Businesses are lost without steady communication. It’s impossible to run a smooth operation without regular interaction among staff, as well as with customers.
Perhaps the biggest area that small businesses fall short in their activities is communication within the company. According to research from Salesforce, about 86 percent of employees say that poor collaboration and communication within the workplace is the greatest factor in project failures.
Customers also cite communication as a vital function of conducting business. A study from American Express shows that 78 percent of consumers have bailed on a transaction because of a poor customer service experience.
Poor communication could be seriously hurting your business. If you want to limit the breakdowns between customers and your employees, it’s critical for you to employ tools that foster better communication between all the players.
Here are some of the top available tools.
1. DialPad
This next-generation business phone system enables you to communicate both inside and outside of your business via the cloud. It features voice and video, messaging, and online meeting capabilities. Users can access messages from anywhere at any time. It’s a great way to improve productivity among teams and can also increase communication with customers and clients.
2. BlueJeans
BlueJeans is an online meeting platform whose name contains the idea that meetings may take place anywhere, even when you’re sitting at home in your jeans. Meeting participants can join through a web browser, desktop app, or mobile phone. Meetings can easily be recorded and shared. BlueJeans can also be incorporated with popular business apps such as Outlook and Skype.
3. Slack
Slack is an online chat room that’s optimized for office use. It’s user-friendly and simple to learn, with an option to upload files and link to Internet content. You can also go back and search previous conversations so productive chats are never lost. Google Hangouts can also be integrated to create video conferencing within the chat box.
4. Basecamp
Basecamp is primarily used for internal communications, but it can also be useful for making connections with clientele. It makes it easier for all interested parties to stay in the loop on projects as they’re being completed.
5. Campfire
Like Slack, Campfire is an instant messaging platform. Unlike Slack, it’s highly secure, so it allows you to talk about more sensitive information without fear of exposure. Campfire is a paid program that provides password-protected chat rooms. You can also voice conference call, upload images and files, access chat transcripts, and integrate third-party apps.
6. GoToMeeting
There are many web conferencing solutions, but GoToMeeting is among the simplest. It’s free and you can get started within minutes of logging onto the site. It’s a little more expensive than some of the other online meeting tools, but it does offer more interactive features, including dial-in conference lines, screen sharing, web audio, drawing tools, and the ability to record meetings.
7. DeskAway
Email clutter can be a pesky problem for marketing teams. DeskAway is out to solve that issue. This project management solution provides a central place for team members to discuss projects and track their work.
You can categorize conversations by project and go back to track work. It’s web-based, which means there’s nothing to download, and you can get started right away.
It’s too easy to let communication fall through the cracks when you’re involved in project management, but that can lead to serious issues down the road. Given all the communication tools that are available online, you have no excuse for poor communication.