Unlocking better employee engagement, retention and productivity – this is how internal communications help get your team(s) aligned, fostering trust and cooperation
Clear and effective communication with employees is a superpower in the modern world.
When employees feel informed and valued, they’re more engaged and committed to your company’s success.
However, internal communications can be a challenge for companies with distributed or frontline workers.
In South Africa, some 75% of the workforce is deskless and often distributed across a wide geographical region, with many working at different locations on different days.
That’s why Jem developed a powerful WhatsApp-based communications product that helps you send critical information and use internal messaging strategically to unlock powerful employee engagement, no matter how wide and fragmented your teams are.
Why Effective Internal Communications is Important
Effective communication is the backbone of any successful organisation. It ensures that employees stay aligned with company goals, feel connected to the business, and are up to date with important information.
A 2019 European study found that 80% of employees’ work quality improved as a result of good internal communications, making management and resource allocation more effective, as well as fostering better relationships between co-workers.
And management agrees: In interviews, around 77% of company leadership say good communication is vital to organisational goals.
Yet, 2015 research by employee-engagement pros, Gallup, shows that 74% of employees feel left out due to a lack of good communication. And things haven’t gotten better, it’s gotten much worse.
Project.Co’s new communication statistics show that in 2024:
- 70% of employees waste time due to bad communication
- 55% miss important messages because the channel isn’t ideal
- 53% have suffered burnout as a result of bad communication
- 12% of companies have lost customers due to poor communication
- 12% of companies have lost employees due to poor communication
The message is clear: good internal communications is vital and beneficial for your company. See how to avoid the most common employee communication mistakes.
The Benefits of Good Internal Communications
- Higher engagement: In 2023, Gallup showed the link between communication and employee engagement, showing that merely communicating better drives up profitability by 23%.
- Improved retention rates: Gallup also found that engaged employees are 87% less likely to look for a new job, while Achievers Institute found that 72% will stay where they feel valued and connected.
- Increased productivity: According to McKinsey, well-connected teams are 5 times more likely to improve production and, on average, are 20–25% more productive.
- Transparency and trust: Transparent internal communications builds trust with employees, showing them that the company values openness and their input.
Effective Company Communication by Jem
In other parts of the world, companies can often run communications through email. However, in South Africa, only 7 million people use email every day, which is only 30% of the workforce.
This means that, if you rely on email in SA, it’s likely that as much as 70% of employees won’t receive the message. The engagement rate on internal company apps is just as low here in SA.
WhatsApp, on the other hand, is one of the widest-used platforms in the country. Over 94% of South Africans use WhatsApp, which is why Jem built our company communication tool to run on WhatsApp.
It’s helped numerous SA companies streamline communication from management to employees, ensuring everyone receives the same message via WhatsApp, at the same time, directly from the source.
Learn more about Jem’s unique communication product.
What Can You Send on Internal Comms?
Jem’s platform offers versatile communication tools that go beyond simple announcements. You can:
- Send password-protected PDFs containing payslips, contracts, or other important documents.
- Broadcast announcements to your entire workforce to ensure everyone stays informed.
- Share polls and surveys to gather feedback, gauge employee sentiment, or assess general well-being.
- Use multimedia messages to send videos, images, or documents, keeping employees engaged and informed in various ways.
How to use Internal Communications Strategically
To fully leverage Jem’s communication tool, companies should integrate it into their broader communication strategy:
- Tailor your messages: Use segmentation to send relevant updates to specific groups, such as by job role or location.
- Create a feedback loop: Use polls and surveys to gather employee input, fostering a culture of openness and feedback.
- Promote consistent updates: Don’t just rely on communication during emergencies or big events – regular updates build trust and keep employees engaged.
- Analyse and improve: Monitor engagement through Jem’s tracking features to see how employees are interacting with messages, and use this data to refine your communication strategy.
Case Studies: Companies Who’ve Benefited from Better Communication
Businesses using Jem’s internal communication tool have seen significant improvements in employee engagement and communication.
KFC improved connections between the head office and 450 sites while reducing payroll requests by 98%, all through the power of Jem’s communication platform.
WastePlan used Jem’s tool to foster stronger connections with its distributed workforce, improving employee engagement and simplifying communication between teams.
See more powerful-impact case studies here.
How to Get Started with Strategic Internal Communications
Ready to improve employee engagement with powerful, instant company messaging?
Contact Jem today to schedule a demo and see how you can help you engage, build trust and empower your team(s) with our WhatsApp-based solution.
