Internal comms is no longer a nice-to-have, it’s a necessity

The need for a tool to help teams and firms communicate is a particular challenge faced by internal communication teams across Australia. The need for robust communication tools to keep up with the changing and more flexible work environment, and the new generation of tech savvy professionals who have grown up using digital platforms, has never been more important.

Yet there are still an alarming number of workplaces holding onto legacy communication systems instead of embracing more contemporary alternatives, often at enormous cost to bottom lines and corporate culture.

For example, we still see large companies and firms with severely outdated systems. In some businesses, their idea of internal comms is emailing all the managers in the business a PDF, asking the managers to print it off, hang it in the break room and ask all the employees to initial the paper once they’ve read it.

There is a better way. And now we’re beginning to see a shift in strategy that encourages meaningful dialogue within firms and gives a voice to everyone, from the paralegal to the managing partner.

Top down and bottom up

Today, firms are becoming increasingly conscious of the fact conventional communications tools and methods often lend themselves to top down bureaucratic styles of communication. As the corporate culture of communications become more connection driven, firms are recognising the value of building communities from within and empowering employees to connect with one another regardless of their seniority. Your future managing partner may be one of your graduates – don’t you want to hear what they have to say?

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At Facebook, we understand the benefits of connecting individuals and communities alike and created Workplace by Facebook (Workplace) to help employers service that challenge.

Many firms and companies are realising that by adopting robust and contemporary internal communications platforms, they can overcome some of their most burdensome communication challenges, while reinvigorating firm culture and supporting a more efficient and productive workforce.

Now that employees are not tied to geographical locations, firms need a contemporary communications platforms that help colleagues connect across office locations, help parents stay connected while on parental leave, and ensure that employees on flexible workplace arrangements aren’t forgotten. In turn companies and firms see higher employee retention, happier staff, a more transparent culture and a sharing of ideas across all layers and levels.

What to look for in an internal communications tool

Communication professionals have been calling out for platforms that can deliver content across a variety of mediums and spare our inboxes more emails. Surely there are few professions that would receive more emails than the legal profession. Current IT teams are looking for a best of breed solution focused on apps and services that are mobile-first.

The diversity in communications needs to transcend text, instant messaging, live video, chat groups and much more. This is how individuals choose to consume information at home so it makes sense that the most effective internal communications strategies at work, are those that align with these existing preferences.

One of the key benefits of Workplace is that many users are already incredibly familiar with Facebook. They know how it works and as result they don’t need to learn a whole new platform, and firms can save time and money on extensive on boarding and training.

The way forward

At Workplace by Facebook, we believe firms that are given the right communications tools are empowered to create positive change at all levels of the business.

This is why we have built a robust and versatile platform that can effectively respond to modern organisations’ evolving communications strategies.

Whether the objective is to increase productivity and efficiency, to improve corporate culture or the bottom line, Workplace by Facebook supports the constantly evolving communications needs of today’s businesses now and will continue to do so well into the future.

Ben Gould is an enterprise growth manager at Workplace by Facebook.