Rethinking 'reality' can be a game changer, especially when misinformation clouds your judgment. This holds true for the 6 enduring myths about employee communication apps that could be restricting your workforce's potential.
By debunking these misconceptions, you'll gain deeper insights into the true capability of such tools; that they're not just about communication, but also enhancing productivity and morale. Time to separate facts from fiction!
6 Employee Communication App Myths: The Truth That Will Make You Rethink Everything
Myth #1: "These communication apps sound great, but what’s the real ROI they bring?"
The question of ROI is pivotal for any organizational investment. Critics often argue that the value of employee communication apps is hard to quantify, especially when current engagement levels and communication effectiveness are not fully understood. The reality, however, is different.
Employee communication apps deliver beyond the upfront costs, driving higher levels of engagement, productivity and improving employee communication. They help organizations to simplify tasks, reducing the time and resources required. These efficiency gains alone provide substantial returns on investment. Moreover, employee communication apps also offer data analytics capabilities that reveal trends and insights, enabling better decision making and strategic planning, contributing to the overall ROI. The measurable benefits of increased productivity, communication efficiency, and data-driven decisions significantly offset the investment in employee apps.
Read more about the ROI of an employee communications app here
Myth #2: "Our frontline employees have been through a lot of changes lately. Throwing another one at them seems risky."
Change can indeed be challenging but consider the positive impacts of implementing an employee communication app. The key is in smart implementation. Instead of “throwing another one” at employees, introduce the app as an enabler to streamline tasks and improve their work-life quality.
Frontline employees often welcome changes that reduce their workload and improve their work efficiency. Presented correctly, the implementation of employee communication app can be seen as a welcome change, rather than a risky disruption. Plus, employee job satisfaction is significantly influenced by having the necessary technology to perform tasks and communicate efficiently.
Companies like Speakap specialize in facilitating smooth transitions to new technologies. Through strategic pre-launch campaigns that emphasize the benefits and address the 'why' behind the app, coupled with a phased rollout, businesses can enhance buy-in and ease the adoption process, making the change feel less like a burden and more like a progressive step forward.
Myth #3: "Letting everyone use their personal phones for work related communications sounds like a security nightmare."
The dilemma between issuing corporate devices and allowing personal device use is a significant concern due to security implications. However, modern employee communication apps come equipped with robust security features that mitigate these risks. Allowing employees to use their phones within a secure app network can improve security. These apps are designed with high-level encryption and advanced security protocols, 2FAF, creating a safe environment for work-related activities.
This concern is valid, but manageable. Implementing strict usage guidelines, educating employees about potential risks, and using apps that guarantee security & compliance can help ensure data protection and maintain security.
Myth #4: "Getting a new app up and running sounds like a huge hassle."
Implementing a new system can seem daunting. However, most employee communication app providers offer comprehensive onboarding, support, and training to smooth the transit. Transition to a new app is a task with phases. Begin with a trial run, gather feedback, fine-tune, and then scale up. With a planned approach, introducing a new app becomes manageable.
Most employee apps, including Speakap, are designed for rapid deployment. With a launch timeline as short as 8 weeks and substantial support from the service provider, these platforms are far less burdensome to initiate than many anticipate.
Myth #5: "Security and privacy are my biggest concerns with these communication apps."
These concerns are justified and hence, app providers prioritize these aspects. However, most employee communication apps are built with stringent security levels to keep data safe. They adhere to international compliance regulations ensuring data privacy and protection.
Organizations can mitigate these concerns by selecting apps with solid security measures and compliance records. Speakap, for example, offers advanced usage analytics, custom Terms & Conditions, and Legal Statements to ensure responsible use. Additionally, for regions with stringent regulations on work-related app usage, Speakap can integrate seamlessly with payroll providers to maintain compliance, ensuring that security isn't compromised. Moreover, Speakap adheres to global standards such as GDPR, and carries ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications, ensuring that data handling within the app is secure and compliant. By integrating with already-vetted systems (like your HCM), these apps maintain a high standard of security and privacy.
Myth #6: "The cost of these apps seems too high to justify."
Employee communication apps are not just an expense – they're an investment into improving workflow, enhancing communication, and boosting overall productivity.
When evaluating the cost, look beyond the price tag. Consider time saved, improved communication efficiency, productivity increment, and other value-adding aspects that notably offset the cost. Think of it this way - the number of tools employees are expected to not only know exist, but use, can leave them feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, and disengaged. Tech overload is real and it’s frustrating your employees and limiting their productivity:
- 70% of employees need up to 7 apps to complete a single HR task.
- 60% find their HR tools disjointed, difficult, or outdated.
- On average, 30% of employees' weekly time is spent searching for information.
- Some research even states that poor internal communications to and between employees can cost businesses up to $62.4 million per year. 🤯
The hidden costs of managing multiple disjointed communication platforms, along with potential losses in customer satisfaction and safety incidents due to poor training, can be significantly higher than the investment in a unified employee app. By centralizing communications and processes, companies can actually realize cost savings and productivity gains that far outweigh the initial expenditure.
Why These Myths Persist and How to Overcome Them
Misinformation is the main culprit behind stubbornly perpetuated myths about employee communication apps. Frequently, these false notions originate from outdated, unreliable sources or incomplete data. Instead of fact-checking or verifying these details, many professionals accept them at face value. This flawed approach, unfortunately, leads to a cycle of misinformation that lends these myths undeserved credibility..
The persistence of myths often stems from their pervasive nature. When unfounded assumptions become part of the workplace culture, challenging them can seem a daunting task. However, while it takes time and effort, breaking these prevalent myths is crucial to fostering an open, forward-thinking work environment.
