Any team that wants to launch an effective internal communication strategy today will be faced with dozens of options. These range from tools that enable collaboration among remote team members, to those that can rapidly deploy company-wide updates. The problem is in finding the most important internal communications tools that solve employee problems as they exist in your organization.

Which tools do your teams need to perform effectively? Which tools can you do without? And possibly most importantly, which tools are you paying for, but underutilizing?

Why do organizations need internal communication tools?

Todays organizations are more dynamic and complex than ever before, with teams distributed across multiple locations and working in different time zones. This set up makes effective internal communication a challenge, especially if you only rely on traditional methods like emails or in-person meetings.

Great workplace communication skills are necessary, but internal communication tools complement them, ensuring that updates, announcements, or important changes can be shared instantly with all employees, no matter where they are. This keeps everyone aligned and reduces the risk of misunderstandings or outdated information circulating within teams.

Another key factor is the way people now consume and engage with information. Visual and interactive content is far more engaging than static text, and the most effective internal communication tools leverage this by using everything from videos and images to dynamic sales dashboards.

Without proper internal communication tools, your teams will find it challenging to coordinate efforts and operate effectively.

Read more: The best apps for corporate communication

Digital signage is a powerful communication tool that uses electronic displays to broadcast information, updates, and announcements across an organization. These screens can showcase everything from real-time data to motivational content, keeping teams informed and engaged.

The dynamic nature of digital signage makes it an effective tool for large and small teams alike, since it can be used for:

Remote presentations and meeting management

Digital signage screens can also integrate with various tools, offering rapid content updates, interactive features, and even the option to schedule content. This can reduce the effort required while increasing the quality of communication in the company.

Information can be updated and immediately deployed - no waiting for printouts or design.

Easily upload information from sales dashboards and other sources to screens, hassle-free.

Potentially higher content engagement since people process visual information faster than text.

An intranet is a private, web-connected network for internal communication where employees can share, access, and collaborate on information. Modern intranets have evolved from simple information storage and are now interactive platforms with features like document sharing, project notes, and even company social media updates. 

Intranets can be split into dedicated sections and channels, making it easier to arrange information.

They can host files like documents and spreadsheets, centralizing a lot of the tools teams need to work.

Within an intranet all conversations are public, so information is available to all teams across projects.

Email has evolved beyond just a type of employee communication software, and in many ways, it has become the backbone of internal and external communication in business today. These tools let us do everything from communicate to share files, and coordinate tasks efficiently. Beyond just sending emails, modern tools also integrate features like scheduling and analytics, turning email platforms into powerful productivity hubs.

Why teams need email communication tools:

Streamlines communication by offering organized inboxes, threaded conversations, and filters to help employees focus on important messages and reduce miscommunication.

Supports collaboration by integrating with project management tools/clients.

Can save time and improve productivity, with features like automated responses, email scheduling, and priority tagging.

An instant messaging tool is important for fast-paced workplaces because it allows you to communicate instantly, sending text, photos, videos, or web links to other people within your company. These tools help streamline communication within teams, and can eliminate a lot of back and forth and the delay you get with emails.

Messages can be sent and received quickly, eliminating delays common in email communication.

Easily share files, links, and updates with individuals or groups without switching platforms.

Ensures everyone, including remote team members, stays connected and informed in real-time.

Virtual meeting tools improve internal communication by enabling face-to-face interactions, regardless of everyone’s physical locations. These video services allow teams to hold meetings, discussions, and presentations in real-time, and allow employees to brainstorm more effectively.

They facilitate meeting scheduling and attendance, removing the logistical challenges of gathering people in one location.

Screens and presentations can be shared in real time.

Helps remote and on-site employees participate and contribute equally.

Read more: How to create presentations using digital signage

These are important employee communication tools that allow teams to generate ideas, plan projects, and work together in real time. These platforms often include features like digital whiteboards, shared documents, and task management to streamline the creative process.

