Conference Calls
Why it's important: A surge in conference call activity may mean companies are meeting remotely instead of traveling to visit clients.
Outlook: Conference calls started rising a bit at the end of summer, a spike that continued into September, says David Byrd, vice-president for operations at Fort Worth-based AccuConference. He estimates volume is up 5% or 10% above normal. While some clients have cut back, Byrd says, the number of companies turning to conference calls as a low-cost alternative to travel has more than made up the lost business. "Companies are going back to basics, saying what do we need, what don't we need," he says.
