subject: IM – The Next Great Business Mobility Channel? [print this page] IM The Next Great Business Mobility Channel?
I may be reaching slightly here, but I suspect something funny's going down in the corridors of power (or some of them anyway) when it comes to certain stubborn management attitudes towards certain comms technologies.
They're changing.
I refer most specifically as you've probably already guessed to the likes of MSN, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter all entities benefitting as the
powers that be begin realising A) the futility of the draconian, ban-and block approach and B) the potential of such utilities for real business benefit.
In so much as it's hardly a newcomer, the latest candidate for the list is perhaps a bit of a surprise though. Instant Messaging. But some are even saying that IM could even be the next great business mobility channel. And you know what? Hyperbole notwithstanding I think they might just have something.
On the downside, quite apart from the supposed drains on time and efficiency, there are obvious security risks, and that's proved sufficient rationale for many organisations to move to shut IM down in the workplace. Seems reasonable. Pointless protecting the crown jewels with a carefully-refined security infrastructure and then compromising the lot by opening up an unmanned gateway like IM.
The problem is though, IM ticks all sorts of productivity and collaboration boxes. Many people are already using it unchecked on their iPhones and Blackberries in any case, and it's a nightmare to police. One way and another then, there's a real need for many businesses to take a closer look at IM.
Think of the potential cost and time savings through the strategic use of IM as part of a unified comms mix for example: the ability to ascertain the location and availability of employees, suppliers, and clients.
The usefulness and cost-efficiencies of being able to ping someone a quick IM wherever they are and of getting an instant response.
With the ability to post questions or pictures to colleagues and to use location-based services to find out how far away help may be, IM carries enormous barrier-breaking and problem-solving potential for geographically diverse organisations, and for those with field workers. And with the ability to message others in seconds rather than minutes the office-bound desk jockey benefits too.
What are we saying then? That firms should immediately shoulder arms and allow employees to march roughshod over existing IM checks, balances, and controls? Hardly.
What they perhaps should be doing though, is starting to define secure procedures for corporate IM channel deployment and usage now, while they can still at least partially dictate terms; to start looking at potential providers, guarantees, and service levels.
Companies are already having to open their hearts, minds, and wallets to Social Networking. It might just be time for them to open their networks to IM.
