The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated remote work trends. Between 2005 and 2019, remote work grew by a whopping 216%. During the peak of the pandemic, some 69% of employees were telecommuting.
In our changing work environment, we need new ways to communicate effectively. And what better way than with business communication apps? So, if you’re looking for the best ones on the market to improve your business communication, below are our top 10 picks.
Why Improving Business Communication Is Important
Communication is at the core of every business. Communication is the tool we use to share information within the workplace and outside of it. But while every business uses communication, not all of them use it effectively. Ineffective communication won’t help your business thrive and grow, which is why you need to improve business communication when it’s not what it should be.
According to 86% of employees and executives, ineffective communication is the leading cause of workplace failure. In comparison, good communication:
- Increases workplace productivity
- Improves employee engagement
- Keeps employees loyal
- Builds trust and employee morale
Another reason companies need to improve communication is that poor communication leads to financial losses. According to a report that surveyed 400 companies and 100,000 employees, companies lose $62.4 million per year because of inadequate communication.
What Makes a Good Business Communication App?
A good business communication app is, of course, one that facilitates effective communication. Team messaging apps and project management tools for business will have features that simplify information sharing, such as:
- A user-friendly interface
- Collaboration channels
- Integration with third-party apps
- Project management features
- Available on multiple OS and devices
And because businesses have different needs and budgets, it’s good to have a good app that meets your unique requirements at a reasonable price.
10 Best Apps to Improve Business Communication
No matter if you’re a startup, small business or large enterprise, there’s an app to better streamline communication in your workplace. Here are our top 10 best business communication apps chosen based on popularity and features.
1. ULTATEL
Trusted by big corporations, ULTATEL is probably the best cloud platform to bring together multiple communication tools for your small to medium business. It’s also an ideal choice for companies who want to improve customer communication.
The platform unified voice calls, video calls, SMS, chat, and even fax on a single platform. The company offers integration with Zendesk if you need customer-support service and other customer communications tools.
Pros:
- Top-notch phone and customer service
- HD voice and video calls
- High security
Cons:
- A bit pricey
Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Price: $15.95 to $29.95 user/month
Check out Techjury’s full review here.
2. Slack
Originally an internal communication tool for a small company, Slack is one the most popular communication apps for business owners.
Mainly a messaging app, slack allows users to chat in real-time and offline. It features multiple chat rooms (channels), which can be private, group, or organized by topic. Conversations, files, and other media are all searchable. It also lets you integrate over 2,000 services, customize it, set reminders, and make voice/video calls.
Pros:
- A one-in-all hub
- Unlimited messaging history
- Customizable and user-friendly
- Available on multiple devices
Cons:
- No task management feature
- Can be noisy and confusing
Available on: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Free or $8.75/user/ month
3. Microsoft Teams
As part of the Microsoft 365 family of services, Microsoft Teams is ideal if you’re already paying for Microsoft services.
There’s a free plan (up to 300 users), which is great to know if you’re a startup. This gives you an unlimited chat function (with channels), online video calls, audio conferencing, live transcripts, and 5GB of cloud storage per user. Paid subscriptions offer longer group meetings, more cloud storage, 24-hour support, business-class email, and more security.
Pros:
- Free for some users
- Professional interface
- Integration of many third-party tools
- Seamless file storage and backup
Cons:
- Security risks with the free version
- No unified chat search feature
- A limited number of channels
Available on: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Free or $5 to $12.50 /user/month
4. Zoom Meetings
A popular videotelephony software, Zoom has become synonymous with virtual meetings. It saw a huge increase in users during the pandemic as people relied on it for remote work, online classes, and even socializing.
The app is fairly simple to use and features screen sharing, file sharing, whiteboard, and group chat. It also has a wide list of integrations, including Slack, Google Drive, Microsoft Outlook, and LTI Canvas, to name a few. All this makes it the closest thing to in-person meetings.
Pros:
- Available for free
- Supports large audiences
- Allows streaming on social media
Cons:
- Lack of comment control
- Low video quality
Available on: iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Chrome OS, Linux
Price: Free or $149.90/user/year
5. Google Chat
For its Google Workspace customers, Google has launched Google Chat to help its users better streamline their communication.
It’s similar to other company communication apps, such as Slack and Microsoft Teams, with its chat rooms, document sharing, and app integration. However, it also supports video and audio calls via Google Meet integration.
Pros:
- Integration with other Google Workspace apps
- Free for Google Workspace Users
Cons:
- Limited third-party apps integration
Available on: Android, iOS, Web
Price: Free or $6 to $18/user/month
6. Discord
What started as a voice and chat app for gamers became a popular communications tool for businesses everywhere.
Discord is a VoIP and instant messaging social media platform that allows communication via voice calls, video calls, and chat, just to mention a few of the VoIP benefits. It lets you share files through private chats or public channels called “servers.” A unique feature is a feature that allows real-time communication through voice channels.
Pros:
- Most services are free
- Great audio quality
- Highly customizable
Cons:
- Limits on users and channels
- Few integrations
- Low safety
Available on: Android, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web
Price: Free or $4.99/month
7. Trello
Every business needs a project management tool that can be integrated with their message/call apps. One of the most popular of such is Trello with more than 50 million users.
Trello is a Kanban-style app that allows users to create task boards with different columns. Their free plan has everything a small business needs, including collaboration, file sharing, and third-party app integration.
Pros:
- Simple user interface
- Makes small projects easier
- Countless integrations
- Security feature
Cons:
- Not good for large projects/teams
Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Web
Price: Free or $5 to $17.50/user/month
8. Chanty
Another business communication app to help your team stay on track, Chanty stands out for its productivity-boosting AI bots that help you focus on the task instead of the chatter.
Chanty has many useful features, making it an all-in-one hub for businesses. These include text and voice messaging, video calls, screen and file sharing, task management, and integrations. If you are a small company with 10 members, the free version may have all you need. The app is also customizable and includes emojis, GIFs, and pins.
Pros:
- Great for productivity
- Low price per user
Cons:
- The free version is very limited
Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Linux
Price: Free or $3/user/month
9. Connecteam
If your small business needs to manage your employees remotely, then Connecteam is it. This mobile-first platform lets you know how your project is running and what your deskless team is doing.
Connecteam includes a time-tracking app, allowing users to track by project, employee, or client. The platform also includes a digital timesheet, access to analytics, and even a GPS tracker. The platform even lets users create native apps on desktops for their small and deskless businesses.
Pros:
- Lets managers keep track of their team
- Ideal for diskless businesses
- Available for free
Cons:
- Advanced features are expensive
Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS
Price: Free or $29 to $99/user/month
10. Basecamp
A project management platform plus a team communication tool, Basecamp has everything your business needs to communicate effectively and get work done.
Its main highlight is simplicity. Basecamp has a simple interface with built-in collaboration tools, such as dashboards, messaging, group chat, to-dos feature, file sharing, and project schedules. And while it does have everything you need to stay on track, it also has integration with third-party apps.
Pros:
- Unlimited number of projects
- Up to 500GB of storage space
- Available to collaborators and clients for free
- Unlimited integrations
Cons:
- No way to prioritize tasks
- No free versions
Available on: Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, Web
Price: $11/user/month
Summary
Every business needs effective communication to thrive. And that is especially true for businesses operating remotely where one-on-one communication is not possible and miscommunication is common.
But thanks to a growing number of excellent business communication apps, companies are finding it easier to do their business away from the office.
You’ll find some of the best team messaging apps, project management tools, and remote work platforms on our list. There’s something for everyone out there: from free and simple apps for small businesses to highly integrated tools for large companies.
Article provided with permission from AppleWorld.Today