Recently, instant messaging was viewed as a communication tool for personal activities, but it has begun to improve business organizations everywhere. Employees can use enterprise instant messaging to communicate with one another without picking up the phone or leaving their offices. If your office has not keyed into the usage of enterprise instant messaging systems, this could be the right time to consider the advantages and disadvantages it offers your workers.
When I say “enterprise instant messaging,” I am not just talking about the instant messaging apps that people make use of in their everyday lives, such as Google Hangouts, Yahoo Messenger, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, or other social platforms individuals have as apps on their mobile devices and tablets. Enterprise Instant Messaging (EIM) is even better than those.
EIM combines the features and abilities of the client into instant messaging systems, such as instant connectivity, and platform independent support, which secures your business environment demands. It’s not a consumer app, so it is unique to your company; you can track messaging within the firm, and use administrative controls to block inappropriate content.
What are the benefits of enterprise instant messenger to businesses? To answer this question, it is advisable to know the benefits and value it will add to your business; benefits may come in the form of improved means of communication, but there are also additional benefits to your organization that should be noted.
1. Productivity Benefits
First of all, enterprise instant messaging helps boost workers’ productivity by enhancing their communication and making it easier for them to connect. A strong enterprise instant messaging system provides every worker with an instant messaging application at his or her office or workstation.
When your workers have questions and need quick clarification, they don’t have to make a phone call, leave a voicemail, or send an email and keep waiting for a reply. Instant messaging is an instant conversation, a direct connection to other employees.
EIM can show when employees are less busy, or if someone is away from their desk; another feature offers the ability to share content with co-workers. You can even share your screen, which enables someone else to see your desktop, or a particular application. This is very helpful when working together in a group, or when you need help with something you’re working on.
2. Mobility and Accessibility Benefits
Some enterprise instant messaging systems are also mobile, which offers flexibility and accessibility for workers that eave the office. Different EIM software allows instant messengers to exist on many platforms – that is, employees can access the instant messaging system from their mobile phones as well as their offices, and even from a web page. So, for instance, if a client or worker is held down at the airport, they can send quick instant messages to resolve questions or alert others of their delay.
3. Customer Benefits
In some businesses, the instant messaging platform can be federated; you can update your status easily, and also send instant messages to people in your firm, which includes your clients. Web-based applications enable customers to communicate with members of the customer service department via chat programs and video conferences. This gives your client the chance to solve problems instantly, and allows customer service to get prompt feedback on products and services as well.
4. Quality Control Benefits
Instead of using the consumer messaging, it is advisable to adopt the enterprise instant messaging application, which has auditing and administrative control features. In light of quality control, or resolving other problems, managers and users can take advantage of the audit features to go back through chat logs and check for messages that are inside the internal and external databases in the EIM system.
Consulting with a technology services provider will help you check your needs and participation capabilities.
Featured photo credit: Startup Stock Photos via pexels.com
