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Many businesses are reaping the benefits of instant messaging for their internal communications. From boosting productivity to efficient issue resolution, we explain how your company can improve its communications processes by implementing instant messages into your daily operations.
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Instant messaging, also known as IM or IMing, is real-time contact between two or more people using internet-ready devices, including computers, mobile phones and tablets. Employees use IM to collaborate on projects, ask quick queries and stay organised. It has been used to replace in-person and phone call conversations and is often utilised as a secondary form of communication.
As a small business owner, you may wonder whether it is beneficial to use instant messaging for your internal communications or whether it is too complicated to add something new to the mix. But, after all, easy connections are key to allowing your business operations to run smoothly and efficiently, and IMing unlocks the door to speedy messaging. IMing could be the key to helping your business improve its communication flow and keep your team connected.
Instant messaging in business is at an all-time high and is expected to continuously grow. In 2019, the number of worldwide IM accounts total over 7.0 billion. This figure is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 6% over the next four years. It is anticipated to reach over 8.9 billion by the end of 2023.
Another study states that 42% of online customers prefer instant messaging for business matters, compared to 29% of those who prefer email or 16% who opted for social media. It is clear that IMing is a popular method of internal communication and will continue to grow rapidly.
Primarily, IM has been designed so that employees can send and receive short-form messages, in real-time, for group discussions or one-to-one conversations.
For instant messaging to work as intended, all participants need to be online to provide prompt communication among employees. But saying that, the great thing about instant messaging is that you can use or download the application on most internet-ready devices, including mobile phones, tablets and computers. As most of us carry our mobile devices wherever we go, people can receive instant messages, even when those people are away from their computers.
In addition to instant messaging, users can also complete a wide range of other tasks within the app, such as voice and video calls. Here we explain some of the most popular actions that employees take when using IM in business:
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Both email and an instant messaging app achieve the same thing - to send a message to another party over the internet. While both these forms of communication are initially the same, there are reasons to choose one messaging platform over the other for specific projects and tasks.
Having both messaging platforms for your internal communications comes with many benefits. It sets apart the more formal messages from quick notes you want to send your team members. The following explains a bit more clearly the most common reasons users choose to email or IM:
Email: Email provides a certain level of formality that instant messaging tools do not. Email is not usually used for a casual chat or quick questions, so this communication option is most commonly used for scheduling interviews, formal discussions, sending contracts and managing disciplinaries. Organising emails are generally straightforward, so if you are sending important information, it’s usually much easier to track and manage.
Instant messaging: This method of communication is not the most formal way of talking with your coworkers, so it is normally used for quick updates and queries. Instant messaging apps come with more features than email, so it is most effective for multitasking and getting the job done (e.g. having a meeting to corroborate with team members while sharing files over message).
Instant messaging is an essential tool as it allows business operations to run smoothly and efficiently. As long as your employees are tunnel-visioned on work projects and are not distracted while using IM apps, this form of contact has many benefits to boost company growth. Here we want to highlight the advantages of adding instant messaging to your internal communication strategy.
With 71% of employees working either fully remotely or part-time as a result of the pandemic, it can help facilitate prompt conversations and allows people to share information quickly without the long-winded process of drafting up an email or engaging in a lengthy phone call to gain a quick response to your query. Whether you have people working remotely or under one roof, it helps connect your employees as it provides real-time, instant updates on necessary information.
As well as better connecting your employees, instant messaging encourages a friendly environment among colleagues. Those kinds of connection-building conversations over instant messaging platforms help team members improve work relationships and boost company morale.
Quick responses to resolve pressing issues, what more could you wish for? During a crisis, you want nothing more than a quick solution to ensure business options keep running smoothly. With IM, you can do just that. Messages are seen, dealt with and resolved much faster when using real-time communication services. Just sending a simple thumbs-up emoji can help resolve issues promptly.
One survey showed that 66 per cent of participants identified quick resolution of simple questions. It shows that by implementing an instant internal communication app into your business, your employees are likely to get the answers they need more quickly.
Convenient, easy to use and prompt, instant messaging in the workplace boosts productivity and increases efficiency. Instant messaging saves time because it is what it is – instant communication. One study showed that 21 per cent of workers who used instant messages had a moderate or significant improvement in productivity. The same study stated that 75 per cent of participants found that there is decreased call and email volume.
Instant messaging not only allows prompt feedback from team members and immediate access to shared files, but it also aids in decreasing opportunities for miscommunication.
There are many business instant messaging apps designed for company internal communications. Connect to your inner teams with our top instant messaging apps for coworkers.
3CX: 3CX has its own internal messaging app that allows your teams to discuss customer issues with the team over chat or calls. It has the option to set up video conferencing or group chat for the whole team or company-wide meetings and assign discussions. You can also link your 3CX phone system to your Microsoft Teams to make calls from Teams and use it as a chat system. This app is free with 3CX StartUP with no per-user per-month pricing.
Horizon Collaborate: This instant messaging application is fully integrated with the award-winning Gamma Horizon cloud telephony service. Adding Horizon Collaborate instant messaging will add the benefit of business telephony features alongside collaboration tools such as video conferencing and instant messenger. You can also link your Gamma Horizon phone system to your Microsoft Teams to make calls from Teams and use it as a chat system.
Slack: This popular messaging app holds around 10 million daily users. Slack allows users to create private channels to streamline internal business communications and partner with external companies. According to the latest estimates, 32% of employees named Slack as one of the best tools that improved their productivity.
Microsoft Teams: The most popular messaging app in the business world, Microsoft Teams holds approximately 13 million daily users. With the integration of Microsoft 365, there is no need to leave the app and complete your work tasks within the same software.
Instant messaging has an exceptionally beneficial impact on a company’s internal communications. It’s safe to say that it makes communications easier and more efficient. We would even go as far as saying it makes for a more successful business.
If you are yet to implement instant messaging into your business communications, then get in contact with T2k today. With communication systems such as 3CX and Gamma Horizon, your business operations will become smoother and more streamlined.
Our expert advisers can help you to find the best instant messaging apps for your business. For a jargon-free conversation about IM and communication systems, contact us today.
Having worked for T2k for nearly 25 years, it's fair to say that Lee is an expert when it comes to all things telephony and business communications. Overseeing the commercial side of the business, he has helped the company evolve and grow through the decades. In recent years, and with the advent of VoIP and hosted telephony, Lee has made sure that T2k is at the forefront of technological developments. With a firm interest in helping businesses navigate the world of telecoms, Lee is responsible for the majority of the content on this website.
