20 best internal communication tools for 2025

Get the lowdown on tools and platforms with the potential to transform internal comms at your organization.

What we'll cover

Good internal communication is the glue that holds organizations together. It’s how you keep everyone in the loop, informing them of important updates and helping them to feel connected to your company.

Done right, an internal communication strategy covers all types of internal communication — top-down, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer. Employees find it easy to collaborate because everyone is on the same page. Information flows smoothly between teams and departments.

For larger organizations and dispersed teams, this level of company communication can feel like a tall order. But whatever your company structure, making a success of your internal communication strategy is much easier when you have the right tools.

Luckily, there are lots of internal communication tools available. They promise to move your company away from a messy company noticeboard or a clunky old intranet towards a streamlined and more effective style of internal communication.

But which tools are worth the investment? Here we look at 20 of the best internal communication tools for 2025 to help you find the right comms tech for your organization.

Types of internal communication tools and platforms

Before we explore specific platforms and software providers, we thought we’d recap the types of employee communication tools available.

A mix of the following solutions will help you keep pace with internal comms trends and deliver the kind of employee experience your workforce expects.

Instant messaging tools

Internal communication isn’t just about top-down information sharing. Tools that support co-worker communication are an important part of the picture, too.

Enter the instant messaging tool, which allows employees to chat — collaborating, supporting, and championing one another — throughout each and every workday.

Advantages:

A communication tool that allows employees to chat and share information (along with emojis and GIFs)
Most instant messaging tools are available on both desktop and mobile
Messaging tools can be used for communication between co-workers, but also for information-sharing between leadership and employees

Best internal communication tools to use: Blink, Slack, Jive, Workvivo

Emails and newsletters

Now delivered in a digital format, the internal newsletter is a really useful way to communicate company updates. Regular newsletters, sent via email, provide employees with key information about the organization.

Advantages:

You can send the most important news, along with videos and images, straight to every employee’s inbox
A regular newsletter keeps employees informed — they get to hear what leadership is up to and find out about successes and developments taking place beyond their department
A well-crafted newsletter becomes an essential resource for employees. Instead of trawling through the intranet, they can find need-to-know information in one single document

Best internal communication tools to use: ContactMonkey, Axero, Poppulo, Staffbase

Audio and video conferencing tools

Rewind a decade and video conferencing probably wouldn’t be one of the top staff communication tools on your list. Today, however, in a world of remote and hybrid teams, video conferencing tools are a workplace essential. They allow employees to talk face-to-face, even when they’re not based in the same office.

Advantages:

Teams enjoy face-to-face communication — they get the clarity and understanding that you can’t always achieve in a long thread of emails
Video conferencing brings hybrid and remote teams together, helping to foster better employee communication and collaboration
You can use video conferencing software to run small team catch-ups as well as big meetings that include the whole organization

Best internal communication tools to use: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams

Employee recognition center

An employee recognition center helps you to incentivize and motivate employees. It’s the best internal communication tool for highlighting employee successes, anniversaries, and above-and-beyond efforts. Most recognition tools use a combination of social recognition and real-world rewards.

Advantages:

Managers have a forum in which to thank employees — this is particularly useful for remote teams who sometimes miss out on informal, impromptu praise
You improve employee motivation and engagement by recognizing high performance and promoting peer recognition
A recognition center increases workplace productivity because employees understand their goals and are incentivized to meet them

Best internal communication tools to use: Blink, Bonusly, Unily

Employee engagement and surveys

Engage your employees and you experience countless benefits, including improved productivity, customer loyalty, and profitability. But if you really want to improve employee engagement, you need to measure it.

Employee surveys and feedback forms are an essential part of any internal communication toolkit. They support bottom-up communication and give you valuable insight into how employees really feel about working for your firm.

