O’Kane Food Services Boosted by Video Conferencing
23/03/2010
Leading catering supplier is fan of video conferencing to communicate with their London head office.
It’s no secret that video conferencing saves money, so why is it that NI firms are slow to pick up on the money saving technology?
Pictured are James Conlon, MD of Niavac (left) with Robert Bester of O'Kane Food Services
James Conlon of NIAVAC Audio Visual says that the potential for growth in this area is huge and 2010 see this technology come of age in Ireland and the UK. “Five years ago it was only the really large, technologically advanced firms that were employing video conferencing as a way of meeting with their staff in offices across the world, but now it’s a service that can be purchased cost effectively by many SMEs. Awareness is building and many firms are realizing that it’s something that they will have to consider investing in this year. In some cases it’s because their clients are using VC and they are responding to it. Other businesses we are working with see it as a way to transform the way that they do business and open up global market opportunities.”
Case in point is O’Kane Food Services; part of the UK based Brakes Group. Senior executives with O Kane Food Services, Lisburn regularly use NIAVAC’s AV hire facility to communicate with their London head office.
Financial Director Robert Bester explains: “On a monthly basis a team of senior managers would meet the directors of Brakes at their Convent Garden offices, London. Often we’d leave for a 7am flight and not return to 10pm that night – all for a two hour meeting. Obviously that does not represent a good use of time for four of our top executives so we explored the video conferencing option. We’ve used NIAVACs hire facility a number of times to meet with our London colleagues and it’s been very successful. It’s every bit as good as sitting in the room with them – and far more focused and personal than a lengthy phone conference. We can spend the morning in the office, drive to Belfast to have our meeting in the afternoon and still be home to spend time with our families and children.”
Robert says that the time savings aren’t just about salary issues. “The value of VC to us, is that it enables our executives to have time to work on the business, to give the benefit of their time and skills to O Kane Food Services, rather than wasting time on ‘planes, trains and automobiles’. It also fits in with our green policy by reducing air travel and helps our staff strike a more favourable work life balance.
“Our business is growing rapidly now and I would say that VC been instrumental in running our business more efficiently and supporting our growth.” Robert adds.
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