What are the most important factors to consider when choosing digital communication tools for your team?

Start by understanding your team's specific communication needs and objectives. What are you trying to achieve with these tools? Are you looking to improve remote collaboration, streamline project management, or enhance internal communication?

The best tool for communication is the which is discrete but gives you prompts when required, highly customizable according to your needs.

Too typically organizations get the same tools as everyone else has. But not all workplaces are the same. Different needs and routines require different tools. You need to define the purpose and need of the communication tools first and only then acquire the tools. That way the tools will accommodate to people's natural communication patterns and styles. If you acquire the tools first, people's communication will have to adapt to the technology. You're more likely to meet resistance, mistakes and inappropriate use of the tools.

It doesn't matter how good a tool is for a job if employees loathe using it. Far and away the primary factor to consider for a communication tool - beyond any concerns of capability or cost - is whether your staff can and will utilize it to meet the needs that compelled you to seek out this tool in the first place.

-Periodic communication matters the most. At the same time it shouldn't be a spammer that throws reminder every now and then. -Also it is vital to seek acknowledgment on the message passed. Else information will just go in vain. -Keeping frequency along with quality matters. Ensure you communicate right content and do not communicate just to meet the frequency.

One key component is to keep a 'hot line', a communication mean for rapid and when needed COMMS. This will be used to achieve high value, xhen needed and when no wait time is allowed.

Certainly, considering your audience is a crucial factor when choosing digital communication tools for your team. Your team's preferences, needs, and familiarity with certain tools will greatly influence the choice you make.

At my remote-first organization, we've found success in integrating communication tools by making use of the software that's already connected to our frequently used systems. My workplace was able to integrate Microsoft Teams fairly easily to spur text-like conversations throughout the workday and cultivate interest groups. Unread Teams messages are emailed to Outlook which is what makes the platform a functional option for everyone.

Evaluate the total cost of ownership, including subscription fees, setup costs, and any additional expenses. Choose tools that align with your budget. Some tools may be good but over sized for your business, this means loss.

Seek input from your team members. Their experience and feedback are valuable in making the right choice. Collaborative decision my bring lot of effectiveness and cost reduction.

Based on the info you would like to relay it may need a specific communication channel. It is important to grade your message according to impact, urgency & response necessity. For messages that require quick action/change you could consider broadcasting the messages in multiple communication channels. Messages that need immediate action, you could use the more direct channels to communicate. What I find helpful especially in the workplace is to set clear expectations of how you’d like to communicate within your team. As a leader you can own that process and I’d recommend to be consistent in that approach to allow people you work closely with to understand this process. To take it a step further ask how your team wants to be informed.

1. Evaluate your team's strength and purpose as to why the tool is important 2. Make sure it is secured and login based for internal communication - Let's say, Google docs/spreadsheets and similar are searchable on internet. 3. Provide adequate training to the team on how to use the tool 4. Ensure that it is accessible on all mobile devices 5. Evaluate cost and ROI when it comes to customer service and response time - you should be going for a real time communication tools 6. Better to use a trial version of it first for feedback