Advantages:

You get to take the pulse of your organization with qualitative and quantitative employee feedback — and don’t have to rely on guesswork
Employees can give feedback anonymously so they’re more likely to give honest opinions that give you real insight
You get to understand the issues that really impact the employee experience and take targeted action

Best internal communication tools to use: Blink, SurveyMonkey, Bonusly, Qualtrics

Company news feed

A company news feed acts as a private social platform, only available to members of your organization. It’s a dedicated space for team members to see the latest company news, respond to updates, and connect with company culture.

Advantages:

An enterprise social network helps you to create a vibrant organizational culture, where ideas can be shared easily
Conversations take place over a familiar, social-media-style platform
Multimedia content keeps employees engaged and ensures high rates of platform adoption

Best internal communication tools to use: Blink, Workvivo, Staffbase, Happeo

Project management

Whether your team is based in the same office or works remotely, the right collaboration tools help them to manage projects much more effectively. Project management software makes project progress and tasks visible to every member of the team.

Advantages:

Teams can work collaboratively on projects even when they’re working in separate locations
Project management software presents project progress visually, making task management easy
Employee productivity improves because it’s always clear what needs to happen next — and who is responsible for each new task

Best internal communication tools to use: Asana, Monday.com

Intranet

A traditional intranet has long been the backbone of a company’s internal communication strategy. It’s a desktop-based software that supports file sharing. This means that everyone across your company can access documents, articles, and the latest company news.

The best intranet software providers have moved beyond this legacy intranet format. They’re offering a modern intranet experience that supports community-building, employee engagement, and two-way internal comms.

Advantages:

An intranet enhances company communication, particularly when all employees are desk-based
Employees working in satellite offices can access the same, centralized information hub
An intranet supports collaboration — thanks to file sharing features, all employees can edit intranet documents

Best internal communication tools to use: Blink, Simpplr, Happeo, Unily

Employee communication app

An internal communication app puts updates from HQ, messages from co-workers, and a social news feed into the palm of every employee. The best employee communication apps make life easy for your employees because — as long as they have a smartphone — they can dip into company comms wherever and whenever they need to.

Advantages:

An employee app puts a range of internal comms tools — including surveys, worker recognition, instant messaging, and a social feed — at an employee’s fingertips
A mobile-first app helps you reach team members, no matter where they work or the device they use
A mobile app mirrors the consumer-grade experience of popular communication software — so employees find it enjoyable and intuitive to use

Best internal communication tools to use: Blink, Workvivo

Employee experience platform

An employee experience platform combines many of the above communication tools into a single, engaging interface. With a focus on providing an exceptional employee experience, this software provides tools that support effective comms — and more.

The best experience platforms support onboarding, co-worker connection, and employee wellbeing. They provide self-serve access to HR resources and forms — and they integrate seamlessly with all other workplace software.

Advantages:

A tool that covers all bases — improving internal communications and the employee experience
Provides a centralized space for onboarding, training, and development resources
By making all workplace tools and resources easy to access, an employee experience platform can drive productivity, engagement, and employee retention

Best internal communication tools to use: Blink, Workvivo, Staffbase

20 best internal communication tools

Ready to find the right comms solution for your organization? Take a look at our round-up of the best internal communication tools for 2025.

1. Blink

Blink is an employee experience app offering a range of internal communications features. It provides many of the communication tools listed above in a single, accessible location.

As a mobile-first employee communication tool, Blink was created with frontline organizations in mind. Employees can keep up-to-date with company news — and stay connected to their peers — no matter where they work.

As well as offering employees a social feed and content hub that they can access via their smartphones, Blink helps you to improve employee engagement with a range of other tools.

You can launch pulse surveys to gain insight into the employee experience and use recognition features to publicly praise your teams.

A range of social-media-style functions makes internal communications more engaging and accessible than ever before. Employees can watch short-form videos in Stories. They can find like-minded co-workers and build strong workplace relationships in Communities. And they can see relevant, personalized content on a user-friendly dashboard.

