Instant messaging versus email

For most businesses, email remains a key method of both internal and external communication. However, there has been a significant rise in the popularity of instant messaging. So what does this mean for you and your business?

Most of us receive far too many emails. In response, businesses have begun to move to instant messaging as a means of internal communication.

Instant messaging apps work well for casual, brief communication between employees and departments across a business. However, email is likely to remain as the key way to communicate with customers in a business context.

Instant messaging platforms that work well in our personal lives may not be appropriate in a business context. Business communication platforms must have an appropriate security wrapper around them and the firm needs to be able to manage these communications platforms centrally.

These requirements have driven the development of business-focused instant messaging apps such as Slack. As messaging has started to become more popular, businesses face a new security risk that must be managed. For many firms, the solution is to implement an enterprise messaging system or app. In addition, businesses need to invest in appropriate training for staff so that they use messaging apps in a way that is secure.