Imagine that your business company is a house that needs to be painted. You decided on the color, and you hired staff to help you with the job, but you’re missing the main tool – the paint itself. Without it, you just cannot go on with your goal.
This is exactly what communication platforms are for. They are the perfect communication tool that connects all your employees, even if they’re located in different time zones or countries.
By the end of this article, you’ll know everything there is to know about communication platforms and how they can help your business’s communication skills thrive.
Table of Contents:
- What is a communication platform?
- Why is it important to have a communication platform?
- What should you look for in a communication platform?
- Types of Communication Platforms
- 15 Best Communication Platforms for Business
- Conclusion
What is a Communication Platform?
A communication platform is a vital component of any corporate organization. It is the most efficient approach for company employees and team members to communicate and collaborate on making the task as effective as possible.
If your company lacks effective communication strategies and procedures, there is a possibility of potential projects failing, employees becoming upset, and as a result, your business may lose customers.
Communication platforms are digital software solutions created to address those challenges. These technologies enable employees to discuss and collaborate on projects, organize both internal and client meetings, and preserve documentation and resources.
Why is it important to have a Communication Platform?
Business communication apps greatly affect the productivity and efficiency of your company.
If you decide to scale your business and take it to the next level, you need your team to be up to date with all adjustments and tasks, so that you can focus on expanding.
This is where these platforms come in handy, as they create a virtual space where all of your employees and documents are in one place, with the purpose of enabling easy and effective job management.
Here are some ways in which communication apps make your work easier:
- Quicker access to documents
- Improved collaboration with both clients and team members
- Time efficiency
- Manual tasks require less time to complete.
What should you look for in a Communication Platform?
Today, we live in a world filled with opportunities. As expected, the world of communication platforms is no exception, and we have a variety of options to consider for our businesses. However, not all communication apps provide the same level of options and advanced technology.
If you’re struggling with finding the perfect communication app that’s ideal for your business requirements, here are some helpful tips:
- Ease of Use – Not all of your team members have the same level of knowledge when it comes to technology. Your communication app should take into account all of your team members’ technological capabilities.
- Collaboration Tools – Look for team communication platforms that promote workplace collaboration. For example: shared calendars, video conferencing, team chat apps for direct messaging, screen sharing, task assignments, file sharing, and co-editing features.
- File Sharing and Storage – When choosing your communication app, focus on finding the best fit in regards to its sharing possibilities and the amount of storage available in the app.
- Quality of Voice and Video – Since this will be your main communication medium, make sure that it provides expected video and voice quality, so your online meetings and calls can run smoothly and without interruptions.
- Real-time Messages -This feature is vital for promoting real-time team collaboration, in case quick discussions are necessary in order to find a solution for potential problems or difficulties.
- Task Management – If the communication platform has a built-in task management feature, it’ll provide quicker access to all assignments, plus everyone will be aware of their obligations.
- Ability to Customize: The platform you choose should adapt to the constant change in demands of your team by having options for customizing workspaces, unlimited number of users, video meetings, etc.
Types of Communication Platforms
We can recognize 5 different types of communication apps, all of which have certain benefits depending on your needs. They use both synchronous (real-time exchange of information) and asynchronous (providing information without the expectation of receiving an immediate response) with the purpose of making your work easier.
Types of communication platforms:
- Internal communications: Internal communication solutions allow employees, supervisors, and partners to communicate in real time.
- Customer communications:
- Project management:
- Video conferencing:
- Collaboration tools:
Top 5 Communication Platforms for Business Development:
1. Slack
Best features:
- Ability to create separate areas for various topics through channels.
- In its team chat app, you can stay connected by sending both direct and group messages.
- Provides video calls, conferencing, and voice chat via the huddle function.
2. Zoom
Best features:
- Video and audio conferencing for up to 1,000 people (depending on the package you select).
- Screen sharing, whiteboarding, breakout rooms, and polling tools all help to increase
- It can record meetings for future use or to share with absent attendees, with optional AI-powered recordings for faster content access.
3. Asana
Best features:
- Task management involves creating, appointing, and monitoring assignments with due dates and custom fields.
- Allows creation of projects with dedicated workspaces, sharing of files, and discussing details in task or project forums.
- Allows for the automation of repetitive processes by means of rules and triggers.
4. Microsoft Teams
Best features:
- Its deep integration with Microsoft Office 365 simplifies workflows.
- Unique features, such as Together Mode and Presenter Mode, improve online conferences for screen sharing.
- Provides immediate translation into over 100 languages.
- Has a single channel for any kind of communication (instant messaging and video).
5. Trello
Best features:
- A simple drag-and-drop method is used to display work progress.
- Uses comments throughout tasks in order to receive immediate feedback.
- You can create boards that are suitable for your project requirements (they can be simple or complex, depending on the task)
Conclusion
Communication platforms have progressed greatly over the years. As such, they’ve succeeded in making the interaction between employees, teams, and customers efficient and practical. Whatever communication app or tool you choose to use for business development, make sure to consider all of its capabilities to ensure that it meets your company’s requirements.
