Well, hello there! Welcome to the digital age! Where smartphones are the norm and technologies like the instant messaging app act as the social security blanket that we never knew we needed. Not only do these apps allow us to navigate global trends, but they also let us call, message, and basically stay connected. 

As social animals, most we humans find ourselves buried deep in a plugged-in world where we are incredibly reliant on technology to stay connected. What was once a luxury a mere decade and a half ago has now become a necessity. 

And in this hyper-connected world, such habits do not look like they will be slowing down any time soon. As a matter of fact, communication through instant messaging will keep rising in the next couple of years. 

For instance, a report by the Radicati Group stated that in 2019, the number of worldwide Instant messaging accounts (not including Mobile Messaging) was over 7 billion. According to the report, this figure will grow at an average annual rate of about 6% over the next four years to reach over 8.9 billion by the end of 2023. 

Instant Messaging For Business Communication 

Photo by Bruce Mars on Unsplash

With the rise of instant messaging platforms since about 2010, consumers have grown fond of the ease of use of instant chats across both personal and business arenas. 

Whether organizations encourage it or not, employees are using instant messaging apps for business communications. 

That is simply because instant chats help them take some noise and burden off their flooding inboxes. While emails remain the ideal way for business communication, the real-time communication aspect of instant messaging is going to dictate the future of business communication. 

But it’s essential to keep one thing in mind. Although the very idea of “instant messaging” as it stands offers a robust communication solution for organizations of all kinds, the fact is — it does not exactly meet the requirements of today’s workplace.

The work environment has shifted from the traditional workplace we all grew up to know, where the focus used to be on individual work and fixed long-term teams working from a physical office to the new-age workplace that we know today. In many organizations, flexible and agile teams are working remotely from around the world, and their work has become highly interdependent.

This evolution has, in effect, changed the needs of communication from traditional instant messaging and one-on-one conversations to constant and open discussions — or in a single word: collaboration.

Companies or organizations can no longer focus on a one-size-fits-all business communication strategy. They need to cater to the preferences of multiple stakeholders. And that would include using solutions that are more than just another instant messaging app.

The answer? Unified communication. 

What Exactly Is Unified Communication or UC?

Unified Communication is a useful umbrella term for the integration of multiple enterprise communication tools — such as voice calling, video conferencing, instant messaging (IM), presence, content sharing, etc. — into a single, streamlined interface, with the specific goal of improving user experience and productivity.

With the above definition in mind, it’s not difficult to see why UC and team collaboration tools overlap and why everyone seems to be using the terms “business communications” and “collaboration” interchangeably. 

But it’s important to understand that businesses need to do more than just communicate. They need to collaborate. And not “collaborate” as a stand-in for “communicate”, but to “collaborate” in the true sense of the word. And to do that, they need a Unified Communication Tool.

Why Opt For A Unified Communication Tool?

Photo by Emma Dau on Unsplash

Unified communication tools simply have the capability to streamline everything for your business. They provide real-time access to all the necessary real-time communication services. In addition to directly enhancing communication speed, unified communication tools can also impact security, efficiency, and productivity. 

Here’s why you should opt for one of these tools:

1. Enhanced Productivity & ROI  

With the help of a unified communication tool, the management can ensure there’s an ongoing flow of information between multiple stakeholders in real-time. Managers can also use unified communication tools for an unlimited number of things, including team meetings, client calls, and customer demos, all in a single platform.

2. Personal vs Work-Life Separation

With instant messaging apps, it’s common to have the line between your personal life and work-life inadvertently blurring. With UC, however, employees can enjoy a clear separation between the two worlds. They can enjoy better work collaboration thanks to groups made around specific teams, topics, or projects. That shifts the focus from personal work management to collective and more organized work management.

3. Flexible & Scalable Collaboration

UC tools offer clear possibilities for innovation, customization, and scalability. They allow you to easily add new features as per your demand, which means you can affordably customize and scale according to the specific stage of your business’ growth trajectory. In addition, such platforms introduce some much-needed flexibility. Employees can communicate in whatever way they see fit (whether it’s text, audio, video, or group call) without switching logins, windows or tabs.

4. Enhanced Security

Organizations can no longer overlook safety and security. Using an instant messaging app will automatically force employees to rely on other real-time communication solutions for audio or video calls. The constant switching between apps and multiple passwords may cause a breach of confidential information. So to avoid such risks, it’s best to opt for a tool that can support all your real-time communication needs.

In short, unified communication tools such as our very own TelebuPing can satisfy all real-time communication requirements and enhance overall productivity. 

Welcome to a unified world.

Read our other blogs: 5 Messaging Apps With Both Audio & Video