Will your videoconferencing save this glacier?
Several weeks ago Mindfirst was engaged to produce a white paper articulating and discussing the greenhouse gas (GHG) benefits of virtual meetings, i.e. high-defintion (HD) telepresence and videoconferencing. In an era where managements are looking to both cut costs and improve efficiency through collaboration any collateral benefits that could be applied to carbon offset and corporate social responsibility (CSR) mandates would be highly welcome.
Initial research included a survey of existing publications and primary source discussions with professional advisory services providers including accountants, consultants, executive search firms and lawyers. Most firms found compelling financial justification for videoconferencing. In a world where professional advisors can charge more than $700 per hour it takes less than one saved business flight per month to justify a videoconferencing system. Add to this the reduced wear and tear on the executive, as well as improved home/work balance the proposition for videoconferencing becomes overwhelming. Why then are there not more videoconferencing systems in place? Part of the answer lies in the hassle of managing and booking a system internally and the need to often get technical support to set things up. Many of these barriers are overcome with managed services solutions such as those provided by Mindfirst and iTMethods.
When it comes to implementing green solutions most managers have adopted measures from a “feel-good” moral perspective. That is changing. Methodologies such as ISO 14604 have been created to quantify GHG and carbon offset benefits of various activities in a business. As companies pursue mandates to achieve a zero carbon footprint, i.e. carbon neutrality, these numbers will start to appear in the CSR sections of corporate annual statements and reports.
Ultimately, Mindfirst did not write the proposed white paper because there was plenty of good material out there already. Notably, the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) report provides a thorough overview of videoconferencing and argues passionately in favour of broad adoption. A copy is linked below. Entitled “Virtual Meetings and Climate Innovation in the 21st Century – Can offsetting CO2 emissions from flights by investing in videoconferencing be a way to support transformative change?”, the document is a fascinating read.
WWF – Virtual Meetings and Climate Innovation in the 21st Century
Through this investigation Mindfirst has found corporations intent on exhibiting leadership by decreasing their carbon footprint while concurrently improving customer service, employee morale, profitability and competitive positioning. We hope to publish their case studies and stories here in coming weeks. Stay tuned.
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