We talk a lot about the innumerable benefits reaped by businesses that implement video conferencing solutions, but the work done by local, state and federal agencies can also be improved and enriched by video conferencing. There is perhaps no field more reliant on dependable connections and effective collaboration than public service. Because we’re not just talking about commerce here--we are dealing with public safety, national security and immense federal budgets, among other things. So here are a few ways government agencies can do better work for the people they serve with the help of video.
Citizen Outreach
At the local level especially, citizens should feel like their representatives in government are accessible and responsive. Elected officials and government employees should be able to offer their constituents something more than a form letter or terse email in response to questions and concerns. Now, of course it would be impossible to video conference with everyone who wants something from their city or county, but for citizens with especially dire or persistent issues, a brief video conference could do wonders. People want to be heard. Hear them. People want to feel seen. See them. Plus, offering video meetings to citizens means government agencies can save themselves the tension and escalation of an in-person meeting. Everyone wins.
Public Safety
Mobile video conferencing solutions, when placed in the hands of first responders and their superiors, can improve both the speed and quality of emergency services. In large scale crises, multiple agencies must work together seamlessly and quickly, and video can help everyone stay together in situations where every single second matters.
Reduce Travel Expenses
Federal agencies rack up approximately $15 billion in travel expenses annually. It should go without saying that a good chunk of that $15 billion is entirely justified. The U.S. is a world power, and government officials need to put their feet on the ground in the various nations in which we do business. But like their counterparts in the corporate world, federal agencies can and should be able to cut costs by implementing video conferencing solutions whenever a face-to-face meeting is not absolutely necessary.
Keeping Military Families Connected
While deployed overseas, military personnel go months without seeing their loved ones. Such separation can take its toll on service members and their family back home. Video conferencing gives soldiers and their families a chance to speak to each other face-to-face across otherwise insurmountable distances. While nothing will ever compare to being home with one’s children, the chance to connect via video on a semi-regular basis can keep that vital connection alive for people who have chosen to do a very difficult job in very dangerous places.
Cutting Courtroom Costs
As we discussed in a previous blog post, introducing video conferencing solutions into legal proceedings can reduce travel time for inmates facing trial while increasing access to experts and other witnesses who would otherwise have to travel great distances to testify in a hearing. Additionally, a courtroom equipped with video conferencing capabilities can simplify scheduling and, in cases of increased security risks, guarantee safety for all involved. All of this adds up to considerable savings for all agencies involved.
Explore our video conferencing solutions for local, state and federal agencies.
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