwide economic recession which has affected many companies worldwide. Catastrophic events such as the recent eruption of the volcano Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland have companies seeking viable alternatives to business travel. Simple routes to minimizing consumption include:

Cutting down on paper usage: Some experts predict that eventually everything will be stored digitally. Until that day comes, companies can begin by eliminating paper files where possible. For added protection a policy of backup and retrieval should be put in place.
Using web conferencing tools: From real time collaboration to meetings and webinars, web conferencing software does it all. It also virtually eliminates the need for business travel saving millions of dollars in the process. Web conferencing plays a vital role in the current green movement since it cuts fuel costs. It can also reduce the need for printed material for meetings.
Embracing alternative energy: Companies that are located near lakes can explore the option of geothermal energy. Solar and wind energy are also attractive options currently being used by many institutions.

Utilizing these solutions is well within the reach of many companies. It is even beneficial for many companies as it helps to bring down the operating cost. Even small businesses are currently using meeting software with great effect. With alternative energy the initial capital outlay can be substantial, but this depends on each company’s energy needs. Cost savings from alternative energy usage are usually realized within months.

Comments Off »

Posted in How Tos

Tags: saving web meetings

Things You Can Do to Get the Most Out of Your Web Conferences

May 28th, 2010

There’s a good chance that the next time you attend a class or seminar it will be online. Webinars are fast becoming the go to means for disseminating information to large groups of people quickly. Attendees love it because they can attend from the comfort of the home or office. Businesses are big on it because they can reach employees or prospective clients no matter where they are, and save big while doing so.

Attending a Web Conference

The quality or success of a web conference will be evaluated differently depending on the person. While the overall success is largely determined by the host, there are some things you can do to get the most out of your web meetings. Factors you can control that are needed for a web conference include:

Internet connection: High speed is preferable as it will enable faster downloads. It also enhances video and sound quality.
Speakers and microphone: A microphone is optional as it depends on the format of the particular conference. Speakers are essential.
Webcam: This depends on whether you are supposed to be seen in the web meeting. In many instances this is not necessary.

Making Your Contribution

contribute to a web meeting It’s true that the web conference is different from the standard meeting setting, but rules of good etiquette still apply. If you are expected to log in at a certain time, do so. Make note of any email reminders of the conference so you won’t miss the date.

If it is supposed to be an open discussion, prepare some quick points beforehand. Make notes during the session if you think it necessary. Take advantage of chat function during meeting to post questions without disrupting the presentation.

Avoid straying off topic. It might be a big money saver, but with web meetings time is still money. Using tools that enable collaboration and free flow of ideas will make for a more meaningful session. Some features you might want to look out for include:

Whiteboard
Text chat
Live video

As with face-to-face meetings, you typically get from a web conference what you are willing to put into it. Luckily, attending a web conference is not a technical issue, so you can concentrate on what is important. So before you attend your next webinar or web meeting, think about what you will contribute.

Comments Off »

Posted in How Tos, Web Seminars

Tags: teamwork web conference web meeting

Web Meetings, Do IT Know Best?

May 14th, 2010

IT departments have become a standard component of many businesses today, especially those that heavily utilize computer and communications technology. In charge of the company’s technology needs, the IT guy is the one you kermit learn more about web meetings call when for are your computer troubles.

In spite of their obvious technical know how, IT staff is sometimes at odds with the company’s decision makers. Not surprisingly most of these little squabbles revolve around money. IT department strive to bring the best products to the company but often overlooking the staggering price tag that comes along with a top of the tier product. With communications technology there are lots of grey areas where cost is concerned. Sometimes it makes sense to go all out, sometimes it doesn’t.

The Web Conferencing Dilemma

Deciding to use web conferencing is not much of a quandary these days. There is ample evidence that supports the idea that this one of the best routes a company can take for communications. However, with there being so many vendors out there, making a decision can be hard. Just remember that certain features are considered essential, such as:

Audio conferencing integration
Screen sharing or remote desktop
File transfer
Text chat

These are pretty much standard with most web conferencing solutions. Just keep in mind that the quality of these features varies depending on the provider.

