For more years than I care to remember, I've been writing stories about how video conferencing is on the verge of really taking off in the business world - could this year be the one I'm right?

True, there are many large firms that have invested in so-called "immersive" video conferencing facilities. These specially constructed rooms give you the illusion that you're sitting across the table from somone, even if that someone is in another office thousands of kilometres away.

Yet video conferencing as a regularly used tool for the majority of businesses has always remained something that will become big "in the future".

But now, at last, it seems as though things might be changing. According to a report from research company Ovum, spending on video conferencing will hit $US3.8 billion by 2016. That's a fair chunk of change in any currency.

The drivers, when you think about it, are obvious. There is strong post-GFC pressure to keep a lid on business costs while at the same time improving productivity. Conducting video conferences with staff and clients is a whole lot cheaper than climbing on planes.

There's also the flexibility angle. If an MD equips offices around the world with video conferencing facilities, he or she can virtually visit multiple countries in a single day. Try that on an aircraft.

While desktop video conferencing tools are tipped to grow, usage of the immersive rooms at the big end of town are forecast to power ahead even faster. According to the Ovum report, this market will grow at a combined annual growth rate of 19.49 per cent over the same five-year period to hit $US1.1bn market by 2016.

Looks at though the technology is finally moving from a "nice-to-have" option to a serious business tool. Will you be making use of it in your workplace?