Use employee engagement software to engage your workforce every step of the way
The employee lifecycle incorporates the following stages:
Preboarding: The time between an accepted offer and an employee’s first day
Onboarding: Orientation, training, and support delivered over a new hire’s first months in a role
Development: Support for learning and career growth
Engagement: Building a workplace culture of connection and belonging
Retention: Keeping top talent invested in your organization and their work
Transition: Supporting change and offboarding with care
The challenge for managers and HR teams is ensuring high levels of employee engagement at every point in that journey.
We know that just 23% of employees are engaged at work. And that disengagement hurts everything from employee retention to customer loyalty to employee well-being to productivity.
So how do you maximize the employee life cycle, ensuring levels of engagement that drive business success?
It helps to have the right employee engagement software on your team. With employee engagement tools, you can create a seamless, consistent, and personalized journey for all employees — whether they’re working in the office, from home, or on the frontlines of your organization.
Let’s take a look at how you can make that happen. Here’s how to use software tools to improve engagement throughout the employee lifecycle.
How to enhance the employee lifecycle with engagement software
#1. Preboarding: Creating a great experience before day one
First impressions matter. And the preboarding phase is your opportunity to introduce a new hire to company culture and set the tone for their employee experience.
An effective preboarding process welcomes new employees to the organization. It also calms those inevitable nerves, as it gives new staff all the information they need to prepare for their first day.
You can use employee engagement software during this phase to:
Sustain employee communication between the offer stage and an employee’s first day
Share useful documents and get employees to sign any necessary paperwork
Share welcome messages from managers and team members
Provide a road map of the onboarding process, so new hires know what to expect
With Blink’s Employee Journeys, you can use start-date triggers to send tailored employee communications ahead of their first day. You can also include an employee’s line manager in the journey for a seamless and supportive experience.
#2. Onboarding: Setting the stage for success
According to Gallup, employees who get a great onboarding experience are 2.6x more likely to be “extremely satisfied” at work. They’re also more likely to stay working for you.
This is a crucial time. The first 90 days in a role are considered some of the riskiest in terms of employee retention. New hires start working for you with high hopes and expectations. If the reality is too far from what was promised during recruitment, they’re likely to jump ship.
The good news is that employee engagement software can help you maximize engagement and minimize that attrition risk during the onboarding process.
Here are some key actions to take at this stage to boost — and maintain — employee morale:
Personalize the onboarding journey, ensuring content is hyper-relevant at key employee milestones with customizable templates
Provide self-serve access to resources, training, and team profiles, so employees can get to know the entire company and their co-workers
Check in regularly with pulse surveys, offering recognition for employee efforts and seeking their real-time feedback on the onboarding process
Train employees on how to use your employee engagement and internal communication tools, plus existing HR systems like Workday
Employee engagement software helps you deliver the right information to new employees at the right time. This prevents overwhelm and ensures a streamlined onboarding process.
You also free up a resource that is better than any bot at inspiring employee engagement — your real-life employees.
By leaving your software to take care of the nuts and bolts of the onboarding process, managers and co-workers can spend more time with your new hire. That means they experience meaningful interactions and feel part of the team more quickly.
{{mobile-hub="/image"}}
#3. Development: Nurturing growth and learning
In its 2025 Global Culture Report, O.C. Tanner explores why some employees are thriving, while others are only surviving. It reports that employees are 68 times more likely to thrive at work when their organization prioritizes skill-building and career development.
Nurturing employee skills and supporting them to reach their career goals is key to engagement and retention. And the right employee engagement solutions help you to achieve that.
You can use your software to:
Integrate training modules into your employee engagement platform to deliver a seamless experience
Craft personalized development plans that align with employee and organizational goals
Offer gamified and micro-learning training sessions to engage busy employees and allow them to learn at their own pace
Track progress toward personal and departmental objectives, offering regular support and recognition
With Blink’s employee intranet, seamless integration with L&D software is easy. With single sign-on technology, employees can access the latest training modules via the intuitive Blink interface — in just a few clicks. No additional login details necessary.
