In an age of tight municipal budgets and struggling local economies, streamlining the processes of civic agencies is crucial. One of the best ways to reduce expenditures is to adopt time-saving technology such as video conferencing.

The Conway Police Department in South Carolina is adopting a conferencing system to conduct bond hearings. The agency tested the new system during April, which is designed to cut down transportation costs and the complex, security-heavy process of transferring inmates for hearings.

The trek from the Horry County Detention Center, where numerous area inmates are held, to the Conway Municipal Court is 16 mile round-trip. In addition to reducing vehicular expenses, the new technology will free officers up for other tasks.

As civic organizations and businesses alike adopt more web-ready hardware, such as high-performing servers and mobile devices, video conferencing becomes a more viable and practical option. As extra hardware and applications often aren't needed, the cost is minimal and setup can be accomplished without the services of an expensive IT consultant - a boon for cash-strapped enterprises and agencies.