We already know that video conferencing is a great way to reduce costs. Now, a study by the Telework Exchange shows that Federal workers could save up to $8 billion annually by using video conferencing.
The report suggests that even a 50% adoption rate of video conferencing by federal employees would result in 3.5 hours per week in productivity savings, or about$8 billion per year. 92% of survey respondents said increased video conferencing would save tax dollars, and 84% of respondents expect video conferencing usage to increase in the next 5 years.
Regarding the benefits of video conferencing, 78% said the biggest advantage is reduced business travel, with respondents estimating that greater adoption could save over 30% of federal agencies’ overall travel budget, amounting to $5 billion.Other noted benefits include improved collaboration, reduced carbon footprint, and better work-life balance.
Additionally, 73% believe that video conferencing would help rein in project timelines, which could further save costs and improve efficiency.
However, 76% said their agencies were not using video conferencing to the fullest extent, citing barriers that include the lack of available conferencing, network or bandwidth limitations, lack of awareness of benefits, technology costs, incompatible video conferencing platforms, and a lack of manager buy-in.
Video conferencing and other collaboration tools help to visually connect coworkers without requiring travel or time away from the office. Cindy Auten, the general manager of the Telework Exchange, notes that, “Since the passage of the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, we have seen an incredible change in how government is working together remotely. We are riding the wave of mobility and must arm Federal workers with the right tools to get the job done in the best way possible. It best enables cooperation and teamwork in these mobile times.”
Read the full report from Telework Exchange.