Technology has had a significant impact on modern communication; however, its impact on business communication that’s possibly the most noteworthy. Whether operating a Fortune 500 company or a single employee sole proprietorship communication serves as a primary function of a business’s operation. Technology carries both tangible and intangible opportunities to produce cost effective options and meet the increasing demands and needs of consumers. Technological innovations affect efficiency, corporate culture and relationships among clients, suppliers and customers.
Technology has helped to streamline many of the processes that were once daunting and tedious. What were once file cabinets filled with paperwork have been replaced with digital files that can be backed-up and stored in several locations at once all. Digital files make for easy maintenance and document preparation. Programs that allow for file sharing help employees to interact with one another while offering another form of checks and balances. Many companies use email to confirm orders and purchases helping to insure order accuracy. While the impacts of technology on business efficiency have been primarily positive not all areas of business have been positively impacted.
Corporate culture has been impacted both positively and negatively by technological advances. One of the positive effects of technology on corporate culture is improved communication. Improved communication gives way to creativity and development. Employees are no longer restricted to meeting in conference rooms but have become well acquainted with programs such as: Skype, instant messaging and email. These forms of communication allow for immediate communication and interaction unlike more traditional methods (mail, phone, fax). These improved methods of communication have completely changed the structure and face of organizations. Now employees can live and work in locations other than that of their employer. The positive effects of these technological advances can be seen and felt all around but the negative effects are just as obvious. The advances in technology have also opened up the world of social media and internet access. According to a recent study published by NPR, workers waste an average 74 minutes a day on social media or chatting with co-workers. It’s not only social media and internet that’s taking away from productivity its cell phones and interruptions by phone calls at work.
When it comes to employees and the workplace, the improvements in technology can be good and/or bad. When communicating with customers, however, the improvements have been largely positive. Customer Service has seen significant improvements in customer support through the use of instant messaging (IM). Companies like Sprint and Adobe utilize IM to increase the ways in which customers can reach support and receive assistance.
Overall, technology has made a vast improvement to business communications. The advances in technology have opened up means of communication that one could have only dreamed. While business communication may risk the overall productivity of staff its pros outweigh the cons.