Why teams need brainstorming and collaboration tools:

Ideas can be captured and shared immediately, allowing teams to collaborate without waiting for in-person meetings.

Visualize data and concepts easily with digital whiteboards and mind maps.

Provide consistency across hybrid and remote teams.

Employee engagement tools are designed to help businesses measure their team satisfaction, gather actionable insights, and generally improve the culture in their workplace. They use surveys, pulse checks, anonymous feedback, and analytics to help employees share their thoughts with business leadership.

Why teams need employee engagement and feedback tools:

Feedback can be collected and analyzed seamlessly making it easier to act on employee concerns.

They help businesses integrate data from surveys and pulse checks with HR dashboards for comprehensive insights.

Provide a way to collect consistent feedback.

Employee recognition and rewards tools help organizations celebrate their workforce by acknowledging achievements, milestones, and contributions. These platforms create opportunities for managers and peers to recognize great work and can contribute to employee engagement and satisfaction, and improve internal PR.

Why teams need employee recognition and rewards tools:

Drives engagement by giving employees visible acknowledgment for their contributions.

Helps managers build a culture of recognition in the workplace.

These tools easily tie recognition to specific achievements, making high performers easier to identify and reward.

Many companies view internal communication as something that’s top-down, from the company’s directors to the employees. However, the way employees communicate with each other is conducive to great work as well. Team bonding tools solve this problem by helping to foster stronger relationships and collaboration among employees. They may gamify the interaction process, facilitate engaging activities and challenges or simply make it easier for remote and on-site employees to connect. 

Easily track participation and progress through integrated dashboards, ensuring every team member stays involved.

They help everyone feel like they belong, which can improve job satisfaction and employee retention.

Team bonding tools reduce stress and create a more positive and enjoyable work environment.

Task management tools are usually online databases where employees log tasks. As internal communication software platforms, these tools make it easy for colleagues to track the distribution of workloads and help managers oversee progress.

The streamline communication and provide a centralized platform where teams can see others’ tasks and project updates.

They enable teams to work together on projects, assign tasks, and track progress in real-time.

Helps employees focus on what matters most, leading to increased productivity and better outcomes.

Internal communications tools, like company newsletter tools, make creating, distributing, and tracking internal updates easy, ensuring employees stay updated on what's happening within the company. In fast paced work environments, this can be very critical. Whether it’s sharing community feedback, celebrating milestones, or communicating policy updates, these platforms ensure the message reaches every employee effectively. 

Newsletters offer a consistent and familiar way to keep employees updated on goals, changes, alignment and engagement.

These tools simplify the creation and distribution of professional newsletters, often to the point where you don't need a ton of design expertise.

Can be integrated with other platforms to include real-time data, announcements, or important visuals.

Read More: What are the best office communication systems?

The best internal communication tools for productivity and engagement 

With ScreenCloud you can share any content you like to your digital screens, through schedules and playlists. This allows you to take the most important information and give it an office-wide view.  ScreenCloud also supports 80+ apps and integrations, comes with an easy-to-use content editor, a post generator that lets you create content in minutes, and enterprise-grade security.

Pricing: ScreenCloud offers a 14-day free trial. Pricing starts at $20/screen/month

Unily transforms internal communication by acting as a central hub for everything from resource sharing to employee engagement. Its intuitive design supports multimedia content and advanced search features, helping employees easily access the information they need. Unily is also mobile-friendly , making it a powerful tool for hybrid team members who work on the go. With integrations like Microsoft 365 and Salesforce, Unily can fit seamlessly into existing workflows and simplifying internal communication.

Pricing: Unily's pricing depends on your organization's size and is available upon request

Discover the top internal communication tools to boost productivity and engagement for your team. From intranets to digital signage, find the perfect solutions for your business.

Top Internal Communication Tools for High-Performing Teams 

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Top Internal Communication Tools for High-Performing Teams

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