Pros

Social-media-style comms tools, including a news feed, Stories, and Communities
Customization, Employee Journeys, and audience segmentation tools so you can personalize content for all employees
A variety of internal communication channels, including the news feed, a content hub, employee surveys, and instant messaging tools
Single sign-on technology and easy integration with other workplace software, so you can use Blink as your company’s digital front door
In-depth analytics so your internal communications team can find meaningful ways to improve their content and the employee experience
A mobile-first internal comms solution, available to every employee smartphone with no need for a corporate email address

Cons

Some users say that Blink’s search function could be better, with more search management tools and refiners

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Connecting frontline and desk-based teams with real-time updates
Making all internal communications — and other workplace software — available in one place
Engaging employees with dynamic, multimedia content — and tracking that engagement with the help of analytics
Boosting company culture and employee experience with community-building comms

Alternatives to consider

Workvivo, Simpplr, Staffbase

2. Asana

Asana is a well-known project management tool and, if you use it, you’re in good company. Around 85% of Fortune 100 companies say they use Asana.

With this workplace communication platform, you can create, prioritize, and allocate tasks. You can view tasks in timeline, board, and list formats — and track your progress toward milestones.

The visual format makes it easy to see which tasks your team needs to complete first. And the process of identifying and remedying project bottlenecks becomes much easier too.

Pros

A free version that supports 10 members and comes with unlimited storage, tasks, and messages
A clean, intuitive interface and a comprehensive selection of project and task management tools
Comes with a mobile app so employees can keep of track of projects on the go
Good integration with third-party tools

Cons

A high volume of email notifications can be frustrating for users
One of the more expensive project management solutions available
The mobile experience pales in comparison to the desktop experience
Collaboration tools aren’t as extensive and effective as those of other project management tools on the market

Pricing

Monthly pricing for Asana starts at a basic free plan. A business plan costs $24.99 per user per month when billed annually.

Use cases

Giving remote teams the tools they need to manage projects effectively
Cross-team collaboration
Status updates and reporting — leaders can view dashboards and reports to stay informed of project progress.

Alternatives to consider

Monday.com, Microsoft Teams, Poppulo

3. Jive

Jive is a community-building communication tool that you can use for top-down, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer connection. Team members can share photos, videos, documents, status updates, and blog posts. They can also decide whether their post gets seen by one team member, a specific group, or the whole organization.

Another great feature of Jive is its People Directory. Here, employees can search for co-workers they want to connect with, based on their skills, endorsements, and favorite activities.

Pros

Jive is an all-purpose business communication tool
Supports personalized news updates
Provides a single inbox so employees can manage all company communications and conversations in one place

Cons

Jive has a complicated interface and a cluttered layout that can be difficult for users to understand and navigate
Limited integrations with the other workplace tools you use
Some users say the Jive mobile app is slow and clunky with lackluster features

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Creating a centralized hub for updates and document sharing
Personalizing company updates to make them more relevant and engaging
Giving employees the tools they need to interact with leadership, managers, and coworkers

Alternatives to consider

Blink, Happeo, Unily, Axero, Simpplr

4. Zoom

Zoom is often listed as one of the most reliable video conferencing platforms. It offers excellent audio and visual quality, even when internet connection is patchy, and it’s really easy to use.

You can record meetings, direct meeting participants to breakout rooms, and make use of a meeting annotation function. Zoom offers a range of other useful features too, including an online whiteboard and virtual working spaces (known as Zoom Huddles).

Pros

User-friendly interface
Can run small one-to-one meetings, large conferences, and anything in between
Advanced features include breakout rooms and webinar hosting

Cons

Zoom can be expensive for larger teams, with add-ons needed for meetings of more than 500 participants

Pricing

A Pro plan, for up to 99 users, costs $15.99 per user per month. A Business Plan, for up to 250 users and with a greater range of features, costs $21.99 per user per month.

