Instant messaging: The future of communication or passing fad?
Communication methods are certainly progressing at a rapid rate lately. We sit at our desks, hear the phone ringing and the dinging of our computer that a new email is coming in, and now we have the great “instant messaging" to communicate live, real-time, one-to-one.
Instant Messaging (IM), or chatting, is universally available at a low cost. This has been popular for personal use, but IM is quickly gaining acceptance within enterprises. User-friendly virtual conferences are using the technology. Errors and timeframes are reduced because information is seen in real time.
Physically remote associates of an enterprise can build a team and conduct real-time, internal and confidential communications during meetings with customers and suppliers. You do not have to be in the office, sitting at your desk, to participate these days. They can find you anywhere.
And we could learn something from kids today. They hold IM sessions while listening to music and doing homework. Can you envision what is coming with IM when this generation enters the business world? The people of the phone age are retiring, the people entering the workforce, grew up with computers and cell phones. Computer games were their passion. They have developed an electronic shorthand and keyboard speeds that are a marvel to behold. These kids know how to multi-task.
What do you think? Do you see instant messaging as a useful tool in the workplace? Post a comment here.
Mary commented:
Charles, I am with you on the open work environment. I have complained for years as to the time lost due to the interuptions. There are three of us in a good sized room, however you hear every phone call, every visit and any other kind of distraction. Worst of all it is a path to the restrooms. I do believe our efficiency would improve with at least a head high partition. Mary
Charles Robinson commented:
Absolutely! I'm always shocked when I hear people who don't "get
it" with regards to the incredible power of IM in the workplace.
For eight years I was the IT Manager for a company with locations
scattered throughout the Southeastern US. When I started we were
like most medium-sized companies and all communications were done
through the phone. Since you don't know when someone is available
when you call we had numerous call queues in our phone system so
people could reach specific departments. After I implemented IM
people were able to see each others' online status. Call volumes
dropped sharply and we were able to do away with the queues. For
200 employees we averaged nearly 1100 instant messages a day and
saved $32,000 every year by using IM instead of phones. IM kept the
remote offices, corporate office and outside sales force connected
to each other more economically than phones, and to a degree that
would otherwise not be possible. Employees who were initially
resistant embraced it enthusiastically once they saw the status
indicators, which they liked because they knew who was available,
and they realized they could control when they were available. They
also liked that the office was a lot quieter without the ringing
phones and chatter. I now work in a company with three ways people
interact, in order of frequency: 1) walk up (or yell across) and
interrupt someone in the middle of whatever he or she is doing; 2)
call on the phone, even if they're 10 feet away; 3) send an e-mail.
We are in an open space with no walls and the productivity loss for
me alone is staggering. Multiply it by the 60 people in my office
and they company is losing several days' worth of wages every
single day. I am lobbying hard to get IM adopted.
