The initiative, according to metro spokesperson Themba Gadebe, sees the installation of video conferencing technology across the municipality’s offices, with full, live functionality and bridging facilities that have the ability to connect multiple video conferencing systems together.
“The completion of the first phase of the installation represents a milestone in the vision of the metro to create and maintain a smart and creative developmental city,” said Gadebe.
“The implementation of video conferencing technology also forms part of a greater strategic direction that the municipality is taking in terms of embracing and implementing new technologies for the benefit of its employees and citizens.
“The technology will enable quicker decision-making and execution by the municipality at executive level.
”The initial phase of the project has already seen 16 boardrooms fitted with video conferencing technology that will benefit the citizens of Ekurhuleni by facilitating greater productivity, cost savings, increased efficiency and, ultimately, faster service delivery.
“The next phase of this project will see an additional 15 boardrooms fitted with the technology and the project will continue into 2016.
“With the metro’s new video conferencing facility, meetings can be scheduled instantly, face-to-face, for a more personal experience, across various communication platforms.
“Besides traditional video conferencing, other platforms that can be used include devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktop PCs, thus allowing participants to remotely join the meeting from anywhere.
“With the video conferencing solutions that have been installed, simultaneous content sharing will also allow for a more collaborative meeting-room experience, without having to leave the work place.”
According to Ekurhuleni city manager Khaya Ngema, the video conferencing solution will result in the municipality ensuring significant cost savings and faster, more effective service delivery.
Other key benefits of the solution include:
* Emergency decision making in times of crises;
* Instant ad-hoc meetings for critical decision-making;
* The ability to include those who previously couldn’t participate, due to travel restrictions;
* Eliminate the need for note taking, as meetings can be fully recorded;
* Improved use of executive and municipal members’ time; * Video training to remote locations;
* Accelerated decision-making;
* Reduced carbon footprint.
“The video conferencing services can also assist to enable inter/intra government agency communication, including joint planning, training and education, multi-organisation co-ordination and collaboration, continuity of operations, and secure communications,” said Gadebe.
