Internal Communication Software

What is Internal Communication Software?

Internal Communications Software, sometimes called business messaging software, provides employees, managers, investors, agencies, consultants, and other team members a platform to communicate with each other directly or through group messaging.

Internal communications tools aim to be convenient, intuitive, and interactive. Users can post within dedicated product or business channels or to other members through private chat. Work threads can also be developed to keep communications organized.

These tools are more convenient than keeping track of numerous email threads. Moreover, business messaging software can also provides greater transparency of work communications.

Talking to other team members can be as simple and easy as interacting via social media or text messaging. Posts can be “liked” or tagged with emojis (and can also be placed within messages) to promote organic conversation.

 

Key benefits to internal communications software

  • Allows for remote and virtual work
  • Instant messaging and communication between coworkers
  • Search functions to find messages easily
  • Connects organizational communication horizontally between departments and vertically among chains of command
  • Access through mobile, desktop, and tablet

 

Business messaging is traditionally less formal than email and less intrusive than in-person meetings or teleconferencing.

Many applications are standalone in nature (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) and have certain intrinsic integrations, like an employee directory.

Some are more specific to a particular industry. Compliance is one such example. Some solutions that started out as standalone products have moved into developing industry-specific business messaging software.

 

Common business messaging software features

  • Instant messaging, which is a staple and can take place in a product or business channel, group chats, or one-on-one conversations
  • Feeds where users can find messages specific to them or specific to channels and communications they’re a part of
  • Notifications of when messages have been received or during certain times when direct notifications are enabled
  • Status updates to denote availability or whereabouts
  • Search functions to view previous/archived messages or to view a team member’s message history
  • Emojis to make chats more interactive and less formal and provide reactions to messages
  • File sharing to better enable communications and provide or consolidate work that’s best suited to file attachments
  • Polls and surveys to help promote discussion, interaction, and come to decisions