Using Video Conferencing During Disasters

Disaster is a calamity which is sudden, brings huge damage, loss, destruction and devastation to life and property. Any occurrence which causes mass destruction, huge loss of properties , loss of human life, calamities of ecological destruction, health problems which is on a large scale and requires help from outside with immediate action is defined as disaster by WHO.

Immeasurable damage is caused by disaster which in unanticipated and unexpected, depending on the geographical location loss of life and property varies which impacts day to day life causing severe pandemoneum in socio-economic, political and cultural activities. Interactions with the outside world seeking help and reaching to more and more organizations which quickly respond is the only remedy to look for, to resolve the situation. On line connectivity through video conferencing will be of great help provided proper measures are taken to restore locations of conferencing to withstand disasters inorder to provide connectivity to the outside world. 

Disaster effected areas are deprived of normal needs and regular processes like food, shelter and health. Electricity, communication systems are totally effected creating uncertainity and chaos. Connectivity to the the outside world through sofisticated means line video conferencing is most required as any disaster is a situation which is unpredicatable, give no time to understand, happens at a rapid speen, unfamiliarity of the situation creating disorganized functings of services, uncertanity, demanding ungency of health services fear of threat of more and more loss of life.

Following methods can be followed using Video conferencing to instruct people in the disaster struck areas:

Earthquakes: 

Severe destruction is caused during earthquakes and people get buried live. Quick help is required for the people struck in the debris, machines to remove the destructed building has to be moved. Setting up video conferencing in earthquake areas is possible as the technology connects from any where and any device like laptop or a mobile. It gives clear idea of the situation and passes information of what are the requirements and what kind of help is required at a particular place. 

Cyclone: 

Using Video conferenicng one can send alerts before the cyclone.

Health remedies and advices from Doctors will save many lives. But required number of doctors or health assistants cannot be provided at a stretch. The Doctor being at his place can instruct the people at multiple locations in the same time. He can give the necessary precautions to be taken to avoid diseases predicted during cyclones.

During Floods: 

Using Video conferencing for interacting with people and giving instructions to volunteers in case of unpredicted problems plays a crucial role in improving the conditions quickly. Video conferencing facility helps volunteers to interact with eminent doctors to get information regarding instructions about drinking water, food, medical remedies and precauations of susceptable diseases in flood areas. 

The author Shelly Desuza is  working with Peoplelink Corporate Solutions Pvt Ltd, a eminent provider of Boardroom Video Conferencing In India also provides audio conferencing and multimedia products.

How To Plan For A Video Conferencing Meeting

Face to face meetings are much planned ahead and well taken care of every aspect to avoid pitfalls. The same planning applies to meetings or conferences on line. When a two way interactive video session is conducted, identifying right audience, setting up appropriate objectives for fruitful results of the conference and making use of evaluation tools is the same necessary as in the face to face meeting. While presenting in a face to face environment the speaker gives much importance to be connected to audience and every second strives to keep the meeting interactive and lively with the audience. Connectivity and lively meeting is all the same essential in an on line meeting also but achieveing it becomes difficult as it requires additonal attention towards technical aspects of video conferencing which the members do not have control over.

Keeping the required technical staff who can handle problems spontaneously is most required. For smooth execution of the conference meeting tasks can be categorised into the following tasks for easy assignment to people differently in special conferences:

Program coordination

Event coordination

Registration

Site technology coordination

Program Co ordination:

If the team members are located at far of locations a strategy should be enforced for interacting with the team members regarding the meeting agenda , last minute amendments, inclusion or unavailabily of a team member just before the meeting. Keeping informed to the targeted audience is most important, it should not be taken as granted that people take initiave to attend the meeting, though they decide to come, many get struck up with their own agenda and tend to forget and regret for missing the session. So sending reminders to them people of the particular nitch helps in reaching the audience who really don't want to miss the program.

Event Coordination: If a common video conferencing location is assigned to the surrounding branches, a person who is much aware of the location should take the responsibility of facilitating the members joining the meeting. Some important reposibilities would be:

Identifying a board room which would is feasible for the management and accessible for the members to reach with little traveling.

Look through the technical arrangements of the board room which are required for the meeting.

Keeping in touch with the coordinator of the location in case of any urgent requirement during the meeting. Ensure that the coordinator is available till the meeting is over, so that any hinderances can be handled quickly.

Registration : Keeping the registration panel ready for the attendees to register if they have not done in advance, providing the members with scribbling pads and pens, if they are more comfortable in noting down the highlights during the Video conferencing session.

Technology Coordinator: Many people coming from diversified background use video conferencing software as a online conferencing tool. All of them many not be comfortable in using technology, a trained personel should be availble to help members in using the technology so that they do not feel uncomfortable with the technology.

The author Shelly Desuza is working with Peoplelink Corporate Solutions Pvt ltd, facilitates Desktop Video Conferencing also provides audio conferencing and multimedia products.

Making Sales Easy Using Video Conferencing

In the extremely advancing world of sales of current conditions, it is more expected that businesses get ready to more of uncertain market with denounce economic times. evaluating sales deployment and making innovative amendments in day to day strategies has become essential for all businesses and sales professionals in order to keep in pace with success.
Induction of new innovative tools and techniques to replace sales strategies in organizations plays a crucial role in boosting up sales professionals in facing emerging challenges in the competitive world. It helps sales professionals to be more determined and decisive at challenging situations which allows them to stand out boldly among the competitive world. Quick and timely decisions with clients and customers help in grabbing the opportunities being lost to the competitors. For which on line conferencing tool used of business meetings will be a best choice for sales as well to keep in touch with the customers. Video conferencing will be advantageous to sales as they face many professional challenges which are most commonly dealt with conversations and face to face interactions.
Generating new leads and conversion of a lead to a successful sales deal doesn't happen for one time conversation many times. It demands repeated follow up and careful persuasion of customers highlighting the product features along with high awareness of competitor product features. It becomes extremely influential using video conferencing when the sales professionals respond quickly face to face, with comparison of features upgraded, available and uniqueness of the brand.

Using video conferencing will improve sales and open up new doors of opportunities as getting into face to face interactions with customers happens quickly as there is no traveling involved. Arranging online production promotions, demonstrations and presentations through Webinars and holding Webcast for large audience and bring awareness in people increases sales dramatically.

Customers of today look for products which are extremely extraordinary in quality and demand demo of the products. Having sufficient demo products and services is a difficult situation for business organizations. A telephonic conversion may not reach to the standards of satisfaction of the customer who would like to visualize and have an interactive conversation regarding the products. By the use of Video conferencing software sales executives can present products with good presentations and regular interactions increases intimacy and friendship which strengthens faith, sales happens only on trust than with salesmanship.

Trust of the organization is built with how well the after sales customer service is dealt with. In a spread out world like today, old strategies do not work as the population was comparatively low with minimum technology based products. In a highly populated world of today with cities spread out unimaginably and diversified technical developments it is quite impractical to reach each customer when many of the problems can be solved on line through video conversations.
The above are just few instances where sales can make use of on line

conferencing tools like Video conferencing software to make sales easy, work at desk, cutting down traveling and saving time and money for the organization in turn improving productivity.

 The author Shelly desuza works with Peoplelink Corporate Solutions Pvt Ltd, a leader in Video Conferencing software and an eminent Telepresence provider in India.