The Clash over Web Meetings

The thing to remember is that IT staff usually knows what they are talking about. It is what they were hired for. Still, it never hurts to do your own research. A more informed buyer is a better buyer. With web meetings, higher cost does not always translate to quality. Start by defining the need of the company. Once you start out with a clear picture of what your company needs, choosing a conferencing solution becomes simplified.

Choose a solution that is scalable, that is, capable of growing as your company does. You’ll find that on this issue, you and the IT department will be on the same page.

Comments Off »

Posted in How Tos, Web Conferencing

Tags: buyer guide Web Conferencing web meeting

Choosing the Right Conference Tool 2 – Web Solutions

May 7th, 2010

One of the first choices you might be faced with when exploring web conferencing solutions is going with a hosted or on-premise service. This is only one of two possible solutions for online conferencing. The other method is using an appliance such as those provided by RHUB Communications.

Using a hosted service means that the service is operated from a server controlled by the vendor. Thus, the flow of the meeting is largely dependent on the vendor’s capabilities. Pricing for hosted services is generally based on the number of attendees. So the end user is dependent upon the provider for performance issues such as having the appropriate bandwidth and to quickly fix bugs.

choosing between web conferencing services

Making the Tough Decision between Conferencing Services

In deciding between the two types of web conferencing services, what boils down is how much control the user would like to have. What some consider a negative to the hosted option is the fact that the vendor needs to stay on top of potential issues that may arise. Bugs must be reported quickly, and the vendor must also respond quickly. The performance and usability of the service is almost entirely dependent upon the provider. Also, users need to stay on top of upcoming updates as it could also cause compatibility issues with the user’s operating system. As such, there is the need for constant communication between the vendor and the end user.

On the other end, on-premise solutions performance is dependent on the user. Users will also have more control in allocating resources to support their communication needs. Appliances are attractive options as they require no manual software updates and brings down the cost of ownership through elimination of monthly fees.

The success of your real-time communication will depend on variety of factors. Even within hosted or on-premise solutions, features and offerings will vary by provider. Learn more about what each supplier has to offer and try the product before you make your decision. This way you can avoid headaches later and ensure smooth communications with your online meetings.

Comments Off »

Posted in How Tos, Web Conferencing

Tags: comparison hosted service shopping guide web conference

Choosing the Right Conference Tool

April 26th, 2010

Audio or web conferencing? Which is the right one for your company? The choice between the two communication tools might seem unlikely since web conferencing itself has an audio component, but they can be two very different communication tools.

Audio conferencing is essentially a multi-way call that involves more than two parties. There are even phones that are produced specifically for this in the market. On the other end, web conferencing utilizes the power of the internet to allow real time communication regardless of location. Unlike audio conferencing, it offers a host of other features such as whiteboard, file transfer and video streaming.

According to online reports from AMI Research, most small businesses will opt for audio conferencing in the coming year. This can likely be explained by two things: that despite obvious growth web conferencing has yet to achieve full market acceptance and audio conferencing solutions is often the more affordable option. The latter is even more relevant when you consider that smaller businesses are often working with a tighter budget. web conferencing or audio conferencing

The AMI report predicted increase spending on both web and audio conferencing products in the next few years. Combined, the total market for the two products is expected to grow from $1.5 billion to roughly $2.7 billion by 2014. AMI Senior Consultant Karen Nielsen suggests that small business is driving the push towards conferencing products.

Part of this can be attributed to the fact that starting out with a smaller budget forces small business to adopt a savings mindset. In fact, Nielsen was quoted online as saying, “We would expect the greatest growth in usage for both audio and web conferencing to come from the small business segment with under 100 employees.”

So, if you own a small business, now may be a good time to explore conferencing options. It is highly likely that most audio conferencing users will turn to web conferencing products as their needs change over time and their companies grow. In the meantime, web conferencing companies also need to keep smaller enterprises in sharp focus. So by all means, research both audio and web conferencing companies and compare their offerings. Remember, with the kind of spending expected on these products in the next few years, if you are not utilizing them, your competitors certainly will be.