By Will Sturgeon, 21 August 2006 15:55
NEWS
The current problems besieging UK air travellers and airports are forcing companies to consider alternative options to business travel - such as a greater use of videoconferencing and online meeting and collaboration tools in order to keep staff in the country.
A poll of silicon.com readers in the wake of mass confusion at UK airports last week has revealed a third of respondents say they will now undertake less business travel.
And certainly companies are aware of the need to consider alternatives to travel especially in the current climate of uncertainty.
Speaking of solutions such as videoconferencing and online meeting tools, Phil Young, head of IT operations at Amtrak Express Parcels, said: "It is becoming increasingly more time-consuming to travel via air for meetings. The technology is available and cheap so I will be adding this to my radar."
However, a word of caution was sounded by Gavin Whatrup, group IT director at Creston. Although he expressed strong support for a greater use of technology to limit the amount of travel, he said there are instances where it is unavoidable.
Whatrup said: "The fear of looking out of control deters most people from using technology to collaborate more efficiently. Client-facing meetings can be stressful enough without worrying whether the microphone is working."
And silicon.com's poll found 12 per cent of business travellers will still be given no choice about having to travel.
However, Whatrup added: "Internally there needs to be an executive mandate to utilise the tech more. Put the onus on the IT department to implement a bulletproof solution, whilst at the same time educating the business to use the tools available."
He said as well as employee satisfaction, exploring alternatives to travel can also assist companies in meeting their corporate and social responsibility goals, such as becoming carbon neutral across the enterprise.
Last week silicon.com's CIO Jury revealed that many businesses are looking to limit the amount of business travel their staff undertake as international travel becomes more problematic.
Comments
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1. Tom
In our company, since the air-scare errupted, we have been advised not to travel by air, unless we absolutely have to. The Video conferencing suite has never been busier. I would imagine that this approach is fairly normal across UK businesses & isn't just down to our ex-military beginnings...
2. Jeremy Wickins
I should have been boarding a plane to a conference in Helsinki at about this very moment. I just cannot be bothered with the pointless security against a risk that could only happen in a Hollywood movie.
3. Emrys Jones
The EU could make a great contribution yo carbon reduction by setting up a simple open standard Video Conferencing system working over broadband, specifying simple connection standards, conference room standards for a Video Conference room (or office set up as a room when needed). Those meeting these requirements could then advertize themselves with the appropriate logo. If its simple and easy, everyone will do it, it would quickly become the norm.
4. anonymous
The current air travel fiasco shows BAA, and our government, as unable to operate a world air hub. With an aproach like the one being adopted at the moment, it's going to be easier for companies to simply leave the UK, with the loss of jobs and tax revenues.
I'd ask if this is any way to run a country, but I think we probably all know both that it isn't and that the current government are doing their best (as inadequate as that is).
We need leadership - not leaders off on holiday. We need leadership, not BAA threatening airlines. We need leadership, not this blowing in the wind. Our leaders should stand up and be counted, and not allowed to let London die as an Air Traffic hub/destination. Our nation's livelhood requires us to get back to normal, just like happened after 7/7.
5. Buzzin
My god! you business people are so zany - promoting your IT then being affraid of microphones not working - so you’ll fly to the meeting instead?
Fack me! even snotty djs and brainless Punk Rockers can get microphones working!