In today’s supersonic world, people are beyond busy. On top of the many things to worry about, there is absolutely no time to worry if video conferencing equipment is operating properly, has the latest software release or how in the world you troubleshoot that issue Operations had with a supplier in Germany yesterday.

You just want your video systems to work well, have your people utilize video, and be able to show your video investment is paying off. So how can you do this in an easy, reliable and affordable way?

One way to do this is via Managed Services. Simply put, managed services allow a conferencing supplier to fully support your video facilities and infrastructure, leaving you to focus on your real tasks at hand. Most companies do this to gain a lower cost of capital and labor, and for a single point of accountability for service and worry-free conferencing.

Managed services let you have confidence in your equipment, as well as increase user satisfaction and encourage adoption of the technology. It’s a win-win situation for both you and your video users. Your end-users get repeated positive experiences on video calls, and you can champion video as a cost-effective communication tool, while reducing travel expenses.

So, how do you choose a managed services partner?

First, you’ll need to decide what the custom mix of conferencing services should be to support your unique user requirements, versus a standard, out-of-the-box package. Your decision will affect your conferencing quality and support reliability, and possibly your return on your investment by

driving user adoption through training, ease of use, and a repeatable, consistent user experience.

Then, decide if you want web-based scheduling or via in-house software. Sometimes companies want open architecture that can integrate with existing software. More often than not, many companies are shopping for web-based software. Web-based applications supports online scheduling, as well as auto-launching of calls and remote equipment monitoring of your video systems from any internet-enabled computer in the world. The technology will help increase adoption of your systems by your people, and help deliver your ROI results.

Thirdly, you’ll want to make sure the provider you’re looking at has the ability to deliver in case of problems. Be sure to find out if you get full access to an experienced technical staff, and that the staff maintains a comprehensive listing of certifications across all manufacturers’ products.

Finally, you’ll want to look at budget—choose a provider that offers a powerful and affordable approach to maintaining and monitoring your video conferencing investment within your budgetary parameters.

Without a doubt, picking a managed services provider is an important option to consider. No matter what manufacturer of video equipment you utilize, managed services will help you with your bottom line.

Jeffrey Prestel is General Manager,BT Conferencing Video Business Unit, 937-259-5800;email: Jeff.Prestel@bt.com; web: www.btconferencing.com.