Use cases

Running live meetings and webinars
Supporting video and audio communication for hybrid and remote teams

Alternatives to consider

Google Meet, Microsoft Teams

5. Bonusly

Bonusly gives you all the tools you need to run a successful recognition program. Via an intuitive platform, employees can tag peers and congratulate them on their accomplishments. Congratulated employees earn points, which they can then use to claim their preferred reward — a gift card, cash, or a charitable donation.

Reporting tools give leaders insight into team dynamics and patterns of recognition. It helps you to discover top performers and identify people who haven’t had any recognition in a while.

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Pros

A user-friendly interface and next to no learning curve
The option to tailor recognition programs to fit your culture and values
Out-of-the-box integrations with other workplace tools including Workday, Asana, and Slack

Cons

Limited analytics — so it can be hard for companies to understand employee engagement and recognition patterns

Pricing

Monthly pricing options for Bonusly starts at $2 per user.

Use cases

Strengthening company culture and employee morale with regular recognition, even when employees are working remotely
Creating a culture of peer-to-peer recognition — employees can award points and praise to their co-workers

Alternatives to consider

Blink, Workvivo, Staffbase

6. Axero

Axero is an internal comms platform designed to unify teams, increase productivity, and improve workplace culture. It features mass email tools, an activity stream, a blogging platform, and instant messaging.

Using Axero, you can create a central hub for files, communications, and company updates. Collaboration features also come in handy, with space for team discussions and the option to co-edit documents.

Pros

Axero’s customer service is responsive and helpful
Good customization and integration options
A comprehensive employee directory that makes it easy for staff to find and connect with co-workers

Cons

A steep learning curve — users say that Axero can be overwhelming for beginners
Some users say that Axero functionality lags behind that of other intranet competitors
Limited features on the mobile version

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Creating a single hub for news, updates, and resources
Supporting collaboration across your company, with file sharing and team discussions
Building a personalized employee experience, with custom dashboards tailored to the roles and departments of employees

Alternatives to consider

Blink, Happeo, Jive, Unily, Simpplr

7. ContactMonkey

ContactMonkey is one of the best newsletter platforms available. Unlike some of its competitors, ContactMonkey integrates with both Outlook and Gmail so you can send emails from and receive replies to your usual inbox.

The platform provides an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop email builder. Multiple team members can collaborate on the same email. And analytics tools help you judge which newsletter content is best engaging your workforce, so you can create more of the same.

Pros

Employee survey tools so you can email your surveys to the workforce with ease
Integration with Outlook and Gmail
SMS integration that allows you to reach employees with urgent updates
Real-time tracking and analytics — so you get insight into email open rates and click-throughs

Cons

You can only use ContactMonkey for internal emails, not external marketing emails
Only supports communication over email, which may not be particularly engaging or appropriate for all organizations
Unlikely to fulfill all your internal communication needs

Pricing

Prices start from $600 per month for 500 employees. Prices for more extensive plans are available on request.

Use cases

Engaging email and newsletter communication for employees
Launching employee surveys to help you acquire useful feedback

Alternatives to consider

Poppulo, Staffbase, SurveyMonkey

8. Slack

Slack is an instant messaging tool that supports asynchronous communication. Slack works well for desk-based employees who have access to other platforms, like Google Drive. Slack doesn’t work as well for on-the-go, field-based employees, who don’t have such easy access to separate cloud storage.

People within your organization can launch chat threads, including as many or as few team members as they like. They can create threads for different projects, departments, and topics. Teams also get access to little extras, like file sharing, message search, and a task reminder function.

Pros

User-friendly interface
Integration with a wide range of other workplace software
Customizable notifications

Cons

Doesn’t work well for teams who are on the go — Slack is most suited to desk-based teams
Can be hard to find what you’re looking for across multiple chats and channels

Pricing

Slack offers a limited free plan. Paid plans start from $8.75 per user per month.

