Enterprise Centre gets Virtual Advising system

May 23, 2010

Meeting with the team at Enterprise Centre Sault Ste. Marie just got a whole lot easier.
   
The small business wing of the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation, which services the Algoma District and Chapleau, is preparing to launch its Virtual Advisor system. The system will allow staff  to overcome distance barriers and meet with clients online across the region. 
   
“This will make it much easier to reach out to clients,” said Andrew Ross, General Manager for Enterprise Centre Sault Ste. Marie. “It will also make our services more available for those looking to start or expand a business.” 
   
What makes the Virtual Advisor system different from videoconferencing is that it allows for documents to be shared in a way that both end users can view it and make edits simultaneously.
   
When reviewing business plans, which can be used to apply for government grants and low-interest loans, such software will come in handy, added Ross.
   
“A face-to-face meeting is the best way to conduct business consulting, but, given the travel distance between our head office and clients throughout our district, this isn’t always possible,” he said. “The Virtual Advisor system provides a method of reducing distance barriers that are common in Northern Ontario, particularly in rural areas.”
   
The purchase of the equipment was made possible thanks to a $15,000 investment from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade.