Disney has expanded their video conference solution into a very large and robust solution the last couple of years. They had a pretty disparate solution in place four or five years ago and took it upon themselves to review the technology they were using. After deciding to cut ties with their outsourced partner, they went in a different direction and chose a company that allowed them to innovate some of their technology as well as provide world class service. At that time Disney had one hundred rooms. Just over three years later they now have three hundred and twenty five rooms globally. Disney averages four thousand calls per month using these rooms. They also do a number of outside videoconferences with other companies like WalMart, Mattel, and Nintendo among others.

Disney prides itself in this capability and they have adopted high definition videoconferencing as the standard. As a media company they felt it was critical to have that technology. Their videoconferencing typically utilizes two screens: one for video and one for content. It is important for Disney to be able to send and receive HD content both on the video and content side. They tried to simplify it and put in multi-room systems where mobile units are the norm. This should drive adoption quicker because they are easy to use and simple to install.

An additional option Disney provides is called managed services. Think of a concierge service, similar to telepresence. Users can call help desk saying they want to schedule a call for two rooms at a certain time for a specific duration. Then they just walk in and the call is already up and running.

VTC and collaboration tools have become indispensable tools for Disney. Studies have even shown groups are up to thirty percent more productive when working via videoconferencing. It has also helped Disney push its “Going Green” initiative. When they started using VTC five to seven years ago it was just seen as a tool used for doing business. When the economy took a downturn though, it became a way to reduce travel costs and lower the carbon footprint. It also made it easier to implement these solutions without much resistance.

The preceding passage is from a 2010 IMF Report on “Cutting Costs through Teleconferencing” presented Disney’s Kevin Hyatt. Members can download the full report by logging into TheIMF.com and visiting our Reports section.

Is your company considering telepresence implementation? Are you struggling to juggle costs, compatibility, and vendor selection? Attend our next webinar on June 20^th: Implementing Telepresence across a Multi-Platform and Vendor Environment. The actionable advice given by Loews CIO Bob Fields could help point your videoconferencing initiative in the right direction!

 *Image courtesy of www.mickeymousewatch.net