Chanel Carter
September 15, 2015
The current technology that I believe will have the most impact on the way work is done is video teleconferencing, which allows two or more to interact via two-way video and audio transmissions. Nowadays businesses are looking to reduce traveling expenses and increase productivity. For instance, during my internship at Widmer
Interiors, an interior design firm, I first witnessed and experienced videoconferencing in a business aspect. This specific company was transitioning into modern day technology due to so many designers having to constantly leave the office for meetings with vendors, contractors, or clients. As opposed the typical emails we would send, videoconferences inspired the empathy that business relationships are built on. During my video calls, all of my client’s facets of communication were replicated, from tone of voice to facial cues, creating a stronger and connected relationship.
Video teleconferencing can have a dramatic effect on productivity by giving business partners a sense of being in the same room. For example, videoconferences are more effective than staring at a phone during a conference calls or reading countless messages. This real-life like interaction can result in things such as better decision making by information being readily available to all workers involved. This source of technology is also affective for mobile workers and those that telecommute in the sense that you can also participate in a videoconference on your mobile device.
Working for an online retailer rather than a brick-and-mortar can differ by having an increased ability to meet schedules, have geographic flexibility, and being housebound. For instance, it may not be necessary for an individual to live in close proximity of the company they are working for if they have little to no need to be at a designated location everyday. Using a local Dicks Sporting Goods store as an example of a brick-and-mortar company, they will have jobs such as a cashier, manager, assistant manager, sales associate, customer service specialist, and human resources. Online retailers such as Asos.com differ by having jobs such as e-commerce analyst, IT managers, online visual merchandiser, buyers, infrastructure business analyst, etc. The skills that are important in these environments are the ability to ensure adequate communication, operate the various IT tools, as well as the ability to complete decisionmaking processes being that some jobs have little to none daily supervision.