Communication has always been an integral part of international relationships. Here are some ways to make the communication process easier and more affordable.
Lamenting the size of your business’ overseas phone bill? Tightening the business travel budget? If your business deals with overseas suppliers or clients, it’s important to maintain clear communication channels. Fortunately there are now ways of doing this without breaking the bank.
Voice of the internet
If you’ve ever used an international phone card, you’d be familiar with voice over internet protocol (VoIP). VoIP has been around for a while, but thanks to services such as Skype and Engin, it’s a more popular business communication tool than it was a decade ago.
VoIP allows you to use your existing connection to the internet to make calls. Broadband is preferred for better call quality, but other than that, all you require is the apparatus to listen and speak, which may just be the speaker and microphone on your computer, or a headset. Skype also has video calling, which means if you’re after one-on-one face time, all you need is a webcam and you can make video calls for the cost of your broadband bill.
Other tools using the internet include conference call systems, such as Citrix GoToMeeting. The service operates on a flat fee basis, which means you can meet often and control your spend. Look for a service that enables parties to meet without requiring complex equipment or set-up, as this will ensure your counterpart finds it easy to communicate with you.
A good conferencing system should allow you to make presentations or run demonstrations, which means you can pitch for new business without the expense of travel, and discuss and collaborate on documents online.
