The business value of telepresence technology

In September last year, a tele-surgery procedure performed at Aga Khan University Hospital was beamed to a delegation of the Panafrican Urological Surgeons Association.

The surgeons at Aga Khan performed the procedure with the guidance and participation of specialists sitting hundreds of miles away in India.

It was the first-ever surgical procedure done in Kenya with the aid of telepresence. During last year’s procedure, AccessKenya used a dedicated broadband link and Polycom HDX 8000 equipment to relay live actions performed by doctors in the theatre to an operative remote site.

The company was instrumental in the first tele-surgery procedure and hopes to tap into the market potential of this value-added service.

As a trademark of telepresence services, tele-surgery creates an in person presence and sense of reality for surgeons and the patient. It can simply be viewed as an advancement of the typical video-conferencing with real-life interaction. It is that “in person” feeling in a two-way video and audio interaction that brings out the wonders of telepresence.

Recently, AccessKenya further plunged its might in this new technology by unveiling a high-definition telepresence solution for companies in partnership with Polycom.

It joins other operators like Safaricom in the battle for a slice of the market-share of this convergence technology.

Being wooed

When the first tele-surgery was being shown, some organisations were already being wooed to the wonders of this technology in public Cisco Telepresence Suites in Kenya and Uganda.

These telepresence suites at Serena Hotel were unveiled by Safaricom in February last year in conjunction with Tata Communications and Cisco.

The public suites are linked to more than 32 locations across five continents, hence exhibiting the collaborative aspect of this convergence technology.

There are other ICT industry players who have cast their nets in telepresence services. Huawei Technologies is touting its next generation full-view telepresence solution.

Like other solutions provided by Cisco, Polycom, and other vendors, the Huawei full-view captures the physical set-up of telepresence.

There is a convergence of ICTs featuring high-definition screens with high-fidelity audio and video equipment, broadband connectivity, and several computer interfaces.

Some of the latest solutions have 3D capability, thus delivering an astonishing real-life sense of presence within the three dimensional setting of the boardroom for more intuitive interaction.

Benefits

The slow but sure adoption of telepresence in Kenya is riding on the benefits of this convergence technology. The business value of telepresence is clear.

By creating an intuitive and interactive virtual meeting environment, telepresence can help companies transform their business operations and cut travel costs.

Instead of managers burning resources on trips abroad, the technology gives room for state-of-the-art virtual meetings with business partners and customers all over the globe.

There is also the benefit of interactive communication within the organisation and this can lead to quick decision-making with improved productivity.

Beyond boardrooms

Opportunities and benefits of telepresence technology go beyond boardrooms. AccessKenya and Aga Khan Hospital have shown how the video tool can be used in the medical world.

Tele-surgery cuts down travel costs of patients and doctors in cases of specialised treatment. By using tele-surgery, doctors can offer remote surgery and medical services with minimal delays.

On the educational and research scene, telepresence is a clear enabler as it simplifies sharing of knowledge and interaction of minds across geographical regions. In the developed world, some institutions are using the technology to allow students to attend tuition or lectures from specialists.

However, telepresence has its own challenges. Its up-take is slow as companies weigh the actual costs against benefits. It can be quite expensive for a company to own telepresence suites. And the lease rates in the country are not as affordable as one might imagine.

The author is an ICT analyst and a telecommunication engineer.