In today’s increasingly digitized world, the importance of digital communication tools cannot be denied. This is especially true for organizations looking to adopt new technologies and workflows as remote and hybrid work environments become the norm. In fact, research conducted by McKinsey concluded that “hybrid work is here to stay,” though “many organizations are still trying to find the right balance as they attempt to create true hybrid work models.”
While there are many benefits to remote and hybrid work settings, there are also many obstacles – some teams may rarely meet in person or struggle to meet face to face, and coworkers and employees may live in different cities, states, or across different time zones. We live in an interconnected world, and digital communication tools help us bridge the gap between audiences, collaborate with coworkers, increase efficiency, and manage complex projects.
Centralizing Information
One such benefit of digital communication tools are their ability to centralize information. Collaborative platforms and file sharing tools such as OneDrive, Google Drive, and Microsoft Teams allow organizations to collaborate on documents, store information, and share feedback all in one centralized location. This eliminates the need to create multiple iterations of the same document, while ensuring that team members have access to the most recent version of a document.
Enhancing Accountability and Transparency
Digital communication tools also enhance accountability and transparency within organizations. For example, project management software platforms provide insight into who is responsible for each task, outline the process and stages of approval, and reflect where projects are within the approval timeline. Users are often assigned tasks, including the associated task description, any relevant points of contact, and deadlines. This provides visibility to project collaborators, giving them an understanding of the status of the project. To-do lists can also be automated and preset for specific projects, ensuring timeliness and adherence to workflow and policy procedures, and saving time spent by employees on monotonous tasks.
Data-Driven Metrics
Many digital communication tools also offer analytics and reporting features that provide valuable insights into communication patterns, project progress, and employee performance. Content management systems like SharePoint give employees access to internal notification feeds about company news and updates, visual dashboards and employee engagement surveys, and help organizations boost workflow automation and enhance data security and compliance.
Real-Time Communication and Collaboration
Platforms like Microsoft Teams and Zoom allow employees to communicate in real time via audio call, video call, or instant message. This fosters a work culture that is collaborative and interactive, while reducing time spent drafting emails or sifting through an excessively long email chain. Teammates can also tag individual team members in a Teams chat, which makes it easier to locate information and reduces the likelihood of someone missing an important message.
A digital communications tool is a software or platform that enables people to communicate electronically. This includes, but is not limited to, email, project management platforms, social media, video conferencing, and instant messaging. These tools help streamline processes, assist with real-time, on-demand communications, encourage collaboration, automate routine tasks, allow for ease of access to communications and information, provide data-driven metrics, and enhance accountability and transparency. A robust, dynamic organization leans into change, embracing digital transformation in a way that enhances productivity and simplifies processes, thus enhancing overall efficiency.
At People Results, we help organizations increase productivity and drive collaboration through providing education to help you navigate the increasingly complex and continuously changing digitized landscape of today’s virtual work environment. We believe every business is different, and each requires its own holistic and customized approach to communications. Whether you need an internal communications assessment, guidance in developing your internal communications strategy or social media strategy, digital media intelligence, crisis communications services, media relations, or media training, we have expert communications consultants who can quickly provide a specialized solution. Contact us online today to discuss the next steps, or give us a call at (313) 965-0350.
Skylar Fortier — Communications Consultant
