New technology in the workplace is changing the way
corporations meet. If you haven?t
noticed, most company computers now come standard with the latest software,
allowing meetings that used to take hours (sometimes days) to conclude in a
matter of minutes. High-tech presentations held in business meeting facilities
or in your office and rapid data exchange are the norm (shareware, wireless
technology and video/Internet are just a few of the technologies leading the
meeting revolution). It?s not enough to provide projectors and dry-erase boards
anymore. The days of scrubbing marker remnants off your fingers from your last
presentation are over. With a few clicks of a mouse and the right network
connections, millions of viewers can watch a presentation the minute it?s
submitted online. In today?s competitive
marketplace, it?s more important than ever to demonstrate that your company and
the business meeting facility it uses is technologically sophisticated. The bar
has been !
raised ? do your
meetings measure up?
To Unplug or Not to Unplug
Wireless is everywhere?coffee shops, airports,
restaurants, even at home. Corporate
professionals who need instant access to online data have made wireless
technology a business meeting must. Whereas, before, a meeting consisted of
projectors, markerboards, and a notebook, today?s meeting includes a wireless
laptop for each participant, shareware, voice and keyboard chat, online quizzes
and polls and more. More and more companies are offering live online demos and ?webinars?
using the latest software, bringing professionals together from many different
locations and backgrounds. And with wireless technology, professionals can
participate in meetings from the road, without missing beat. Gone are the days
of squeezing in a meeting around your travel schedule and agreeing on a meeting
location. In are the days of meetings-on-the-fly, from the hotel, airport or
home. The motto of the times is ?get it now?, and it applies to both our
personal lives and our professional lives.
The Virtual Meeting
As businesses continue to expand their relationships
regionally, nationally and even internationally, the virtual meeting becomes an
enormous time and money saver. Getting in touch with partners and clients no
longer requires a plane ticket and a hotel room, but rather, a video
conferencing system. With video conferencing, professionals can join a meeting
from miles (or countries) away and companies save thousands on travel and
accommodations. Employees also save time and are able to get more work done
with travel taken out of the equation. Best of all, video conferencing still
provides, as closely as possible, the ?face-to-face? interaction that is so
important to maintaining a business relationship.
Location, location, location
It?s true for real estate and for business meetings ?
location is a major factor. A high-tech meeting requires a high-tech business
meeting facility. Professionals expect meeting facilitators to provide the
basic tools: Overhead projectors and a projection screen, CD/Audio cassette
players, VCR and TV monitors, DVD players, printers, and an internet
connection. More and more business meeting facilities are equipped with
wireless access, and many even rent wireless laptops to meet increasing demand.
To ensure ample bandwidth, the best business meeting facilities will have super
high speed T3 lines that can handle full-motion, real-time video, and very
large databases over a busy network, to avoid slow connections or bumping users
off the internet. In short, meeting venues need to offer everything that a
professional would have access to in their office, and more, to make the
meeting as convenient and seamless as possible. The technology should be
up-to-date and working proper!
ly at all times
and able to handle the most sophisticated presentations and requirements.
A Helping Hand
Providing up-to-date technology is only half the battle
for business meeting facilities. Technical difficulties can ruin a meeting and
equipment trouble can kill a meeting?s momentum or end it completely. For this reason, it is important to have a
professional setup the equipment and stay on hand in case problems later
arise?an expert technology consultant with AV/IT training can save time,
energy, and your entire meeting. Technical support can also help ensure that
off-site participants have compatible programs and equipment at their locations
in advance, as well as offer suggestions and creative ideas for delivering key
messages with the latest technology.
What Does This Mean for You?
Staying connected and up-to-date means staying
productive. New generations of workers will be more and more technologically
proficient, having grown up with computers and the Internet their entire lives.
Companies that don?t provide the equipment that these tech-savvy business
professionals have become accustomed to will be labeled ?behind-the-times? and
will appear less impressive. It could even lead to a loss of business. Today, many businesses still view these technologies
as "nice-to-have? tools but not necessities. But as technology continues
to play a leading role in business, it will be critical to stay in step with
the advancements to remain competitive. Don?t force your company to play
catch-up down the road when you can make the transition now.
Article provided by Q Center. Q Center offers unequalled
meeting resources, including 110,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space with
sophisticated technology to meet the most advanced needs. Great for meetings of any size, Q Center
comfortably accommodates 2 to 2,000 guests. For more information on using
technology for your corporate meeting, visit http://www.QCenter.com.
This article is copyrighted by Q Center. It may not be reproduced in whole or in part
and may not be posted on other websites, without the express written permission
of the author who may be contacted via email at qcenter@digitalbrandexpressions.com.
**************************************************************
Your Bio: R.L. Fielding has been a freelance writer for
10 years, offering her expertise and skills to a variety of major organizations
in the education, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, financial services, and
manufacturing industries. She lives in New Jersey with her dog and two cats and
enjoys rock climbing and ornamental gardening.
copyright: YES
