| Keeping costs under control is a challenge | | | | business. |
| that most companies face, but for small | | | | |
| businesses operating on tight budgets it is | | | | For firms operating on incredibly tight |
| essential if they are to survive. So, any new | | | | budgets like PippedOnline the ability to |
| technology, such as free calls via the | | | | conduct high quality video conferences via PC |
| internet that can help reduce costs is | | | | is literally a Godsend. Not only can Wilson |
| welcome news to the large army of small | | | | get the vital human interaction necessary to |
| businessmen and businesswomen throughout the | | | | develop meaningful business relationships, |
| UK. | | | | but he can also do it without leaving the |
| | | | comfort of his own office. In addition, it |
| For those who regularly deal with | | | | also addresses the productivity issue as key |
| international clients and suppliers it can be | | | | employees are not out of the office |
| quite damaging to cash flow to frequently | | | | travelling to meetings. |
| travel abroad in order to attend meetings. | | | | |
| Previously, however, the only realistic | | | | He said: "We win in three ways with video |
| alternatives to face-to-face meetings were | | | | conferencing. Not only can we spend more time |
| phone conferences which tended to be | | | | in the office being productive, we keep costs |
| difficult to arrange, usually expensive, and | | | | down by not travelling and it also makes |
| often led to confusion and misunderstandings | | | | PippedOnline more eco-friendly by cutting |
| between the parties involved. | | | | down our travelling carbon emissions." |
| | | | |
| However, the combination of internet and | | | | But, Wilson concedes it is the economic |
| broadband has made life a lot easier for | | | | benefits that appeal to him most. In line |
| small and medium-sized businesses, especially | | | | with the figures produced by OFCOM detailing |
| those that have clients or customers in | | | | the impact on SME costs, he has seen his |
| foreign countries. Although larger companies | | | | broadband bills drop by 20% since 2004, and |
| can usually afford to regularly send staff | | | | his telephone costs reduced by 8% over the |
| abroad, for many small businesses such an | | | | same period. |
| expense cannot be justified. So, those that | | | | |
| have customers abroad must find alternative | | | | Now, he is also seeing the benefit of |
| methods of conducting their business, and | | | | reducing international travel costs, as he |
| using internet phone and video calls can be | | | | regularly makes free video conference calls |
| the perfect solution. | | | | to his clients in Canada and Germany, via the |
| | | | internet. Using video conferencing is |
| David Wilson, Managing Director of Pipped | | | | particularly pertinent for Wilson as he is |
| Online Ltd, a specialist marketing agency | | | | able to include several staff and suppliers |
| based in the South West of England, has | | | | at any one time, although he has never got |
| suppliers and customers throughout the UK, | | | | anywhere near the maximum 24 people that he |
| Scotland, Germany, and Canada. Constant | | | | could include. |
| travels to their premises took him and his | | | | |
| small number of staff out of the office for | | | | He is in no doubt though that all small |
| days at a time, leading to a loss of | | | | businesses should take up the internet phone |
| productivity and an increase in company | | | | and video calls options, although rather |
| expenditure. But recently, he has been able | | | | mischievously he hopes his competitors don't, |
| to cut down international travel and reduce | | | | making their cost base significantly higher |
| his telephony bills after selecting to use | | | | than his own! |
| internet phone and video calling for his | | | | |