Research from Towers Watson found that organizations that are highly effective at communications are nearly twice as likely to financially outperform their competitors as those who aren’t effective. Internal communications are paramount for a business of any size, and even the smallest businesses can experience miscommunication mishaps. While you might find that email and in-person communication might work just fine, there are a number of new internal communications tools out there that could help your employees stay in touch and on the same page. Here are three internal communication tools to consider trying for your business.
1. Slack
The most popular and successful of the communication tools, Slack has amassed more than 8 million users since it was founded in 2013. Essentially a comprehensive team chat tool, Slack’s interface breaks up communication into Slack channels that you can delineate however you want. Some channels might be for specific teams of people, while other channels might focus on a certain project or general topic.
You might have a channel for marketing, a channel for HR, a channel for your next big design project and a lunch or coffee run channel. You can control who gets to view each channel and you can chat individuals as well. The app works on mobile and desktop, so your team can stay in the loop on the go without having to toggle as much between emails and texts. Each channel is archived and searchable, so you won’t lose key information. You can also share files, video chat and share channels with people outside of your organization.
Pros: Integrates with Google Drive and Dropbox, video calls, robust and customizable
Cons: Some find the free version limiting, costs more than other tools
2. Chanty
Chanty, which offers organized communication via channels for customized purposes, pitches itself as a free Slack alternative. It has a clean, simple interface and might be a bit more user-friendly for the less tech-savvy. Setting it apart from other platforms is unlimited message history, meaning the tool will archive all conversations and channels even if you’re using the free version (Slack’s free version comes with a limit).
Pros: Free unlimited message history, simple interface, entirely free tool as of right now
Cons: Less integration capabilities with other apps, is in beta testing so all integrations aren’t available yet
3. Google Hangouts
If your business already uses Google’s G Suite, Google Hangouts might be the best option for you. You can send individual chats as well as create groups for different communication channels. Rooms in Hangouts Chat are similar in concept to Slack channels, offering dedicated spaces for communication around specific topics or projects. The integration with G Suite means it’s easy to upload Google Drive documents, make a video call or join a meeting.
Pros: Easily integrated with Gmail and the rest of G Suite, strong security
Cons: Costly, may not be worth it if you don’t already use G Suite
What tools does your business use to keep everyone in the loop? Let us know in the comments!
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