What's Web Conferencing And Why's It Important?
The simple definition of web conferencing is software that lets two or more users hold a typed, real-time, online conversion across the World Wide Web. Not too descriptive is it? Okay, the longer definition with a bit more meat is, web conferencing is used to hold group meetings or live presentations over the Internet. When the Net was first invented, web conferencing and computer conferencing meant group discussion within a message board. Over the years however, it has evolved to now mean live (synchronous) meetings.
Web conferencing software is also called Desktop Collaboration Software, Internet Conferencing Software, Web Collaboration Software, Online Collaboration Software, Webconferencing Software, and eConferencing Software - all of it of course, is ideal for team collaboration.
Ok, let's just focus on the web collaboration aspect, after all that is really what web conferencing was created for in the first place. Starting with the concept of working together, web conferencing gives an organization the ability to work with customers online or internally, via the Internet in real time. That is worth its weight in gold for business.
Most web conferencing packages usually consist of web-based tools within web sites to help an organization with sales, new revenue generation opportunities (leads) and to provide effective and interactive customer service, enhancing customer satisfaction. This is really what is called back-end software that lets your business share Web pages/or other pictures with customers while chatting live (if you have a microphone) or text chatting if you don't. And the nice thing about software like this is that you can talk to one person or several in your "rooms" and have conferences or seminars. Some web conferencing software also provides users with the ability to have personalized banners/headers in their rooms so that people entering the room know immediately where they are. Here's another cool feature. Web conferencing/web collaboration can be used in an Internet environment or it can be integrated with your business's existing phone system to provide automated customer assistance for a client's web based questions. It doesn't get any easier than that. Real time collaboration takes the place of face-to-face meetings when they are not possible due to geographical challenges. That means web conferencing/collaboration needs to provide awareness, ease of conversation, and the ability to share objects. For awareness you can use a Web page, or even a mobile device. For conversation use instant messaging, a chat room or videoconference over IP. What can be shared? Documents, applications, presentations, and drawings - and in this day and age, new applications are being developed even as you read this.
Knowledge Management
| 