Use cases

Ensuring real-time communication between dispersed team members
Providing a variety of internal communication channels — including direct messages, group chats, and channels

Alternatives to consider

Blink, Microsoft Teams, Workvivo

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9. SurveyMonkey

SurveyMonkey has made it to our employee survey top spot for its ease of use. This employee communications platform has lots of survey templates to choose from and, if speed is your priority, lots of features that help you get employee feedback fast.

You can choose from hundreds of expert-written questions or write your own. And with the help of custom templates, you can find or create surveys for any situation, whether you want to conduct 360 reviews, find out your Net Promoter score, or seek feedback on your employee engagement efforts.

Pros

Ease of use — SurveyMonkey has a clean, uncluttered interface that employees will enjoy using
Using the Genius Assistant and the “build it for me” feature, you can create surveys quickly
Excellent analytics that help you make sense of employee responses

Cons

Limited free features
Limited customization options, so you may struggle to create complex or specialized surveys

Pricing

Prices start from $30 per user per month.

Use cases

Boosting employee satisfaction and engagement with the help of employee feedback
Making it easy for your teams to launch and respond to employee surveys

Alternatives to consider

Blink, ContactMonkey, Qualtrics

10. Microsoft SharePoint

Microsoft SharePoint is a file-sharing software that integrates seamlessly with the other Microsoft tools you may already use. You can create branded document libraries called sites, customizing them for document collaboration or top-down comms.

Teams get to share news, documents, and data. They can also edit documents collaboratively — setting notifications so they know when a co-worker makes changes.

Pros

Easy integration with other Microsoft products
Allows you to segment employees by division, giving each division its own calendar and visual timeline
Customization options so you can build forms, workflows, and custom applications for your teams

Cons

Not particularly user-friendly, especially on mobile
Cost of implementation is high and adoption rates tend to be low

Pricing

A basic SharePoint plan costs $5 per user per month.

Use cases

Project collaboration — teams can co-edit documents and manage workflows
An easy way for desk-based teams to access company documents and resources
Using internal announcements and newsletters to communicate with all employees

Alternatives to consider

Blink, Axero, Unily, Happeo

11. Monday.com

Monday.com is a project management tool that supports comms and employee engagement. You can use this internal communications software to create and assign tasks, track project progress, and create performance-tracking templates for employees.

Team members receive notifications when action is required. And an easy-to-use visual interface makes it easy to see where each project is up to at a glance.

Pros

A comprehensive set of project management tools
Customizable project templates to get you started
A weekly overview so you can see tasks and project milestones you need to tackle over the next few days

Cons

The backend of this business communication software is complicated and involves a steep learning curve
Limited comms tools so Monday.com isn’t useful as a standalone business communication platform

Pricing

Prices start from $8 per user per month.

Use cases

Improving project management and work collaboration
Task and workflow automation to streamline repetitive processes

Alternatives to consider

Asana, Microsoft Teams

12. Workvivo

Workvivo is an intranet software company owned by Zoom. You can use this internal communication tool to improve comms, employee engagement, and recognition, too. You can also make use of multiple communication channels and employee feedback tools.

Standout features include live broadcasting tools, so you can launch live streams and podcasts. You can also create microsites, where teams and special interest groups can create their own, tailored communities.

Pros

Strong translation abilities for multilingual organizations
An engaging, social-media-style interface that will feel familiar to employees
Rich communication tools including a news feed and instant messaging (available through integrations with tools like Slack, MS Teams, and Zoom meetings)

Cons

Chat functionality on the mobile app falls behind the desktop experience
Advanced features — including chat, Workvivo TV, and advanced analytics — are add-ons that come at an additional cost
Admins say they want better customization options and improved third-party integrations

Pricing

Workvivo’s Business Plan starts at $20,000.

