Companies using technology to save on business travel

Friday, August 29, 2008

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Companies like Tech Data are saving money on business travel by using more video- and web-conferencing.

PINELLAS COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Just as consumers are cutting back on travel to save money, so are several companies.

In fact, corporations are saving tens of millions of dollars each year, using technology to conduct meetings face-to-face. These companies are making changes to their travel budgets to save their bottom lines.

In the Bay area, daily departures from Tampa International Airport have been declining every month since March. Officials have said part of the reason is the drop in business travel.

Clearwater-based business technology company Tech Data is among those using video conferencing. Tech Data Senior Vice President of Marketing Joe Quaglia said the majority of the company's offices are now wired for video conferencing.

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He said the company's goal is to slash costs by about 25 percent each year.

"The technology is a lot easier to use today, and the quality is fantastic,' Quaglia said. "High definition video. High definition voice. It's really like being right there in somebody's office when you're talking to them."

Still, companies have not completely stopped business travel. Officials said technology helps but some face-to-face meetings are still necessary.