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Wainhouse Research Survey of Business Travelers
Tracks Use of Collaboration Technologies

Confirms Change in Travel Habits,
Rise in Use of Voice, Video, Web Collaboration Technology and
Changes in Attitudes Regarding Availability of These Options


September 4 2002, Brookline MA and Pleasanton, CA - Wainhouse Research today announced the results of a comprehensive nationwide survey of business professionals that confirms a shift in business travel habits and a sustained increase in the use of collaboration technology such as voice, video and web conferencing.

The survey, sponsored by Polycom, Inc., examined business travel trends and the use of collaboration technology before and after 9/11 and was conducted online from July 31 to August 9, 2002. Results include more than 700 respondents and reveal:

  • More than 40 percent of people in the U.S. workforce are taking fewer trips
  • More than 70 percent are interested in alternatives to travel
  • 63 percent rate access to collaboration technology as very important, as opposed to 44 percent prior to Sept. 11
Other key findings include:
  • The usage of all conferencing technologies increased after Sept. 11 Post Sept. 11 in-person meetings decreased 16.3 percent, to account for 45.4 percent of meetings. Before 9/11 in-person meetings accounted for 54.2 percent of meetings
    • Web conferencing usage increased 61.5
    • Video conferencing usage grew 24.5 percent
    • Voice conferencing usage grew 11.7 percent
  • Professionals believe that access to collaboration technology is important
    • The number of respondents that believed access to voice, web, and video conferencing was very important to them personally increased from 44.3 percent before Sept. 11 to 63.9 percent after Sept. 11 - nearly a 20 percent increase
  • Professionals recognize business and personal benefits Respondents believed that converting in-person meetings to travel alternatives using voice, web, and video conferencing would allow them to improve their business performance and personal lives
    • More than 60 percent of the respondents believed that use of conferencing technologies would allow them to get more work done (78 percent), make faster decisions (66 percent), and be more competitive (64 percent)
    • Fully 72 percent of the respondents stated that increased productivity would allow them to spend more time with family and friends
"The slowing economic conditions of 2001, combined with the inconveniences and fear around business travel following Sept. 11, were significant factors that increased interest in collaboration tools such as voice, video, and web conferencing," states Andrew W. Davis, managing partner, Wainhouse Research. "However, the lingering question is whether there has been any real change in usage patterns. This survey is significant, because it shows there was a change. Collaboration technology usage has risen and attitudes toward access to travel alternatives have changed. While we focus on usage patterns before and after Sept. 11, we do attribute the shift to an alignment of cultural and technology factors, rather than the single event. Travel is permanently more painful and less desirable. The economic climate is also a contributor, since many companies are watching the bottom line closely and working to reduce expenses. At the same time, conferencing technology has matured and associated costs have dropped. All of these factors play a role in the shift."

"Voice, video, and web collaboration is not designed to replace in-person interaction, it complements it by creating an environment that is as close as possible to being there and enabling people to work and communicate effectively over distances," states Patty Azzarello, chief marketing officer for Polycom, Inc., a worldwide leader in the convergence of interactive voice, video, data and web communications. "We have seen gradual changes in our customer's attitudes and usage patterns, which this survey confirms. While there is no substitute for in-person interaction from a relationship standpoint, many organizations are finding that virtual meetings can serve to build better relationships with more frequent contact, more responsive customer service and faster decision-making cycles. Most importantly -- converting some in-person events to virtual meetings keeps employees working productively, reducing the real cost of business travel -- the down time sitting on the runways, in airport lounges, and on the highways."

About the Survey

Wainhouse Research conducted the survey online at www.wainhouse.com from July 31 to August 9, 2002. Contacts from Wainhouse Research's own list and from a third party list were solicited via email. Five $50 gift certificates were offered to randomly selected respondents as an incentive to participate in the survey. A total of 843 participants responded, of which Wainhouse Research filtered out 140 responses from conferencing equipment and service providers. The results of this survey are based on 703 qualified respondents from small, medium, and large enterprises, government, education, and other organizations.

About Wainhouse Research

Wainhouse Research is an independent market research firm that focuses on critical issues in the rich media conferencing and communications fields. The company conducts multi-client as well as custom research studies for industry vendors, consults with end users on key implementation issues, publishes a news bulletin, white papers, and market statistics, and delivers public and private seminars as well as speaker presentations at industry group meetings. See: www.wainhouse.com

About Polycom

Polycom, Inc. develops, manufactures and markets a full range of high-quality, easy-to-use and affordable voice and video communication endpoints, video management software, web collaboration software, multi-network gateways, and multi-point conferencing and network access solutions. Its fully integrated end-to-end solution, The Polycom Office(TM), is supported by the Polycom Accelerated Communications Architecture, and enables business users to immediately realize the benefits of integrated video, voice data and web collaboration over rapidly growing converged networks. For additional information, call 1-800-POLYCOM (765-9266) or +1-925-924-6000, or visit the Polycom web site at www.polycom.com.

NOTE: Polycom and the Polycom logo are registered trademarks and The Polycom Office is a trademark of Polycom in the U.S. and various countries.

Contact Andy Nilssen, andyn@wainhouse.com

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