DIFFERENT TYPES OF COMMUNICATION TOOLS USED IN MAKING ONLINE MEETINGS

Now that many of us are in lockdown, I thought it necessary to put together a list of communication tools that can be used to hold meetings for those working from home. John SARBAH and I have put together the following:


                  Communication is critical for many operations within work spaces and it is imperative for all to be aware of the various tools that can be used to keep abreast with work information especially during this time. It is essential to break distant barriers given that our world is now more than ever before technologically connected and businesses are located across continents and countries. In addition, more and more people are now embracing the concept of working from home and therefore, would require a mastery of the communication tools to keep abreast with work information. In addition, many crafted individuals are now using communication tools to transfer knowledge to others using virtual lessons.  Within this article, we outline a number of communication tools individuals, groups and organizations can utilize to breach the gap of communication created by coronavirus and for those who work from home.

 There are so many types communication tools which can be used online to achieve business and other goals which include newsletters, video, conferencing ,intranet ,mobile apps ,chat and forums, surveys, podcasts, collaboration tools ,digital signage, social media ,recognition and rewards, planning tools ,graphic creation software and others .

To begin with, video conferencing is one of the essential tools in communication which can be very beneficial in making online meetings. One of the communication tools of choice which can help in meetings online is ZOOM. Some of the best things about Zoom include; 

·     The ability to host online meetings, conduct video webinars, and use the Business Instant Messaging feature for cross-platform messaging and file sharing

• The Zoom Rooms feature puts high-quality video, audio, and web conferencing in any sized room


• Zoom Rooms’ digital signage is a great tool for corporate internal communications.

Intranet/corporate social network is another communication tool which can help foster communication in large organizations. It makes it easy for employees to see new contents, and articles, guides, ideas across teams and departments. An example of the tool of a choice is JOSTLE. Jostle is cloud-based intranet software that can help boost employee engagement.

Jostle prides itself on providing you with an intranet that strives to provide clear information architecture that helps streamline communication in the workplace.

According to their website, their intuitive intranet helps you “improve employee engagement, express your culture, and make communication happen.”

It’s excellent for team communication and for corporate internal communications. Jostle lets you:

• Connect all your employees regardless of where they’re working from


• Check out the latest company news with ease


• Simplify event planning, letting everyone know what’s happening and when via the “Events” tab


• See who does what while the people tab gives you access to the entire  employee directory in the “Teams” tab.

Furthermore, newsletters also constitute an important means of communicating online. The best newsletter service of choice is CONTACTMONKEY. With contact monkey you can send responsive email newsletters, collect real time feedbacks, and any other critical information that requires a prompt response from employees or a particular group of people.       

• . Contact Monkey seamlessly integrates into your Outlook or Gmail inbox so you can stay where you work.


• You can track every email open and link click so you know how many employees are being reached

• You can use their drag-and-drop email template builder to create and send responsive emails to employees.


• You can create and send mass personalized emails to your Outlook distribution lists and Google groups


• Obtain employee feedback by adding pulse surveys, emoji  reactions, star ratings and like buttons


• Integrate your own pictures, videos, podcasts, and other media directly into your newsletter, and track viewership.

Moreover, another type of communication tools is Apps. The appropriate app of choice for online meetings is the STAFFBASE. Staff base is one of the best employee apps to improve workplace communication, it is ultra convenient for employees searching for answers or company updates.

 Staff base can:                       

• Publish company news, short updates and documents and get feedback with comments and likes


• Use plug-in for all your internal communications needs including company news, employee directories, chat, maps, surveys, and more


• Import existing intranets, your blog or social media using the app


• Send push notifications to ensure that everyone gets the message


• Be customized with your corporate branding.

Lastly, forums and chats are also vital tools for communication which promote meetings online. Forums can be a way for employees to collaborate and it serves as an effective communicator which facilitates other channels for employees to reach the right person. One of these communication tool is SLACK .Slack is a collaborative tool which is pretty effective ,it allows people to subscribe to channels that are pertinent to their role of interest, helping reduce some of the noise that can come from a traditional chat room or forum. Since users can participate in all kinds of channels, Slack is a powerful tool for facilitating  communication in the workplace which can be integrated with a lot of other apps and workflows including ticketing, supports and sales  to ensure that right people view the right messages. if you also want to send important company announcements, the best practice is to use email.

Other communication tools include House party which works almost like Zoom, Google Classroom, Microsoft Team, Webex Meet, and Jitsi Meet

In conclusion I want to emphasize that online communication is the easiest and fastest way to communicate with people across a broad spectrum. Do you know any communication tools that can be added to the above list?

 John Sarpah

Delphine N