Videoconferencing and business air travel: Do new technologies produce new interaction patterns?

Videoconferencing is a technology in transit, with innovative platforms providing new communications opportunities and forms of co-operation. Although research has been occupied with the videoconferencing−business travel relationship for some time, little attention has been given to the diversity of the technology and how new technological platforms can create new interfaces with business travel. In this study, we summarize the emergence of videoconferencing as a business communication tool and emphasize the most recent developments. Data from a survey of business air passengers are used to examine access to different types of videoconferencing platforms and their interfaces with travel and face-to-face meetings. Results demonstrate an overall positive relationship between videoconferencing and business air travel, i.e., business people who travel a lot by air tend to participate in many video-meetings. However, the data also show large variations in travel and videoconferencing usage, and a substantial proportion of the respondents express a belief in travel replacement. Results from a regression analysis shows that respondents who have access to in-house videoconferencing rooms are more likely to believe in substitution than are those who only have available “new” technologies (e.g. videoconferencing for PC/Mac), even after controlling for individual and company characteristics.

• Small companies are more likely to utilize “new” videoconferencing platforms (e.g., web-based systems). • Large variations in travel and videoconferencing usage is displayed. • An overall positive relationship between videoconferencing and business air travel is revealed. • Respondents beliefs in travel substitution is influenced by the type of videoconferencing technology available.