Imagine your perfect conference room. A place where all of your staff and consultants work together on a project or participate in a meeting. There is an excellent feel, and a great communal and collaborative atmosphere. Everyone sits face-to-face, ready to exchange ideas that will help drive your company's short-term and long-term success.

In former times simple logistics could often impede this ideal meeting scenario. Often your staff may be out of the office or traveling for business. Now, with modern (VTC) video teleconferencing you don't need to compromise. The reality of that modern conference room, as well as an in-person collaboration experience, is something that is well within in your reach, even with your people located in different cities and time zones.

You can have face-to-face interactions and the sense of collaboration, even though critical personnel cannot make it to your meetings in person. Video conferencing systems have been building momentum and improving for several years now. There are now multiple options with varying price ranges, so regardless of the size of your business, you will have something that you can afford. 

Here are some new Video conferencing systems items we think will spark some interest from our clients:

• Da-Lite is offering a drop down screen with a built in video conference camera. They have bundled it with a microphone and a user interface. This system works with your computer so you can use Webex, Go to Meeting, Skype, Google Hangout (formerly Google Talk) or any of those types of services.

• Logitech has a new affordable (compared to normal business options) PTZ (pan, tilt and zoom) camera that could be used in budget rooms for better video than your typical cheap USB camera. 

• Polycom’s offers Eagle Eye Director, which is a two-camera system combined with a microphone that works with their high-end video conferencing systems. The Eagle Eye system automatically zooms in on the person in the room that is talking and then pans back out to show the whole conference table after they are done. It works very, well, and clients that have used it have gone on to add it to other rooms they have. 

• VFI has developed a whole line of furniture to make a video conference seem more realistic and flow better. Take a look at the multiple table options they have available. There are some unique designs. 

Whether you compete globally, nationally or statewide, everyone connects with the aid of video conferencing systems. Especially if budget cuts have reduced travel, video conferencing allows your team to be with clients or staff in moments. Another advantage of video conferencing is that you can pick up on the nuances of a meeting. Unlike telephone conference calls, you have the ability to look the other party in the eye and see if they look like they understand what you are communicating to them. Or, you can see if your staff is showing interest and attention in what you are trying to get across.

As technology advances and demand increases, video conferencing systems are becoming more and more accessbile to businesses of all sizes. But what we know for sure is that this is not a short-term trend. Video conferencing systems like the ones we mention above are surprisingly easy to learn and implement at your business. And we find that most clients get so much benefit from video conferencing, that shortly after we install them they often look to expand their systems.