How To Sell Videoconferencing Solutions

Videoconferencing technology is a rapidly growing industry predicted to reach more than $200 million by 2015, according to Gartner. While large enterprises have adopted telepresence as a key communications channel, small and midsize businesses have yet to incorporate this technology into their business models. Most of the systems on the market today require high bandwidth requirements, high upfront equipment costs and steep technical knowledge to operate, while the more economical or free systems do not provide the quality an optimal business tool should. As a result, videoconferencing remains difficult for most SMBs businesses to adopt. (Ed. note: See also, How To Liberate Your Mobile Workforce Using Unified Communications.)

The videoconferencing industry has seen great traction in the enterprise community as organizations are realizing the value it delivers. Synergy Research Group forecasts the industry to near $2.5 billion in 2011, up from $1.1 billion in 2010. But the real question remains how large a role SMBs will play in this market adoption? For the SMB market, the two core challenges of incorporating a telepresence offering into daily communications remain cost and quality. While high quality usually means high costs, there are some solutions on the market that have reconciled this issue to make telepresence an affordable option.

So how does the channel take advantage of telepresence solutions to remain competitive and grow businesses more effectively? How should your organization present and offer these solutions? Consider the following:

Self-engage with the system. Possession is 9/10 of ownership. Being an early adopter is an essential step in the selling process. Fully understanding the benefits and potential challenges your customers could encounter will help support the sale and continued use of the product. More importantly, it positions you as a credible authority and deepens your connection with your clients, which can support future sales efforts.

Seeing is believing. Increase your customer's comfort level by communicating using the videoconferencing system. An IDC study found that companies incorporating video collaboration into their business processes enjoyed the following benefits:

a. 30 percent average increase in productivity based on faster decision-making and review processes that led to faster project turnaround.
b. 35 percent average increase in collaboration with new business processes.
c. 75 percent faster dispute resolution, especially in companies or on teams where language or cultural barriers can create impediments.

For example, LMS Technical Services, an IT consultancy supporting more than 300 small to mid-sized businesses in the New York City/Long Island area, adopted telepresence as a key communications platform. Owner Larry Shulman recognized the need for a solution that would allow him to connect with internal staff and clients while reducing his travel time. Recently, he deployed 36 telepresence units across his office, his home offices and 32 of his 130 managed service clients.

“Deploying telepresence to my clients has worked out better than I expected,” says Shulman. “I now have the opportunity to enhance my personal and my business relationships with clients, which we may not have had over time. This allows us to provide a greater level of service, learn much more about our client’s businesses, and form deep relationships insulating us from competition.” Mr. Shulman’s success with videoconferencing has led to his clients purchasing systems for use between offices and their clients.

Position videoconferencing as a market differentiator. As market competition continues to increase, adding telepresence to the product mix will differentiate companies from their competitors. Highlight the aspects of telepresence that make it a no-brainer alternative to the traditional conference call, including: