Are social platforms poised to take over emails in the workplace?

By Alexandre Wentzo, CEO, Casewise

There is no denying that technology has revolutionised the workplace in recent years. Twenty years ago it would have been inconceivable to think that we would eventually work in environments where faxes and posted letters were seen as archaic methods of communication.

The same goes in this day and age if one considers the possibility that email communication could one day be a thing of the past. The very idea seems utterly inconceivable. But technology, as ever, is evolving the ways in which we communicate. As all leading organisations know, communication is essential to the smooth-running of a business, which means the most forward-thinking are already assessing the best ways to integrate these new developments into the day-to-day workplace operations.

Social media has had a huge impact on the way people communicate ? with Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIN now on the agenda of most corporate boardrooms. Although these new means of communication are revolutionising the way we contact one another ? there is no denying that they pose a significant headache for CEOs, as pointed out in this BPM blog post.

?Social technology is just a time-waster?

One of the most common misconceptions encountered when businesses consider the introduction of social technology is that it?s a ?waste of time?. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Just as employees? behaviour evolved from hand-writing letters and faxing out documents, so too will it evolve into the acceptance of social technology. Today?s employees are more matured and business aware ? with many already using social media to communicate in their personal lives.

Ultimately better communication will, in the long term, vastly improve productivity ? the number one goal for any CEO. Don?t be fooled into thinking the adoption of such technology is a distant dream either ? some companies like ATOS, the biggest system integrator in Europe, plan to replace their email system with a social platform by 2013.

?Adapting to social will require a radical change?

It is true that adapting to social technology requires quite a radical change ? but it is the businesses most receptive to change that go on to prosper and grow. By incorporating social technology into an enterprise solution, employees are actively encouraged to be more involved with the company, which in turn helps them to be positively recognised among management and colleagues. It does not matter how you classify your solution or approach for the adoption of social technology; but providing solutions embracing this technology are certainly the way forward. Gamification is a recent buzzword, but it is a trend we will see more and more of in software interfaces over the coming years and months.

The introduction of game mechanics to non-game environments with social technology tools provides real and powerful social business platforms that people will embrace, contribute, and use to drive their business to the next level. This type of solution is people centric; and not technology weighted towards technology alone.

Will social technology in enterprise deliver on its promise?

As with any technological advancement, patience is the key. There are concerns that social technology in enterprise will not deliver on its promise, but at this early stage it is simply too early to understand or measure any ROI. One thing is for certain though, if the popularity of social media style communication is ignored, failure in the long term is all but guaranteed.

If you want more insights into social technology, why not sign up for Optimize 2012? Join now and you?ll even get the chance to shape the event?s agenda. Click here for more information.

Source: http://blog.casewise.com/2012/08/are-social-platforms-poised-to-take-over-emails-in-the-workplace/

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