{{mobile-kudos="/image"}}
#4. Engagement: Building a culture of connection and belonging
Supportive workplace relationships are a bedrock of employee engagement. So helping employees to make connections with coworkers — and to feel part of company culture — is a sure-fire way to improve the employee experience.
If you have a remote team or lots of frontline employees, this is something you have to be very intentional about. It’s easy for people who work away from HQ to feel disconnected from the wider organization.
Luckily, this is another thing that an employee engagement app can help with. You can use your platform to:
Share real-time company news and amplify company culture via a multimedia news feed
A tool like Blink is available via an intuitive employee app. So employees can get company news and interact with co-workers via their smartphones. This ensures all employees — no matter where they work — experience the sense of connection and belonging that is key to engagement.
{{mobile-main="/image"}}
#5. Retention: Keeping top talent invested
Talent retention is about more than competitive pay. In fact, research shows that engaged employees look for a 31% pay increase to consider taking a job with another organization.
So what can you do to inspire this type of loyalty among your employees? Besides fostering employee development, career growth, and performance management — all while creating a culture of recognition — you can harness your employee engagement software to reduce employee turnover.
Here’s how:
Use platform data and employee feedback to identify disengaged employees and their pain points, staying ahead of potential issues
Launch well-being initiatives, providing resources and programs that support physical mental, and emotional health and boost employee satisfaction
Make social recognition an integral part of company culture, showing employees that you value their contributions
Your software allows you to track employee engagement — and discover areas of the employee experience that need improvement. These actionable insights can help you pinpoint the benefits and workplace changes that will make the biggest difference to employee retention.
#6. Transition: Supporting change and offboarding with care
The employee lifecycle doesn’t end when an employee hands in their notice. How you handle transitions — whether that’s a promotion, a role change, or an exit — can impact your employer brand and the morale of remaining employees.
So treat transitions as a chance to gather useful feedback from your employees. Try to discover what they did and didn’t like about the employee experience — and seek concrete ways to improve employee engagement.
You can use your employee engagement software at this stage in the employee lifecycle to:
Provide resources and support as an employee transitions to a new role
Send automated exit pulse surveys to capture valuable feedback before an employee leaves
Create a centralized content hub where employees can document workflows, processes, and critical knowledge before leaving
Analyze employee feedback to inform future engagement strategies
End the relationship on a positive note and ex-employees are more likely to recommend your organization as a place to work. They may even “boomerang” back to you when looking for their next role.
{{mobile-survey="/image"}}
Maximize your employee lifecycle with the best employee engagement tools
The employee lifecycle is a series of opportunities to engage, develop, and retain talent. And good employee engagement software provides tools to optimize every stage of that journey.
With the right platform, you can improve internal communications, training, recognition, and connection. You can inspire employees to feel more invested in their work, so they’re happier and more loyal to your organization.
Pick a mobile-first engagement tool and you ensure that every member of your workforce gets access to the same great employee experience. They can access your platform via their smartphones, checking in at a time and place that works for them.
So what does all of this mean for your organization? Sustained engagement throughout the whole of the employee lifecycle across your entire organization means:
Improved productivity
Reduced absenteeism
Lower levels of attrition
Improved employee well-being
According to Gallup, high engagement teams also experience a 23% increase in profitability, which makes employee engagement software an excellent investment for any organization.
Use employee engagement software to engage your workforce every step of the way
The employee lifecycle incorporates the following stages:
Preboarding: The time between an accepted offer and an employee’s first day
Onboarding: Orientation, training, and support delivered over a new hire’s first months in a role
Development: Support for learning and career growth
Engagement: Building a workplace culture of connection and belonging
Retention: Keeping top talent invested in your organization and their work
Transition: Supporting change and offboarding with care
The challenge for managers and HR teams is ensuring high levels of employee engagement at every point in that journey.
We know that just 23% of employees are engaged at work. And that disengagement hurts everything from employee retention to customer loyalty to employee well-being to productivity.
So how do you maximize the employee life cycle, ensuring levels of engagement that drive business success?
