Employee communications are an element you have to prepare for thoroughly. It’s more complicated than most expect, and requires a planned approach. On top of that, you will need the financial backing to carry out every part of your plan.
Better technology has made employee communications simpler. While it is less costly and time consuming than before, it still requires a careful touch. With mobile tools, you can automate the process while maintaining the personal touch that’s required for employees to buy in.
Still, these all have a cost associated with it. What should you keep in mind as you prepare budgeting while still keeping an effective communication strategy?
Focus on Tracking Metrics
Many communication tools can keep track of metrics. First, determine what your priorities are. Should you focus on a return on investment? Are open rates more important? What you care about will affect your budgeting.
Take an analytics based approach when determining your communication spend. Between 2016 and 2018, for example, companies increased their budget on facilitating internal communications strategies by using metrics. Measurement and monitoring spending also doubled during the period.
The more information you have, the better decisions you can make. Improved metrics can lower your overall budget, or allow you to spend it elsewhere.
Mobile Apps and Paperless Documentation Can Help
Technological solutions like mobile apps can help you to optimize your employee communications budget. You can use all sorts of apps like Slack, Microsoft Teams and countless others to improve internal communications.
Some apps also allow employees to send and receive documents with ease, so you don’t have to refresh your email every few minutes. Implementing purpose built tools can make it easier for all levels of the organization to relay information to each other and collaborate without the need to call meetings to sort things out. Physical meetings take time out of your already busy day to relay information. Unless it is dealing with matters of urgency, you can use these apps to encourage communication, allowing employees to focus more of their attention on their array of daily tasks.
Paperless documentation also makes it easier to plan employee communications. You can save money on printing, distribution and more when you go paperless in your office. For example, bulky employee benefits packets can be hosted online. Search tools can also make digital documents easy to find and navigate. Finally, encryption can be far more secure than a cabinet.
Digital documents can cut down on the printing budget. Online hosting is also cheaper than physical storage. With employees continuing working from home, paperless is more of a necessity. It provides a convenient and cheaper alternative that can be available anywhere. Try to make your employee communications inclusive and accessible for everyone.
Utilize the Communications Channels You Already Have
Optimizing your employee communications budget and strategy means being resourceful too. Make greater use of the communication channels you have in place. Whether it’s employee apps, messaging tools, email newsletters or any other channels, making greater use of what you have can save your money, preventing you from spending on new ones to facilitate employee communication.
