Multiple Communication Channels Mean Ready Access and Quick Response!
Effective and efficient communication is one of the cornerstones of any successful business. Particularly when dealing with remote employees and long-distance business relationships – as we at Access Direct and many of our clients do – technology is key in facilitating smooth communication.
Our #1 go-to tool that enhances employee engagement and productivity is office instant messaging (IM); we use Skype. Why?
In our experience, we’ve found that email communication tends to be more “long-form,” meaning more time to both write and read these messages. Email can also get lost in increasingly cluttered inboxes, so response may be delayed.
Big Benefits With Instant Messaging
We handle many issues throughout the day with group or individual IM, because it’s fast and effective. We use the phone for more in-depth issues, and we meet weekly in a face-face staff meeting. But compared to ten years ago when email and phone were the primary tools, chat is the technology that really helps us resolve issues quickly with minimal distractions.
Whereas some might think IM means less engagement, or even isolation, we would disagree; we find it keeps us all more engaged, and it allows us to resolve questions and issues quickly.
There are a number of options when it comes to selecting an instant messaging provider for your business. Features to consider when comparing options include the availability of video chat, auditing and administrative control capabilities, and security.
IM Demand Continues to Grow
In an article last year for Forbes titled “Instant Messaging is Going Corporate,” Howard Baldwin discussed how businesses are increasingly using instant messaging tools. Baldwin discusses the growth in the Enterprise Instant Messaging or EIM field, as new startups are competing for their share of a growing market.
Part of this growth is due to demographics. Baldwin references data presented by Johnson Liu, founder of EIM firm Peer.im: those over the age of 35 still prefer communicating via email, while the 35-and-under crowd tends to favor instant messaging. These findings show this field will only continue to grow in importance.
Clearly a combination of communication tools is a best practice for businesses of any size. Combining IM, email, and advanced telephony options ensures accessibility in an era of increasing competition. These are the kind of options that we at Access Direct use, and offer to our clients, making us experts on the subject. Have questions about what instant messaging solution would work best for your business? Get in touch!
