6 reasons why your organization should choose an omnichannel communication platform

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

Technology serves mankind. Developments in cloud technology, scalable operating systems and applications, and flexible hardware, cause traditional boundaries to increasingly fade away. A tablet with a keyboard nowadays is a full workstation. you can check your email on your smartwatch, and you’re able to effortlessly switch from TV to smartphone halfway through an episode of your favorite series on Netflix. In short, hardware and software are no longer leading factors, but serve the user experience.

In 2020, end users are used to doing what they want to do, on the device of their choice, at a time that suits them. We also see this trend in business software. We’ll use Microsoft as an example: apps such as Office, Outlook, and Teams are no longer reserved for Windows users but also work on Macs, iPhones, and Android devices. With these trends, corporate communication can’t stay behind. That’s why we’ve listed the six most important reasons why you should choose for an omnichannel solution for your internal communication.

1. Various generations prefer various channels

Various generations prefer various ways of communicating. This is a trend that’s clearly visible in both private and business life. The younger the target group, the more they embrace fast, digital forms of communication. While the average Baby Boomer (55+) likes to communicate face-to-face, Generation X (40-55 years old) still uses email a lot. Millennials (20-40 years old) communicate mainly via their mobile phone. Generation Z, our employees of the future, even grew up in a digital age. They expect technology to work without any friction, regardless of device or location.

In your organization, chances are you’re dealing with different generations, maybe even all four of the above at the same time. As a result, there is a need for a multi-channel communication approach. For example, show your CEOs video message on digital signage screens, while the interactive screen saver on PCs and the app on mobile devices provides a summary of the message, which in turn links to the full story on the company’s intranet or SharePoint. This way, each generation receives information in a way that appeals to them, while also still receiving the same information.

2. Different channels reach both desk and non-desk workers

In addition to the preferences of different generations, multiple channels are also necessary from another, more practical point of view. Not all employees have access to the same technological resources. Non-desk employees, such as factory workers, cleaners, delivery staff, doctors, and teachers, are harder to reach with traditional means of communication such as email due to the nature of their work. In fact, 83% of non-desk employees don’t even have a business email address.

This emphasizes the need to set up a communication flow to which all employees have access. With an omnichannel solution, the same content is available cross-device. You’ll reach outbound remote workers, such as delivery staff or sales reps, with the company app, while digital signage is ideal for factory workers and nurses; they’re employees who work at a dedicated location, yet have a limited or no access to a PC. An omnichannel platform enables you to reach everyone as effectively as possible.

Keep in mind that with Netpresenter, you actually don’t have to show all your content to everyone all the time. You can also create target groups, which enables you to show selected content to specific audiences, e.g., just one department, or one site. This will help you keep your content relevant.

3. Organizations save money with an omnichannel platform

Indirect costs are often overlooked when it comes to enterprise software. When calculating the Return on Investment (ROI), organizations must also include all additional costs in their calculation. This is also called the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). These costs often increase exponentially when organizations choose to use multiple applications. These costs will stay with you for as long as you use the software.

Think of purchasing user licenses and training both administrators and users, but also of managing, updating, and supporting applications. These are all costly events. Additionally, hosting costs will rise, whether you own a data center or outsource it. The IT department must also ensure that various applications are safe to use and have no vulnerabilities. Thus, an all-in-one solution is often cheaper than using several applications simultaneously, even if the initial purchase price is higher. With just one application to manage, you reduce fixed and recurring costs.

4. Ease of use for content managers

An all-in-one solution saves your content managers a lot of trouble. Content is managed in one place and will be displayed on the devices of your choice. You don’t have to create the same content twice in different systems. At the touch of a button, a news item or photo is visible cross-device within your organization, or even outside your organization via a mobile app or on laptops of flex and home workers.

At Netpresenter, we even took this one step further. Because why should you bother to create content that already exists? You can link Netpresenter with Microsoft SharePoint, PowerBI, Excel, Facebook, Twitter, Google Calendar, and more. This means you can continue to manage content using the software you are already familiar with, and still publish it on a wide range of devices and screens.

5. Reaching everyone immediately, even in case of an emergency

With an omnichannel solution, you can be sure to reach everyone in your organization, regardless of their job or location. Our platform is designed to inform without distracting from work; employees get to see messages when they’re not busy. They’ll see them during their break, or when unlocking their PC, or when they are on their way to the coffee corner. Throughout the day, everyone will come across your corporate content.

But there are also times when you want to reach everyone instantaneously. For example, in case of an emergency, such as a fire. Or for an important company update, of which everyone should be immediately aware. In that case, a push message or text message will be delivered to phones, the message appears full screen on digital signage screens, and an eye-catching pop-up or Windows notification appears on all PCs and laptops. No one misses your important message, you can be sure of that!

6. The power of repetition

With an omnichannel solution, you can be sure to reach everyone in your organization, regardless of their preferred communication channel. But a multitude of different communication channels within a single organization not only ensures that the message reaches your employees; they also see the same message repeatedly through all these channels. And effective communication needs repetition. Because without repetition, important messages can get lost or misunderstood.

Let us explain. Research has proven that the more often someone reads or hears the same message, the more the brain responds and remembers. In the nineteenth century, German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus found that practicing and repeating certain patterns over time affected learning and memory. He discovered that a process called ‘spaced repetition’ helped individuals learn and remember important messages. Today, Ebbinghaus’ early research can be applied to business communication in a valuable way: the more people see important information, the more they will remember what they have read and learned. Thus, repetition is the motto! If your employees see small chunks of the same message on their smartphone, PC and on digital signage screens, you can be sure that they will remember the message!

Do you want to know whether an omnichannel communication platform is the best solution for your organization? We would love to show you all the advantages and possibilities during a free demo! Or download our free guide to find the right communication tools to reach your employees.