Use cases

Creating engaging, social-media-style communications
Ensuring internal communications move in all directions — top-down, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer
Opening up internal communications to deskless employees

Alternatives to consider

Staffbase, Simpplr, Blink

13. Staffbase

Staffbase is an internal communication platform designed to connect and engage employees. It brings company news, messaging, and resources into one place, making it easier for you to reach your workforce — whether they’re remote, hybrid, deskless, or office-based.

With Staffbase, you can communicate over the company intranet and send emails and SMS, all from one centralized dashboard. You can also create tailored content paths so employees receive the right information at the right time.

Pros

A great user experience across desktop and mobile versions
Brings a range of communication and workplace functions into one location, supporting top-down, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer conversations
Built-in reporting so you can see how employees are using the platform and interacting with your content
You can customize the platform so it matches the look and feel of your branding

Cons

Some add-ons and integrations come at an additional cost
There are few out-of-the-box features on the employee app
Search functionality and integrations aren’t as good as they could be

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Launching employee surveys with in-built tools
Creating a single source of truth within your organization thanks to communication channels that all workers can access
Making comms more personal, with the option to segment your audience and deliver relevant content to different employee groups

Alternatives to consider

Blink, Workvivo, Simpplr

14. Poppulo

Poppulo is an email and mobile communications software. It also provides digital signage functionality and digital tools for desk and meeting room management.

You can target messages based on location, role, or interests to cut through the noise. You can also access tools for planning and promoting internal events, like town halls and team meetings.

Pros

Omni-channel communications, across email, SMS, intranet, and digital signage
Drag and drop email design tools plus advanced personalization
Strong analytics — Poppulo gives comms teams clear visibility into message performance

Cons

Poppulo is more complex than some of the other tools on this list, so there can be quite a learning curve
While it brings multiple communication channels together, Poppulo isn’t comprehensive enough to work as a standalone company communication system

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Enterprise email communication and analytics
Improving the quality of email messaging with employee segmentation tools
Managing office workspace among hybrid teams

Alternatives to consider

Staffbase, Blink, ContactMonkey

15. Qualtrics

Qualtrics is an employee survey and feedback tool. You can use it to capture employee data via surveys and passive listening — and discover how your business is doing across metrics like intent to stay, engagement, inclusion, and wellbeing.

Surveys are easy to customize, with advanced question types and logic, while analytics and reporting tools help you turn insights into actionable strategies.

Pros

Flexible survey design options
Powerful analytics and reporting capabilities
AI tools that guide you to take action based on your employee feedback findings

Cons

Using advanced features effectively may require training
Qualtrics can be overly expensive for smaller businesses

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Improving employee satisfaction and engagement with the help of regular surveys
Creating a culture of 360 feedback to improve the effectiveness of management and leadership

Alternatives to consider

Contact Monkey, SurveyMonkey, Blink

16. Happeo

Happeo is a Google-based intranet that provides a centralized location for all internal communications. It provides a hub for company news, documents, and collaboration tools.

Key features include a social intranet, an employee directory, and an intuitive search function. You can also use AI tools to find and fix gaps in your knowledge base.

Pros

Easy integration with Google Workspace tools
Excellent search functions so it’s easy to find the people, posts, and integrated third-party apps you’re looking for
The option to create hubs and communities based on departments, roles, and shared interests

Cons

Limited integrations beyond the Google suite
A web-first platform, best suited to desk-based teams

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Creating a centralized hub for updates and document sharing
Building company culture and employee engagement
Connecting hybrid, remote, and office-based teas

Alternatives to consider

Jive, Unily, Axero, Simpplr, Blink

17. Unily

Unily is an employee experience and internal communications tool. It provides features that support its “four cornerstones” of digital employee experience: Alignment, Engagement, Enablement, and Simplicity.

Key features include email, employee feedback, and recognition tools. You can design, sequence, and automate employee journeys so staff receive relevant information at the right time. You can also use gamification features to improve intranet engagement.

