With so much technology available to the digital marketing professionals today, it is hard to know what equipment to choose, how it will benefit the organisation and, most importantly for managers and Financial Directors, what return on investment can be proven as a result of the purchases. Interactive whiteboards, such as the StarBoard from Hitachi, have now been in the technological limelight for over a year, catching the attention of the DfES and leading to an initial government investment of �25 million to equip a large number of schools in the UK with the boards. With an interactive whiteboard solution costing from �2500 for the board, projector, installation and training if required, it�s an investment that needs to be justified in terms of quantifiable ROI.

So what are the benefits of interactive whiteboards and what return on investment can managers expect after they purchase the new technology? The presentation and training benefits have been widely documented. Greater interaction between the presenter and audience, the ability to quickly engage a whole group, a visually stimulating medium and the ability to show and demonstrate points in a way that was previously impossible are just some of the instant benefits. An interactive whiteboard certainly comes with all the right credentials, but how do you balance this up against the cost?

Just by being there, an interactive whiteboard in your business is an immediate plus point that attracts new business and convinces current clients that the organization is staying abreast of the latest facilities available. Slick presentations, an obvious decrease in cluttered piles of paper and integrated, collaborative training sessions that are stored on the business�s network are just a few of the immediate benefits that are reflected in the running of the organization. Raising the profile of your business is integral to attracting more clients and keeping stakeholders happy. The installation of high tech facilities such as interactive whiteboards can contribute enormously to the perceived image of the business. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, an interactive whiteboard can act as a real USP for a business, as well as distinguishing it from its competitors.

But it�s not all about first impressions. Interactive whiteboards are an effective tool for decreasing administration workloads that can prove to be a burden for businesses. Linked up to an organization�s network, presentations or training sessions that are completed on the board can also be saved as HTML files and distributed via email � dramatically cutting the cost of photocopying and providing staff and customers with a fast, efficient medium for sharing resources. It is a joy to visit a business where the administrative workloads are minimal so that staff can concentrate on what they do best. It also means that clients and customers will be getting better value for money, as more time can be spent on the organization�s primary function.

The Environment Agency is just one of the many organisations now using interactive presentation technology to enhance business processes. Ron Johnson, Flood Warning Engineer, explained, �As part of our flood warning and management service, the Environment Agency records all events surrounding a flood. Hitachi�s interactive whiteboards streamline the whole process by providing a totally interactive presentation solution. Notes made directly on to the board can be saved, whilst maps of flood areas can be displayed and annotated over. Photographs taken by staff in the field can also be discussed and annotated over and then this information can be forwarded on quickly to Environment Agency staff tackling the floods.�

Hitachi�s interactive whiteboards will improve the efficiency of the Environment Agency�s flood management department, enable smarter conferencing and assisting in reaching its goal to reduce business mileage by 50% before 2007, aided by the use of remote video conferencing.

Video conferencing is another bonus that organisaztions such as The Environment Agency can take advantage of on their interactive whiteboards. In today�s global economy, the ability to link up with customers or offices anywhere in the world to talk, interact and share resources via a live link is invaluable. Video conferencing businesses from across the globe into a presentation opens up a whole new world for sharing resources, using an extremely cost effective medium that saves on travel costs and allows employees to gain the benefits from resource sharing from the comfort of their own office.

One feature of interactive whiteboards that provides a valuable management tool is the ability to track back to particular presentations and gain valuable insight into previous meetings. From sales and marketing to strategy and planning, any information discussed can be accessed instantly and distributed effectively as employees are able to save work completed on the board each time they hold a presentation or training session.

In conclusion, businesses have an ever increasing variety of technology available to them and it is important to assess what return on investment is to be expected before taking the plunge. Interactive whiteboards are valuable presentation aids, but also make the running of an organization more efficient, doing much to raise its profile. They are certainly on the top of many establishments� wish lists at the moment!