There’s no shortage of options when choosing software to support internal communications, collaboration and employee engagement – but knowing which functionalities merit the most focus and investment requires some careful thinking.
Needs differ from company to company, and not all systems are created equal in terms of ease of integration, mobile capability and user experience. It’s also important to assess how well these tools will scale and adapt as your company evolves, ensuring long-term value and effectiveness.
A good starting point is to conduct a thorough audit of your existing processes and tech stack to highlight pain points and inefficiencies. This will give your business a clear set of criteria to refer back to when researching software options to deliver opportunities for improvement.
Here we take a look at four types of software increasingly used by organisations to strengthen their communications strategy and build a thriving digital community.
Social networking
Most employees are now used to building connections with family and friends through social media, which explains why many businesses have already started to integrate a similar type of social hub for their employees while at work.
Platforms like Viva Engage and Workplace are great examples. They facilitate open conversations between all areas of the businesses and provide new routes to connect with coworkers, share announcements, conduct virtual town halls and recognise great work. These features help to break down communication silos, while bridging the gap between senior leaders and staff by encouraging active two-way communication and feedback.
The goal with these systems is to meet people where they are at and enable multigenerational workforces to communicate in the ways they feel most comfortable, especially as social networking platforms continue to grow in popularity.
It’s worth noting that Meta will begin shutting down its Workplace platform in 2025, which is prompting many organisations to look for an alternative long-term solution to the soon-to-be discontinued system. It pays to do your research when looking for a suitable replacement that matches your organisational needs.
Intranet portals
Modern intranets have come a long way over the past decade and now function as an interactive ‘one-stop shop’ where employees can access essential information, company updates and resources. This streamlines communication across departments and locations, ensuring that everyone is aligned with organisational goals and latest news.
Fresh is Advania’s preferred intranet solution because it’s easy to integrate with other digital tools and can be customised to reflect the look and feel of a company’s core brand. The system is designed with collaboration and personalisation in mind, which ensures every employee feels included as part of a unified workplace culture.
Key features like celebrating personal achievements, marking big occasions and displaying real-time data and live feeds from other platforms go a long way to engage employees and provide a single source of truth.
If you’d like to see a modern intranet portal in action, make sure to read our case study with Bristol Airport.
Video communications
The rise of remote and hybrid working has meant that video tools such as Teams, Zoom and Meet have become a crucial part of communications strategy in recent years.
These platforms provide a flexible, inclusive communication channel for knowledge workers and frontline staff alike. Whether it’s group conference calls, weekly catch-ups or urgent recorded video messages, employees can access important information on-demand or in real-time, making it easier for everyone to stay informed. The ability to share screens and present documents also improves collaboration between teams and reduces friction in the employee experience.
Live streaming capabilities offer a great way to broadcast events, training and company updates to distributed teams, all of which provides a more personal touch to digital communication.
AI integrations
Artificial intelligence (AI) powered chatbots and virtual assistants are quickly becoming a cornerstone of internal communications for many forward-thinking organisations.
Tools like Copilot provide employees with immediate answers to routine questions, such as HR inquiries, IT support or policy clarification, regardless of time zones or working hours. This means that instant answers are always available, in turn reducing delays and improving operational efficiency.
Communications managers can benefit by using AI tools to draft content and templates for emails, articles and press releases, allowing them to refine key messages rather than always starting from scratch. That time saved can then be spent on strategic planning, personalisation and finding other ways to build engagement.
Automated transcription features make it much easier to summarise meetings, clarify next steps and designate responsibilities based on what was discussed. This can be a major help for employees that missed a meeting, or for anyone wishing to boil down lengthy sessions to a set of core actions.
AI translation and natural language processing tools also make it easier for businesses to communicate in multiple languages, breaking down language barriers across global teams and widening the talent pool for talent acquisition. This helps create a more inclusive workforce that attracts skilled workers from diverse backgrounds.
Looking to enhance your communications strategy?
At Advania, we empower businesses to create sustainable value with the clever use of technology. We help our clients transform the way they do business and optimise their system infrastructure by providing flexible and secure platforms that facilitate efficient ways of working.
Get in touch to discuss your current challenges with one of our expert advisers and learn more about how we can enable your organisation to integrate communication, collaboration and information-sharing capabilities.
