Effective communication between the workforce and organizations, and clients can do wonders, uniting everyone to change this world for the better.
Thus, using digital solutions to improve and streamline business communications is becoming a common practice among great entrepreneurs.
In this article, we’ll learn about five communication industry trends that can facilitate you improve the quality of your organization’s communications.
Types of Business Communications
There are two types of business communication: internal and external. Internal communication can be further classified into the following subtypes:
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From employees to top management (upward)
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From top management to employees (downward)
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Between employees
On the other hand, external communications include interactions with customers, potential employees, the community, external stakeholders, and society. In simple language, the company’s positioning in the market and all its messages (communications) in the outer world.
Internal and external communications are equally vital for organizations that consider their employees as valuable as their clients.
Digital Trends to Enhance Business Communication
Here are a few trends you must look forward to in 2023 to empower and streamline your business communications.
1- Unified Workspaces and Intranet
This trend refers to internal business communication, developing a smooth understanding between top management and employees. Implementing digital unified workspaces and intranet enables companies to keep all their corporate data in a single storage, share crucial messages within the organization, and serve as a single point of truth for all employees.
An intranet and unified workspaces allow accessible and coordinated communication that keeps all the team members in sync and aware of whatever is happening. The intranet also displays the work results of various departments so that employees can form an updated and real-time picture of the company’s successes and areas for improvement.
Such organizational communication technology is beneficial, with remote work becoming an unwavering option for many companies after the unfortunate breakdown of the COVID-19 pandemic.
2 – Video Conferencing and Virtual Reality
After the pandemic, remote work culture is booming exponentially, leading to the tremendous growth of video conferencing among various industries for internal and external communication. Web or application-based video conferencing tools like Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, and many more offer a great opportunity to quickly discuss crucial matters or share vital business information with the team.
Video conferencing also offers new business opportunities and eliminates geographic hindrances, as working with overseas clients requires a stable internet connection. Leveraging various collaboration tools with video conferencing adds up to effective digital communication.
Virtual reality is an advanced and evolving communication technology which provides an immersive experience for all communication bodies. With the aid of virtual reality, it’s possible to show clients how to interact with your services and products. Modern technologies like Video conferencing and VR can take business interaction to new heights.
3- Customer Portals and Chatbots
Providing your clients with an interactive customer portal is also one of the ways to build productive communication with them. Via the customer portal, they can monitor their interactions with your business, ask questions, and get the latest information on the collaboration progress. Customer portals can also be an excellent opportunity to gather feedback from customers in order to take timely actions based on it. Such close interaction with customers can convince them that you care about the quality of your services and are ready to address their challenges immediately. This helps in generating brand advocates and winning the trust of your clients, customers, and stakeholders.
Chatbots are another beneficial way to enhance your external communications. You can use chatbots at a help desk on your business website to help clients navigate through your organization’s services or offer them an immediate response in case your potential customers have any questions when you are not around. Like a customer portal, chatbots aid in minimizing boundaries between your business and clients, laying the foundation for effective and clear communication and close relationships.
4- Custom HR and CRM Systems
One of the most significant trends among communication trends in 2023 is building effective and streamlined HR and CRM solutions. To minimize the use of external solutions and build your internal corporate culture just the way you want, you can decide on evolving custom HR and CRM solutions. These systems can serve as a part of your intranet network and constitute your brand and its values in every business feature.
You may ask: How can custom HR and CRM systems improve the business communications of your organization?
An HR system can provide relevant business information and communication and notify the company staff of important announcements or changes. A custom CRM system can be designed to automatically send emails with important updates or cooperation proposals to some of your clients on a scheduled basis. These are only a few uses, but with custom software solutions, such use cases can be numerous to fit your business model perfectly.
5- Infographics and Distributed Materials
This business communication trend may seem simple, but not corporate cultures are leveraging its power of it. Compiling value-based and vital content into compelling and brief infographics to share with employees or clients is an undisputedly powerful communication tool. Infographics exist in the business world and don’t seem to lose their influence even in the future. Psychologists suggest it is easier to grasp any information when it’s presented in a visually appealing way.
Another way of distributing material to communicate internal or external information can be white papers, handbooks, notes from webinars or live events, and presentations. These marketing materials can be attached to emails sent to clients, published for open access, used in lead-generating campaigns, or shared via instant messengers. You shouldn’t underestimate the exponential power of infographics and distributed materials, as they show that you have systematically put efforts and creative thinking in copywriting and designing into shaping your business messages, proving that you’ll put as much effort into helping your clients reach their desired goals.
Conclusion
Assertive communication is a critical differentiator in the modern corporate world. Various digital means can only double its force, leveraging your creativity and providing an additional communication medium to interact with your client, suppliers, and stakeholders. With the professional help of digital consultants, you can create your communication style and develop and use only those solutions that cover your specific organizational needs and differentiate you from competitors.
At Madavi, a team of communications experts help you establish systematic business communication channels that will facilitate accessible brand communication, gaining transparency and building trust amongst all the entities associated with your internal and external business environment.