The Power of First-Hand Experience in Dispelling Myths
Nothing breaks a myth quicker than first-hand experience. When employers and employees alike begin to use the applications themselves, they can directly confront and dismiss any misconceptions. By using these apps, they gain an understanding that replaces unfounded hearsay with factual, experiential knowledge. Experience is the greatest teacher. It reveals the truth behind the myths and offers a grounded perspective.
Understanding Employee Communication Apps: Beyond the Myths
- Clearing misconceptions around employee apps.
- Discussing tangible benefits of integrating these apps.
- A comprehensive guide on selecting the ideal solution for your company.
What Are Employee Communication Apps?
Employee communication apps are advanced software tools designed to streamline workflows, foster transparency, and enhance communication throughout the organization. These apps are commonly known for majorly enhancing the productivity and satisfaction levels among staff.
They serve as one-stop interfaces where employees can access critical resources, communicate with their peers and receive real-time updates about the organization. Depending on the specificities of a given app, additional features such as progress tracking, task management and employee recognition might be integrated.
To better underscore their growing relevance, these apps are projected to form a significant chunk of the corporate tech ecosystem in the foreseeable future. The global Employee Engagement Software (including employee communication apps) market size was valued at USD 568.15 Million in 2022 and will reach USD 1500.28 Million in 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.57% during 2024-2030.
The Benefits of Employee Communication Apps
Increased Productivity
Employee communication apps can play a major role in enhancing overall productivity in an organization. By streamlining communication and consolidating critical resources in one place, employees can now achieve their tasks faster and more efficiently.
Better Employee Engagement
These apps can also foster better engagement among employees. By incorporating features that recognize and reward hard work, the workforce will generally feel more valued and are more likely to stay within the organization. Companies that implement a dedicated internal communication platform see a 30% increase in employee engagement.
Real-time Communication
Ensuring real-time communication among employees, management and even stakeholders is another huge benefit. This can help to nip possible challenges in the bud and also facilitate quick decision-making.
How to Choose the Right Employee Communication App for Your Company
When it comes to selecting the right employee communications app for your company, there are a few factors that should be well-thought-out beforehand. These include the needs and demands of your employees, the current workplace culture, and your budgetary constraints.
Keep in mind that it's not about choosing the 'best' app in the market, rather, it's about identifying the perfect fit for your organization. 1 in 4 companies have admitted that choosing an employee app based on popularity rather than relevance to their company was a big mistake.
The Future of Employee Communication Apps
The workplace as we know it is changing rapidly. The integration of digital technology is causing seismic shifts in how we work and communicate within the workplace. As technology evolves, so too will the role and scope of these apps in facilitating work processes.
In the future, we'll likely see an increase in the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning within these apps to enhance predictive analysis, enable personalized recommendations, and automate repetitive tasks. According to Gartner, 75% of large enterprises will leverage AI in at least one business function by 2025.
While there's been some negative press, often rooted in misconceptions, around the use of employee apps, it's evident that these tools can indeed be a boon to organizations willing to embrace their full capabilities. Flowing from the preceding points, it's clear that the potential benefits far outweigh the largely baseless claims.
Case Study: How WISAG Connected And Engaged 50,000 Employees With One Employee App
Company Profile
With over 30,000 employees and a presence across Germany and several neighboring countries, WISAG Facility Service Holding core line of business is the provision of technical and infrastructural services for commercial, infrastructural and residential properties and for healthcare and social services institutions
The Challenge: 80% of employees are non-desk. How do you reach them?
That diversity has always been part of WISAG's success, ensuring that the right specialists are always close to the client. However, it also presents challenges regarding communication and knowledge sharing. Only about 20% of WISAG employees work behind desks and can stay up-to-date or interact through the company intranet or email.
The only company-wide medium capable of reaching all employees was the in-house magazine mailed directly. There was no other communication channel in place to offer the opportunity for direct and inter-divisional exchange among colleagues. The magazine's production was time-consuming, and all content should be planned well ahead of schedule.
The Solution Implemented
WISAG launched the employee app MyWISAG, ensuring that all employees throughout Germany can be kept up-to-date at all times.
MyWISAG offers private chat, group chat, likes, comments, and an events planning tool. It connects all WISAG employees – whether they're working at a desk, with a client, or even out on the airport apron. It provides a dedicated internal social network. It's easy, intuitive, and user-friendly.
High on the list of requirements for WISAG was finding a secure platform that is compliant with European privacy legislation and is intended to replace all Whatsapp business communication. And that's what Speakap does.
By mirroring the organizational structure of WISAG, Speakap enabled an exact and targeted distribution of content to the various locations, departments, teams, and groups. Users receive content relevant to them, their roles, and their interests.
The Results Achieved
- WISAG can now reach and engage all desk and non-desk employees with targeted content
- User activity has been extremely high
- User experience has massively improved through the seamless integration with existing employee software
- Employee productivity improved by 30%
- Onboarding speed and consistency increased by 25%
- WISAG also saw a +4% increase in employee retention as a result if implementing an employee app
- More than 90% of the employees activated in the first 90 days, 4.6 logins a day.
Reevaluating Our App Beliefs - And Acting on It!
You've looked the six common myths about employee communication apps straight in the eye and came out the other side wiser. Realizing that these apps are cost-effective, easy to implement, secure, user-friendly, multi-purposeful, and packed with engagement potential, flipped the script entirely!
This knowledge enables you to make informed decisions and fully leverage the power of employee apps for your business. The next move? Start exploring the potential app vendors, consider their features and integrations, and choose the one that aligns with your organization's dynamics and needs.
Now, putting all that aside for a moment, how are you prepared to integrate employee app technology into your daily operations? Remember, debunking these myths is half the battle. The real game-changer is when you put this enlightenment into action.
Time to leave the myths behind and step into the future of work - with employee apps leading the way! Ready to see how we can help you? You know where to find us 😉