In this era or age of globalization, the need to collaborate and communicate among virtual teams has become a major concern. R&D and sales, corporate operations, and marketing team, once found in the same place, state, or city, may now be found in different places, states, or cities. It’s for this reason that the virtual team is looking for more efficient and faster business processes in the extremely competitive business environment. One such technology that assists a virtual team in its dealings is telepresence technology. This technology has enabled different people or participants from different places are able to participate at the same time in a conference room discussion.
Telepresence technology has improved communication in a virtual team since it can enable a remote odd individual to participate in a conference room discussion from a webcam or laptop. Rather than a virtual team member traveling to participate in a face-to-face meeting, Additionally, telepresence technology has enabled a member/party of the meeting to see/talk to every other virtual member on the screen as if they were in the same room or place. Thus, it has enabled the virtual team to save time and cost. Telepresence technology is superior to phone conferencing and has the ability to enhance communication between virtual team members. Thirdly, telepresence technology will enable many people to communicate at the same time from different places (independent of location or places). Other benefits include: reductions in travel and downtimes, increased productivity, and improved customer services in the virtual team.
One example in which this technology has improved communication in my field of Defense Health System is that telepresence has enabled our medical unit to diagnose and treat patients that are in remote places. Additionally, medical practitioners, with the aid of telepresence, are able to give instructions in operations procedures to doctors in different areas.