IT contractors should remind companies of the benefits that working technologies can bring to their business, according to a major multimedia company.

Newer technologies can help firms limit the impact of external problems, yet many companies are not embracing the new systems, claims Alistair McKinnon, senior product manager for IP Multimedia at Virgin Media Business.

Restrictions on travel such as the one currently in place across Europe, industrial strikes and bad weather can have a major impact on businesses, yet live messaging, group chat and live meetings can allow businesses to carry on more or less as normal, Mr McKinnon claims.

He said: "It amazes me that more organisations don't embrace some of the newer technologies that are available to minimise disruption on their organisation.

"Technologies are really good to help out when the problems occur, but also they are improving productivity on a day to day basis."

According to Outsourcery, technologically-savvy businesses that rely on web hosted communications have remained "largely unaffected" by the current aviation crisis.