Pros

An excellent desktop version, with an engaging and intuitive user experience
Fine-grained controls for admins
A good range of notifications

Cons

Mixed opinions on Unily’s customer service and ability to support its partners
Translating Unily’s comprehensive desktop features to mobile is a challenge for admins

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Creating channels for company-wide communications
Boosting employee engagement with dynamic content and gamification
Making recognition a key part of company culture

Alternatives to consider

Happeo, Jive, Axero, Simpplr, Blink

18. Simpplr

A comprehensive intranet platform, Simpplr supports internal communication and employee engagement. It provides a user-friendly, social-media-style interface and provides AI-driven content recommendations.

Standout features include employee listening tools, surveys, and a recognition program. There are also lots of communication channels you can use across email, SMS, a mobile app, and desktop software.

Pros

An intuitive, uncluttered interface
Strong analytics that make it easy to track engagement metrics and content performance
Great search functions

Cons

Difficult login process, with multiple links provided
Some users say the struggle to integrate Simpplr with their preferred third-party apps
Advanced features can be expensive

Pricing

Pricing is available on request.

Use cases

Making employee feedback and listening a key part of company culture
Creating a centralized hub for communications, resources, and community
Bringing large organizations and distributed teams together

Alternatives to consider

Workvivo, Staffbase, Blink

19. Google Meet

Google Meet is a video conferencing and virtual meeting tool. It’s integrated into Google Workspace, so it connects easily to Gmail, Calendar, and any other Google tools your team happens to use.

It’s incredibly easy to use via an internet browser so users don’t even have to download the software. This makes it one of the most accessible virtual meeting tools currently available.

Pros

Easy to set up and use
The ability to hold meetings with up to 1,000 participants
Chat, emoji, and screen share functions available during meetings

Cons

You need additional tools to fulfil all internal communication needs
Fewer advanced features compared to Zoom and Microsoft Teams

Pricing

Prices start from $6 per user per month.

Use cases

Virtual team meetings, webinars, and company-wide announcements
One-on-one video meetings
Virtual training and employee onboarding

Alternatives to consider

Zoom, Microsoft Teams

20. Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams combines instant messaging, video conferencing, and file-sharing tools. As you’d expect, it offers the best possible integration with other Microsoft Office tech. You can use a selection of tools to create an all-round internal communication solution.

You can use Teams to run video meetings and team chats when your employees are working remotely or across different locations.

Pros

Strong integration with other Microsoft products
Secure communication and file sharing

Cons

Interface isn’t particularly engaging and there are few social-media-style features
Teams is designed for desktop use so mobile users don’t get the same user experience

Pricing

Prices start from $4 per user per month.

Use cases

Creating digital channels for internal communication and project management
Launching video and audio calls and sharing company-wide updates
Bringing remote and hybrid teams together, even when they’re working in different locations

Alternatives to consider

Slack, Google Meet, Zoom

Choosing an internal communication tool for your frontline organization: 4 questions to ask

There are lots of employee communication tools out there. Some help you manage all types of internal communication. Some specialize in one or two key areas. So which tool — or combination of tools — makes most sense for your frontline organization?

It comes down to the unique communication challenges facing your company. For frontline organizations, the biggest challenges are linked to the dispersed nature of your team.

Everyone should receive critical information and opportunities for connection, even if they rarely set foot in HQ. Fostering company culture and a sense of togetherness in a frontline environment relies on internal communication tools that can be used easily and on the go.

So when deciding which tool to use, ask yourself the following questions. They’ll help narrow down your options and find the best internal communication tool for your frontline company.

Is your organization primarily office-based, or do you have deskless workers to consider?

Some internal communication tools work well for office-based teams. A company intranet, for example, is a great resource when teams are working from a desktop computer. But these tools tend to fall down when it comes to deskless workers.

Deskless, frontline workers usually only have access to a smartphone. So when tools or tool features aren’t available via a mobile device, you risk creating a two-tier structure.

Frontline workers miss out on the information, connection, and progression opportunities available to their desk-based peers. It becomes much harder to keep everyone on the same page — and ensure high levels of frontline employee retention.

