5 Ways Technology has Changed Team Communication

As digital technologies seep further into our everyday lives, they are reshaping team communication. People, at large, are becoming comfortable with using instant messaging and chats, even to discuss significant tasks at hand. From an orthodox and typically a closed-door affair, we are now settling into a more conversational and informal mode of exchanging information and ideas in a business setup. This transformation is leading different businesses, across the globe, into a more human and transparent way of communicating between and within teams and the results are manifolds.

Utilising the latest advancements in information and digital technology for business communication enables easy collaboration and nurtures relationships. With the growing influence of the gig economy, and independent professionals taking up critical business functions, tech-led team communication methods help boost active engagement between disparate and remote workforces. In addition to enabling collaboration, technology also boosts efficiency, resulting in quicker decision making, enhanced productivity and improved work rate.

Let’s delve deeper and demystify how technology is evolving the ways in which teams communicate.

Enabling Instant Communication

Many Multi-National Corporations employing thousands of people are able to communicate effectively and quickly, owing to the latest tech disruptions of today. Advancements in technology make it easier for teams to collaborate and communicate, even if the task is fraught with several challenges, such as different time zones, cross-cultural sentiments, and whatnot. Acting as the chief enabler, technology is being deployed by different enterprises of varying scale and size to simplify processes and straighten up any creases in the flow of work.

The ways in which we communicate today has been shaped by the advent of smartphones, instant messaging and social networking platforms. Aided by these advancements, communication between different teams and the management has become more steadfast and real-time. In addition to sending emails or texts, teams can now connect over instant messaging apps, create groups, and keep every stakeholder in the loop. Furthermore, video calling and conferencing solutions are the best fits amongst the workforce comprising the digital nomads of today.

Leading solution providers in the field of enterprise communication are also coming up with latest disruptions, such as audio conferencing via dial-out capabilities that utilise regular phone lines, thus eliminating the delays in starting conference calls and working perfectly even in low network regions.

Overcoming Geographical Barriers

With technology, teams are able to connect and collaborate, without letting geographical borders hamper the smooth flow of operations. A wide range of communication technologies, such as audio and video conferencing, instant messaging and team messaging applications are breaking the corporate silos, presenting a more superior and efficient alternative for teams to foster healthy camaraderie amongst each other. The same allows businesses to have diverse teams at the job, bring in a range of different ideas, and help companies to grow more holistically.

More Effective and Real-Time Collaboration

Faster communication and the presence of collaboration tools like online documents and sheets allow real-time collaboration, which is more effective and instantaneous. With the help of these resources, teams can share information in real-time. Digitally led processes also help senior managers assimilate the best practices and create a library or archive of resources to help train their teams and ensure that the workforce is well-equipped with the latest tools, processes, and techniques.

Increasing Transparency

Technology has bridged the gap between the associate and the C-level. Aided by technology, communication is no longer restricted to the closed-door discussion between a handful of people; we are instead graduating towards more open communication, often in channels and organised via projects, topics, or teams. More tools for communication allow enterprises to be more inclusive in their approach, boost the morale of team members, and make them feel a part of the everyday journey of an organisation.

Decentralizing Decision Making

Decision making is no longer dependent on meetings that would drag on for hours or long email threads and are instead made over new-age platforms, often on an ad-hoc basis. With technology, managers can make decisions faster, without having to wait on higher-ups to approve. This helps decentralize the decision-making process. Also, mapping business feasibility and taking quick action aided by real-time data analytics is easier to achieve, thus helping the businesses capitalize on the best practices.

In a nutshell, technology has had an incredible impact on the workplaces of today and is redefining everyday business communication. Aided by technology, enterprises are giving up the age-old ways of doing things, re-writing their own roles and bringing in new-found efficiencies. Given the present-day competitive corporate scenario, no business can afford to overlook the new trail of productivity, efficiency, and easy communication promised by communication technology and digitalisation. The ambitious businesses of today must take the plunge and take proper cyber-security measures to ensure that the security of team communication is never lost to nefarious activities.

By Mr Satya Kalyan Yerramsetti, CEO, Telebu Communications