When I was
in high school, instant messaging was the thing to do. It was just before
everyone had their own cell phone, and we all lived relatively far away from
each other (we were bussed in) so our parents didn’t want us calling long
distance. We would spend all day with our friends at school, then go home, and
spend hours talking to each other online.
These days
instant messaging is becoming more popular within business. Thanks to mobile
devices, you no longer need to be seated at your computer in order to send and
receive instant messages.
Before a
business decides to use instant messaging, there are some pros and cons to
consider.
The pros include:
- Immediate communication and information sharing, resulting in quicker decision making
- Services are free if you sign up for an email account
- Multiple people can join a conversation
- Can have a real time conversation no matter where participants are located
- “presence functionality” or “presence awareness” allows you to see who is available for conversation, instead of hunting for someone who is not currently able to reply
Cons of
Instant Messaging can include:
- Security risks including spam, and viruses
- Could result in legal issues if misused by an employee
- Sometimes a distraction, used as a social tool, and slowing productivity
- Inability to contact people who do not have the same IM system
Considering the pros and cons, would you use instant messaging in your business?
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