The benefits of using digital platforms for employee communications

There’s no denying the use of digital technology, particularly smartphones, is on the increase.  A report published by Ofcom last week highlights that 78% of UK adults now own a smartphone and on average people are spending 2 hours 28 minutes a day on these devices.  It’s no wonder leading organisations are embracing this technology to engage with their employees too.

In today’s digital age, the way in which we communicate with our employees is changing.  And whilst digital technology will never completely replace face to face communications, and I would never want it to, we can certainly embrace our employees changing habits and utilise digital technology and platforms within the workplace.

Using digital platforms for employee communications can help promote a shared purpose. Providing a forum or portal for employees to interact and share with each other can help build a sense of camaraderie and community, encourage collaboration and idea-sharing, and put people at all levels in all departments on a level playing field.

Show off your company culture and attract new talent. Talk about why your company is a great place to work and how that leads to good business and partnerships. Show how you work hard and play hard. An intranet site, social media channels or employee engagement portal can help reveal a more human side to a company than a corporate website can.

Transparency. When communicating via digital platforms, there is no hiding. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because you are engaging as a brand/company with real people, in real time and have the opportunity to show your company’s personality and culture.

Digital tools can also help you reach individual employees using specific and tailored messaging, and enable you to monitor engagement levels.  For example, if you have a group of employees who perhaps receive a different level of employee benefits, they can be grouped together and personalised messages created.  And, you can see what’s working or not and adapt accordingly.

A robust engagement portal can lead to more satisfied employees; they have the services and information they need at their fingertips, 24/7 if they want it, resulting in a reduction and frequency of calls from employees on often simple questions.  HR may see their deliverability and quality of care and service improving, as well as a reduction in costs.

As an employer you want to be sure that your employees fully understand what is being offered to them, be that the benefits package, or other relevant information.  Implementing digital platforms for workplace communication provides employers and employees the tools they need to help improve their communication, collaboration and connections with each other and as a result achieve organisational goals.

So whilst I’m a firm advocate of embracing digital tools and they have a valid and important role to play, it’s important that we remember the more traditional methods of communication still very much have their place.  I certainly wouldn’t want us to lose the personal touch when it comes to communicating with our employees.

Mybenefitsatwork is an employee engagement portal, find out more by visiting our website and requesting a demonstration by clicking here.

By Louise Blair – Head of Human Resources at Foster Denovo