Only in the United States, there are around 55 million meetings held each week. That’s at least 11 million per day and over 1 billion per year.

What makes virtual meetings so beneficial? Here are  5 main reasons!

In this digital age, virtual meetings have become commonplace. Businesses and organizations of all sizes, across many industries, are turning to virtual meetings to connect with remote colleagues and customers. It’s no surprise that virtual meetings are so popular; they offer many advantages that physical meetings do not. In this article, we’ll highlight five of the biggest benefits of virtual meetings.

1. Cost Savings: Virtual meetings allow businesses to save on costs associated with physically assembling teams, including travel expenses and facility rentals. According to a study by GetVoIP, businesses save an average of $11,000 per employee in travel costs when they switch to remote work. This number is expected to climb as more businesses embrace remote work and virtual meetings in the coming years.

2. Increased Productivity: A study conducted by Harvard Business Review found that virtual teams operated at higher levels of productivity than their traditional counterparts. This is due to a number of factors, such as improved communication, shorter feedback loops, and more efficient coordination. Additionally, with fewer distractions and a focus on the task at hand, virtual meetings can help teams move quickly and complete tasks more efficiently.

3. Improved Collaboration: Virtual meetings enable participants to collaborate more effectively by using digital tools such as video conferencing and screen sharing. This makes it easier to discuss projects and ideas and helps to keep team members on the same page. Additionally, virtual meetings offer multiple points of input and can be more inclusive than traditional meetings, making them more suitable for diverse teams.

4. Increased Engagement: According to research from Dr. Robert M. Galford, remote workers are more engaged than their in–office counterparts. Virtual meetings can help to maintain employee engagement by providing opportunities for employees to interact with each other and stay connected.

5. Increased Accessibility: Virtual meetings make it easier for those with physical or time limitations to connect with colleagues and attend important meetings. With virtual meetings, people who may not be able to physically attend a meeting can still connect with the group and have their voice heard.

It’s clear that virtual meetings are advantageous to businesses and organizations in a variety of ways. From cost savings to increased engagement, virtual meetings can help businesses to run more effectively and efficiently. As more companies embrace the opportunities presented by remote work, expect to see even more businesses taking advantage of virtual meetings in the years to come.

Sources:

GetVoIP. (2020). How Much Money Do Companies Save By Going Remote? GetVoIP. Retrieved from: https://www.getvoip.com/blog/remote–work–cost–savings/ Harvard Business Review. (2020).

Virtual Team Productivity: 5 Reasons to Embrace Remote Work. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/2020/03/virtual–team–productivity–5–reasons–to–embrace–remote–work Galford, R. (2016).

The Engagement Dividend: The Organizational and Financial Benefits of Employee Engagement. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from: https://hbr.org/resource/the–engagement–dividend/