Once upon a time, mobile devices were the size of small bricks and used exclusively by the rich and famous. Today, over 85% of the American population owns a smartphone, which they can easily tuck into their pocket.
With employees spending almost as much time on their phones as their computers, many companies are integrating their intranet with mobile platforms, leading to the rise of “mobile intranets.” As companies adopt more advanced tools to communicate with and engage employees, there’s a growing responsibility to effectively reach them no matter where they work.
Rise in mobile communications
Employees are communicating via smartphones now more than ever. According to Pew Research, 97% of American adults now own a cell phone of some kind, and 77% own a smartphone.
Those between the ages of 18-29 are even more likely to use a smartphone. In 2021, 96% of this group owns and operates a smartphone.
Advertisers, software developers, and human resources departments are taking note. According to eMarketer, mobile ad spend has topped $455.30 billion worldwide.
In this environment, it makes perfect sense to include mobile communication as part of an employee communications program.
Employees use mobile while they’re at work
Employees are using their smartphones wherever they go, including at the office. According to a 2017 study by CareerBuilder, 80 percent of workers keep a smartphone in view throughout the workday, with two in three acknowledging that they use it at least several times while at work.
This has caused concern for some. A LifeSkills study showed that 43 percent of enterprises are worried about young employees using their mobile at work. However, many companies are using the proliferation of smartphones to their advantage. Rather than asking employees to put away their smartphones, they’re encouraging young employees to use phones for company use. They’re implementing mobile intranets for seamless communication, making the smartphone into a friend instead of a foe.
Employees communicate with each other via mobile
In order to keep up with each other, employees communicate via mobile apps like Skype, Google Docs, and Trello. After all, employees have smartphones, and they can use these apps to communicate when they’re away from their desks.
Messaging apps have increased in popularity, and people turn to their phones when they want to communicate. Roughly three billion mobile owners use messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or WeChat, according to Statista, and smartphone users spend 50 percent of their mobile app time in social and communications apps.
Mobile intranet solutions are robust
These solutions do more than send a text message or mobile-friendly email. These apps can leverage push notifications, discussions, video messaging, document hosting, and user-to-user messaging. That way, employees can choose how they receive their communications, ensuring they get the info in the way that makes the most sense for them.
When something happens at your company, you want employees to know about it. Rather than turning away from innovative strategies like mobile, you should lean into them. It’s time to figure out a way to bring mobile solutions to your workforce.
Is it time for a mobile app?
To help tackle the challenges of today’s modern workforce, you may have started to consider whether you need an employee mobile app to help with employee retention, customer satisfaction, process optimization, and more.
Download our guide to learn the 5 signs that it might be time for a mobile workforce management solution at your organization.
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