Count the whole journey
A meeting listed as one hour in the diary may occupy most of the day. Driving to the station, waiting for a train, changing services, finding the venue and returning home all add time. When several colleagues make the journey, the total can be substantial. Look at the combined time across the team, rather than only the duration of the meeting.
A simple example of staff time
Imagine six people each travelling two hours to a meeting and two hours home. That is 24 staff hours spent travelling, before the discussion begins. If it happens monthly, the same pattern adds up to 288 hours over a year. These are illustrative figures; use your own journeys for an accurate comparison. Some train time may be productive, so distinguish usable working time from time spent driving, waiting or navigating.
Other savings to consider
The potential saving goes beyond train tickets or fuel. Depending on the trip, you may also avoid parking, taxis, hotels, meals and the administration involved in bookings and expense claims. If a meeting requires a separately hired venue, remote attendance may reduce room and catering costs. Recovered staff capacity is different from a cash saving: salaries may remain unchanged, while colleagues have more time available for other work.
Compare the full alternatives
Remote meetings have costs too. Include the platform, equipment, setup and support when comparing formats. Video calls may suit a quick update, while a shared VR room may be worth trying for a presentation or collaborative discussion. Physical visits remain useful when the work requires being there. Choose one recurring meeting, calculate its total travel burden and test an alternative against a clear outcome.
Give the time back a purpose
Decide how recovered time will be used: completing client work, preparing a proposal or reducing a long working day. A shorter journey does not automatically improve productivity if the diary immediately fills with unnecessary meetings. OowOah VR Meeting Rooms provide one way to meet in a shared virtual environment. Assess the experience and the full cost with your own team.
Explore VR Meeting Rooms to find out more.