Keep Britain Tidy saves a packet with videoconferencing

Keep Britain Tidy ambassador Kirsty Allsop cleans up her act

Keep Britain Tidy has implemented a web-based videoconferencing system that has eradicated the need for many of its remote staff to attend internal face-to-face meetings.

The charity first installed MegaMeeting 12 months ago and uses the software to broadcast video to between 60 and 80 home workers, directors and other employees using fixed and mobile broadband links.

“Normally we have one speaker based in our head office here in Wigan talking about company issues, and everybody else logs in and watches,” said Keep Britain Tidy ICT officer Scott Stevens. “We don’t use two-way video, but people use the text box to submit questions.”

The charity had looked at various videoconferencing systems in the past but found them unsuitable. However, the advances in broadband availability and quality prompted it to re-evaluate systems on the market.

“We looked at other products, but unlike those MegaMeeting did everything it said – there were no lies. It was fast, reliable and provided good customer and technical support,” said Stevens.

None of the Keep Britain Tidy staff or locations involved had to upgrade either their broadband links or computers, and the charity didn’t need to perform latency or bandwidth tests to make sure video and audio performance were up to scratch.

“We just had to change the video quality setting slightly, and it worked,” said Stevens. “We even have people on 3G sticks using it as well - though they have to be in a static location, and it works perfectly on home broadband.”

Stevens has been impressed with return on investment (ROI) advantages delivered by the software so far.

“If people visit our offices here [in Wigan] from London it will cost them £200 for a train fare and hotel, whereas the total licensing cost for the software is £200 per month,” said Stevens.