03 Mar 2009

Virtual technology 'may increase client relations'

Companies are being urged to embrace virtual technology, such as VoIP, as a means of streamlining costs.

Many firms who conduct conferences can adopt the model in order to hold virtual meetings or link a number of events, claims Richard Waddington, chief executive officer of event management specialist First Protocol.

"It's here and it's happening, so it's about embracing it, taking it on board and seeing how you can propose it to your clients," he told the International Confex 2009.

Organisations such as event management agencies which usually conducted face-to-face conferences may even consider altering the business demographic to a communication agency which may traverse different sectors, Mr Waddington adds.

The expert concludes that virtual technology is not a case of talking to people, but talking with them.

A worldwide survey by FutureWatch recently revealed meeting and event budgets are set to fall in 2009, illustrating the need for cost-cutting measures such as virtual technology.