Since before 2014, a private branch exchange (PBX) was an essential part of your business telephone system, distributing calls to all or
We all know about the benefits of WhatsApp. The handy, free app used by billions, which lets you message friends and family in an instant. That’s right, its purpose is to message friends and family, so then, why are so many SME’s still using WhatsApp for their internal business communications? Sure, minimising costs is always a win, but there are many disadvantages of using WhatsApp within the workplace, which we outline in this blog.
Informal Communications Limits Productivity
WhatsApp was designed for personal use – not business. Therefore, there are many challenges when dealing with WhatsApp for business comms. Firstly, multiple group chats can start getting confusing – especially when you are talking to colleagues through user nicknames and not their real names. Also, how easy can it be to accidently mix work and pleasure when using the same app? It’s unprofessional and sloppy to add a personal message by mistake to your business group chat, and more importantly, time wasting for others to read.
WhatsApp Isn’t Business Secure
Businesses that allow employees to communicate over WhatsApp or even Facebook Messenger are exposing the company to serious data breeches and security risks.
According to a recent white paper by Google,
“If not given company-approved cloud tools, frontline workers may risk company and data security and regulatory compliance to use their own. Fifty-three percent of frontline workers use messaging apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger up to six times a day for work-related reasons, but 68% of them said they’d stop if given approved internal communication tools.”
Harms Employee Wellbeing
All companies should prioritise an employee’s wellbeing – and if this is the case, then no business would be using WhatsApp to communicate. It can be hard for staff to distinguish between personal and business life when using WhatsApp to speak to their boss or other staff members. With WhatsApp, it’s easy for a boss or manager to send a message before the working hours or at the weekend – and this has been known to lead to resentment towards the company, as many feel it is damaging to their mental health. Because of this, many WhatsApp users purposely switch off their ‘Last Seen’ status, or take their read ticks off, to feel a sense of control, due to the overwhelming nature of using WhatsApp for work.
So, What’s The Alternative?
Yes, WhatsApp might be convenient and free of charge, but this is no excuse to put your company and employee’s wellbeing at risk. In today’s digital age, there is an abundance of professional Unified Communication tools, which can be used on mobile, desktop, or tablet, so employees can instant message and video call with ease. These platforms are made especially for business communications, but are still usually incredibly easy to use, whilst keeping your data safe & secure. Employees can log off when the working day is done, or simply set their presence to ‘Do Not Disturb’. The right business communication platform, ultimately leads to a happier, more productive workforce.
Talk to us today and we can help set up your business with the complete Unified Communication solution, providing your staff with an easy-to-use and reliable collaborative experience across multiple devices and sites. Email sales@ntvd.co.uk or call 01623 687750.
Share this post:
Recent Posts
Wildix has a presence in over 135 countries, a network of more than 700 partners and over a million paid users. This,