What App Can I Use To Communicate With My Non-Desk Employees

23 Aug 2024

Robert Cain

Employee Relations Specialist

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The marketplace is flooded with employee communication apps. Unfortunately, most of these apps are designed for in-office use. In this blog, we explore the disadvantages of popular employee communication apps and better ways to connect with your non-desk employees.

What Is a Communication App?

A communication app is a software tool that allows users to send and receive information through various methods, such as video calls, text messages, or file sharing. In the workplace, communication apps are essential for facilitating interaction among employees, especially in environments with diverse communication needs. For HR managers, understanding the differences between communication platforms is key to effectively reaching your workforce, particularly non-desk workers.

Common communication platforms used in workplaces include Employee Intranet Platforms, mobile employee apps, email, cork boards, and SMS/Text Messaging. Each platform offers distinct features and benefits:

Employee Intranet Platform: Ideal for centralized information sharing but typically better suited for desk-bound employees who have regular access to computers.
Mobile Employee App: Provides flexibility and mobile access, which is crucial for non-desk workers. However, the app must be downloaded, and some employees may face challenges with storage space or app updates.
Email: Effective for detailed communication but often overlooked by non-desk workers who may not have frequent access to their inbox.
Cork Board: A traditional method of communication that works well for quick updates in common areas but lacks the immediacy and engagement of digital tools.
SMS/Text Messaging: Highly preferred by non-desk workers due to its immediacy and simplicity. Text messages are more likely to be read and responded to promptly, making SMS an effective tool for real-time communication.

While many communication apps are designed with desk-bound employees in mind, non-desk workers often benefit more from platforms that cater to their unique needs. SMS/Text Messaging, in particular, stands out as a preferred method for non-desk employees due to its ease of use and accessibility.

For HR managers, choosing the right communication platform is crucial for enhancing employee engagement and ensuring that important information reaches all members of your workforce, regardless of their location or role.

What Is the Purpose of a Communication Application at Work?

Communication applications have several key purposes in the workplace by enabling managers and employees to send and receive messages, including:

For non-desk workers, communication app functionality is especially important because of how rapidly job needs and worksite conditions change. Take a construction project, for example. A flash flood warning can delay progress and pose a significant safety threat. Delivering timely emergency alerts to keep employees safe isn’t just the right thing to do, it also makes financial sense for your business. According to the National Safety Council, the average cost of a medically consulted injury is $40,000.

While the importance of effective communication is clear, it’s not always easy to achieve with non-desk employees. That’s because communication apps require a strong connection to a cellular network, take up space and data on personal devices, and raise privacy concerns. With Yourco, there’s a better way. Leverage text messaging—a communication channel your employees are already using—to facilitate communication that’s quick, clear, and effective. See how it works.

What App Can People Use To Communicate with Their Non-Desk Employees?

Most popular messaging apps don’t cut it for effective communication with non-desk employees. This is due to a variety of reasons that make the standard top communication apps list a less than ideal place to start your search. For example, communication apps typically:

Require too strong of a cellular network connection to reliably function in remote areas. Even with a strong connection, LinkedIn reports on the many reasons why apps may fail, including glitches and software conflicts.
Use up cellular data from employees’ personal phone plans. USA Today reports that free texting apps are one of the most common ways that users unexpectedly use up their cellular data.
Take up storage space on employees’ personal devices. According to Samsung, the average app requires between 40 MB and 1 GB of storage, so needing extra apps can force employees to upgrade to more costly devices.
Raise privacy concerns that a work-required app may track personal activity. According to Wharton, 60% of apps track user activity across different apps and advertising networks. Users are reacting negatively to this information, and since data privacy labels became standard for Apple, app downloads have dropped by 14%.
Can be difficult to use. There’s an app for everything, and many employees get overwhelmed by having to learn and switch between different apps.

Instead of relying on communication apps, employers can leverage text messaging to reach non-desk employees. With Yourco, you can take advantage of the communication channel your employees are already using to improve scheduling, safety, and operational efficiency. Try Yourco for free today.

Are There Any Communication Apps for Free?

The best communication apps for free are ones that come with a free trial. That’s because these apps allow you to try them before you buy them, and they have options to upgrade for more advanced features.

With Yourco, you can experience:

Effective Two-Way Communication: Many HR managers struggle with getting responses from non-desk workers via email or mobile apps. With Yourco, enjoy seamless two-way communication that ensures your messages are seen and responded to.
High Open/Response Rates: Experience significantly higher open and response rates compared to traditional communication methods.
Ease of Use: Our platform is user-friendly and reliable, making it easy for both HR managers and non-desk workers to stay connected.

Experience Yourco for free to see how a communication app should work.

What Are Communication App Examples of Effective Workplace Communication? Yourco.

Yourco is a prime example of effective employee communication for non-desk employees because our platform is based on text messaging—a channel that employees know, love, and don’t have to pay extra for. In fact, text messaging has a significantly higher opening rate than email. While only 20% of emails get read, 98% of text messages reach their audience. With Yourco, you also get all the tools you need to manage communications on the admin side, such as:

Scheduled message delivery
135+ language translations
Segment messages by groups or departments
And so much more