In a modern workspace, seamless communication is key. We’ve talked a bit about this previously in terms of mobile strategy, but mobile is best paired with tools that allow you to interact with your team quickly and on the fly. This goes beyond email toward something faster. Enter chat. These aren’t the AOL chat rooms from the Internet of yore – they’re a vital way for you and your employees to communicate within a closed network. Even when you’re in the same physical room, using a chat client can be great to keep a document of your conversations for future use and reference. These three different clients below are helping businesses across the country maximize their productivity.
Skype for Business
Skype has been ubiquitous with video chat for years now, but the Skype For Business model is also a fearsome force for chat. If you’re already using Office 365, you likely already have access to Skype for Business. This means you don’t have to pay another service fee for it. Now that’s a perk! Being built into Office 365 comes with other advantages, particularly that you don’t have to spend time setting up individual accounts for your staff. The video and audio chat functions are also vital and unparalleled.
Slack
Slack has blown up since it debuted in 2013, and with good reason. Using Slack is like using an evolved version of those old chat rooms mentioned earlier. From a messaging functionality perspective, you’re able to have full control of the content you send to your coworkers – from color hex codes to link preview images and a wealth of emoticons. It also can integrate with your current software, allowing you to seamlessly with products and platforms such as Google Hangouts, GitHub, Twitter, and even Skype. Slack’s notification system is also above their competitors, letting you know just how many messages you’ve missed in a group chat or one-on-one conversation.
Microsoft Teams
Launching to the greater public in February, Microsoft Teams is definitely the “new kid on the block”. But being new doesn’t mean they don’t have history on their side. The Microsoft name along carries a lot of weight and the tech giant has been on the forefront of chat for a while now (they even own Skype). What Microsoft Teams offers is a balance between the seamless integration with Office 365 found in Skype and the functionality of Slack. If you’re already using Microsoft products for your enterprise companies, Microsoft Teams feels like a clear next step.
Are you ready to get your team communicating faster than before? We can help. ISOutsource as vast experience helping companies get their networks up on all of these chat clients and can help instruct your team on how best to use them. Contact us today and we’ll get you started.