To ensure equal access and a good user experience for everyone, look for internal communication tools that work as well on a smartphone as they do on a desktop screen.

A mobile-first solution with a dedicated mobile app is a surefire way to level the internal communication playing field.

Do your employees have regular opportunities to connect during the workday?

We do our best work when we feel like part of the team. Employees who feel that they belong within an organization are 5.3 times more likely to feel empowered to perform their best work. That’s why chatting around the water cooler is more important than you might think.

Within frontline teams, opportunities for water cooler chat are minimal, if not non-existent. So you have to engineer those opportunities for co-worker connection.

An internal communication tool with user-friendly, social-media-style chat functions provides that essential link between frontline employees and your office-based team. Co-workers can message each other informally, building the relationships and connections that make work more meaningful.

How much time can your employees spend on internal comms each day?

Frontline teams are generally out in the field, on the warehouse floor, or dealing directly with customers. There’s little time during the work day for them to sit and wade through company comms.

So when choosing an internal communication tool, ease of use and ease of adoption are paramount. Your frontline employees need to quickly and easily get to grips with your chosen platform. Otherwise, amid a busy day, they’re very unlikely to use it.

Similarly, your chosen internal communication tools should allow important messages to cut through. If critical information gets lost in a long thread of posts, frontline employees won’t always get to see it.

When looking for a communication tool, look for rates of adoption and engagement. If other companies have persuaded a high proportion of their frontline employees to use a particular tool, you can be confident that it fits easily into their workflow — and that it can produce similar results for you.

How many internal communication strategy goals do you want to cover?

A lot of internal communication tools specialize in one area of employee communication. They help you to tackle a single challenge — whether that’s gathering employee feedback, supporting project management, or setting up a document-sharing hub.

So when deciding which is the best communication tool for your workplace, consider whether your teams will be happy using multiple platforms and logins. And whether subscriptions to multiple communication tools fall within budget.

If you have several internal communication goals to tackle, and you want to make the process as streamlined as possible for your teams, pick an internal communication tool that covers as many bases as possible.

When your tool supports multiple channels and various types of internal communication, you can build a well-rounded strategy without overloading employees.

The importance of internal communications in an organization

Every organization — frontline or otherwise — needs a solid strategy for internal communication.

Good internal communication helps you to build stronger, happier, more engaged teams. It helps you attract and retain staff and unites everyone behind company culture, mission, and values — which makes work more satisfying and efficient.

Take internal communications to the next level and you stand to make improvements in all the following areas:

Company connection. When employees feel connected – to your organization and each other – they’re more likely to bring their A-game. An internal communication strategy amplifies company culture and helps to foster a sense of belonging, both of which improve employee engagement.
Change management. When there are big changes taking place within your organization, you need to take everyone with you. Internal communication channels help you to explain upcoming changes and get employee buy-in.
Problem solving. There will always be bumps in the road. A clear communication strategy prevents the rumor mill from turning. You get to explain challenges to the wider organization quickly — and enlist employee support in tackling them.
Productivity. Internal communication empowers team members to do their best work. They understand the company mission and have all the information and resources they need. This makes them more effective and more productive.

There are lots of communication tools that help build internal communications into your everyday. From instant messaging to a company newsletter, employee surveys to project management tools, you’ll find platforms that help information flow between all members of your organization.

But for frontline teams, an internal communication strategy requires extra-careful thought. Teams don’t get informal interaction opportunities. So internal communication tools play a pivotal role within your organization.

Your employees need mobile-first tools that make remote connection and information sharing easy and intuitive. And the right tool really can make all the difference. (Take a look at how Blink transformed comms at the transport company, Go North West.)

When you find the best internal communication tool for your organization, you turn a fragmented, out-of-the-loop team into a close-knit community who become much more effective at what they do.

Blink. And transform company comms with an all-in-one software solution.

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