Digital communication
Digital communication. It is almost impossible to imagine our society without it. Where it all started with e-mail, nowadays there are hundreds of options to communicate digitally. One of the best-known successors to digital communication is of course SMS, but we have pretty much forgotten about it since the advent of Whatsapp and social media.
How long will it be before something new emerges again? Who knows, at least with the current developments, things are moving fast. We at Bundeling also contribute to this with our online communication platform. In this blog, we will tell you more about the development of digital communication and how, as an organisation, you really can’t be left behind.
Digital communication definition
Digital communication is the exchange of information, data or messages via electronic devices. Simple examples of digital communication are sending an e-mail, sending a Whatsapp message or calling via FaceTime. Digital communication comes in vastly different forms. Examples include: text messages, social media messages, video conferences, webinars, online chats, blogs, podcasts and more.
The rise of digital communication
Digital communication has drastically changed the way we interact as people. Both within the professional sphere and outside it. Digital communication has enabled us to exchange information quickly and efficiently, regardless of distance.
Digital communication has also created huge opportunities in business communication, marketing, customer service and interacting with your constituency. In addition, it has brought challenges. You have probably noticed that there are a lot of issues when it comes to digital communication. For instance, how do you ensure privacy? And how do you deal with the spread of misinformation?
The benefits of digital communication in business
Digital communication has several advantages for business. Some of the main benefits include:
1. Location-independent communication
Digital communication allows om-real time communication with
employees, customers, partners and other stakeholders regardless of their physical location. Emails, chats, video calls and other forms of digital communication enables companies to communicate instantly, globally. This, of course, saves tons of time.
2. Cost-effective
Digital communication is cost-effective! Emails and online chats are virtually free. Of course you pay the internet bill, but you need the internet for other things too! Digital communication platforms also help you save on travel costs. Employees can participate in meetings remotely, without being physically present. This not only saves on business trips and the like, but also allows you to let employees work from home a few days a week, without them missing out on what’s going on in your organisation.
3. Improved collaboration
Digital channels allow you to share information, such as documents, quickly and easily. This is especially useful when your colleagues collaborate a lot on projects. Files can be gathered from one central point. In addition, all agendas, assigning tasks and holding virtual meetings can all be arranged in one place. This streamlines communication within your organisation and provides a major efficiency boost.
4. Greater reach and customer interaction
By using digital communication, you extend your organisation’s reach. After all, you can quickly and effectively reach thousands of people through various online channels. Think of social media, for example; you can create a huge reach in no time. In addition, you can communicate with (potential) customers in a direct and personalised way. This can help build customer relations, promote customer loyalty and improve brand perception.
5. Flexibility and scalability
Digital communication also enables companies to quickly adapt themselves to changing needs. Digital communication tools, such as Bundeling, can be scaled down or down based on your organisation’s needs. A lot can also be developed within tools. If you have a specific problem or issue, a solution can be developed for it.
In addition, digital communication offers flexibility for the person you want to communicate with. After all, they can decide for themselves when, how and with which or via which channel they want to communicate with you.
The disadvantages of digital communication
Although digital communication has numerous advantages, there are also some disadvantages you need to consider as a company.
1. Less personal contact
The more you communicate digitally, the less you will do so in person. Within digital communication, non-verbal cues, such as body language and tonality, are missing. The lack of these can lead to misunderstandings, but that is not the only drawback. With purely digital communication, you don’t create a bond. That, of course, is a waste. Team building and bonding within your organisation are hugely important for staff retention. So make sure digital communication within your company is supportive and does not replace all (physical) communication.
2. Overwhelming
Digital communication can quickly become overwhelming. With a plethora of digital channels and platforms, it can soon become too much. Don’t expose your employees (or customers) to an information overload. Sharing information is fun and keeps people connected to your company, but if there is an overload, you quickly lose people. So think carefully about how much you want to share and through which channels.
Another solution is to use personalised messages or smart labels. Not every message is necessary for every employee. So make sure the right messages reach the right people. Using the Bundeling platform, you can easily classify your employees using smart labels. This way, you can be sure that your employees only receive the necessary messages!
3. Security and privacy risks
With everything you do online, there are risks. You hear more and more about privacy and security breaches, even at large companies this sometimes goes wrong! Sensitive business information is exposed to cyber attacks such as hacks, malware and data breaches via online communication. As an organisation, you need to handle your online data carefully and take preventive measures to ensure its security.
4. Miscommunication
We mentioned it earlier, but miscommunication and misinterpretation are also a risk in digital communication. This is because nuances and subtle cues are missing in the digital world. Even in video meetings, for example, in Teams, it can be harder to get a click with another person. Conveying emotions, intentions and tones remains difficult through digital channels, which can lead to misinterpretations or other misconceptions.
5. Dependence on technology
The more you use technology, the more you depend on it. You’ve probably experienced it before. You have an important meeting planned, but five minutes before you start making (video) calls, the internet breaks down. Outages, glitches, power cuts or other problems can mess up your communication considerably. This can lead to loss of productivity, delays in communication and frustration.
Better digital communication with Bundeling
Through Bundeling, your organisation can communicate better digitally. Via our platform, your colleagues can easily communicate digitally, location-independent. In addition, the Bundeling platform is easy to use and well secured. Bundeling has already helped more than 800 organisations structure their internal communication and share important business information. Connect Smarter with Bundeling. Contact us for a free demo!
