NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) has virtually brought together its 6,000 employees across 100 sites in the UK with Citrix’s online meeting technology GoToMeeting.
NHSBT is responsible for the supply of blood, organs and associated services to the NHS. GoToMeeting enables online meetings and interaction among the NHSBT employees. The staff can share their computer screen with others participants in the meetings, as well as make use of electronic drawing and annotation tools such as highlighters or arrows, for interactive discussions.
Bernardo de Albergaria, vice president and general manager for global marketing and e-commerce at Citrix Online, said: “GoToMeeting is uniting an organisation with over 100 locations, ensuring consistent training for all its employees, and allowing them to easily, frequently and affordably stay in touch with colleagues, partners and suppliers.”
In addition to meetings, NHSBT is using GoToMeeting to impart training to its employees in the use of Knowledge and Skills Framework online tool, e-KSF. The sessions, which were earlier taken up in face-to-face settings, now turned virtual with the tool. Tutors also use GoToMeeting to follow-up with employees and assess their progress between sessions.
Mark Carter, desktop services manager at NHSBT, said: “Through online collaboration, we have significantly reduced staff travel which has in turn enhanced productivity across the organisation. Our training department rapidly saw the benefits in terms of cost-savings and productivity and are already planning to increase their usage in the future.”
A division of Citrix Systems, Citrix Online develops web-based remote access, support and online meeting technologies. In addition to GoToMeeting, it offers GoToMyPC, GoToAssist and GoToWebinar. GoToMyPC provides remote access to PC from any web browser; while GoToAssist enables remote support of customers and employees via shared screen, mouse and keyboard control; and GoToWebinar is an interface that helps users plan and organise webinars with up to 1,000 attendees each.
Earlier in 2008, Citrix has integrated free VoIP and audio conferencing for both Mac and PC with the newest releases of GoToMeeting and GoToWebinar.