It helps to have the right employee engagement software on your team. With employee engagement tools, you can create a seamless, consistent, and personalized journey for all employees — whether they’re working in the office, from home, or on the frontlines of your organization.
Let’s take a look at how you can make that happen. Here’s how to use software tools to improve engagement throughout the employee lifecycle.
How to enhance the employee lifecycle with engagement software
#1. Preboarding: Creating a great experience before day one
First impressions matter. And the preboarding phase is your opportunity to introduce a new hire to company culture and set the tone for their employee experience.
An effective preboarding process welcomes new employees to the organization. It also calms those inevitable nerves, as it gives new staff all the information they need to prepare for their first day.
You can use employee engagement software during this phase to:
Sustain employee communication between the offer stage and an employee’s first day
Share useful documents and get employees to sign any necessary paperwork
Share welcome messages from managers and team members
Provide a road map of the onboarding process, so new hires know what to expect
With Blink’s Employee Journeys, you can use start-date triggers to send tailored employee communications ahead of their first day. You can also include an employee’s line manager in the journey for a seamless and supportive experience.
#2. Onboarding: Setting the stage for success
According to Gallup, employees who get a great onboarding experience are 2.6x more likely to be “extremely satisfied” at work. They’re also more likely to stay working for you.
This is a crucial time. The first 90 days in a role are considered some of the riskiest in terms of employee retention. New hires start working for you with high hopes and expectations. If the reality is too far from what was promised during recruitment, they’re likely to jump ship.
The good news is that employee engagement software can help you maximize engagement and minimize that attrition risk during the onboarding process.
Here are some key actions to take at this stage to boost — and maintain — employee morale:
Personalize the onboarding journey, ensuring content is hyper-relevant at key employee milestones with customizable templates
Provide self-serve access to resources, training, and team profiles, so employees can get to know the entire company and their co-workers
Check in regularly with pulse surveys, offering recognition for employee efforts and seeking their real-time feedback on the onboarding process
Train employees on how to use your employee engagement and internal communication tools, plus existing HR systems like Workday
Employee engagement software helps you deliver the right information to new employees at the right time. This prevents overwhelm and ensures a streamlined onboarding process.
You also free up a resource that is better than any bot at inspiring employee engagement — your real-life employees.
By leaving your software to take care of the nuts and bolts of the onboarding process, managers and co-workers can spend more time with your new hire. That means they experience meaningful interactions and feel part of the team more quickly.
{{mobile-hub="/image"}}
#3. Development: Nurturing growth and learning
In its 2025 Global Culture Report, O.C. Tanner explores why some employees are thriving, while others are only surviving. It reports that employees are 68 times more likely to thrive at work when their organization prioritizes skill-building and career development.
Nurturing employee skills and supporting them to reach their career goals is key to engagement and retention. And the right employee engagement solutions help you to achieve that.
You can use your software to:
Integrate training modules into your employee engagement platform to deliver a seamless experience
Craft personalized development plans that align with employee and organizational goals
Offer gamified and micro-learning training sessions to engage busy employees and allow them to learn at their own pace
Track progress toward personal and departmental objectives, offering regular support and recognition
With Blink’s employee intranet, seamless integration with L&D software is easy. With single sign-on technology, employees can access the latest training modules via the intuitive Blink interface — in just a few clicks. No additional login details necessary.
{{mobile-kudos="/image"}}
#4. Engagement: Building a culture of connection and belonging
Supportive workplace relationships are a bedrock of employee engagement. So helping employees to make connections with coworkers — and to feel part of company culture — is a sure-fire way to improve the employee experience.
If you have a remote team or lots of frontline employees, this is something you have to be very intentional about. It’s easy for people who work away from HQ to feel disconnected from the wider organization.
Luckily, this is another thing that an employee engagement app can help with. You can use your platform to:
Share real-time company news and amplify company culture via a multimedia news feed
A tool like Blink is available via an intuitive employee app. So employees can get company news and interact with co-workers via their smartphones. This ensures all employees — no matter where they work — experience the sense of connection and belonging that is key to engagement.
{{mobile-main="/image"}}
#5. Retention: Keeping top talent invested
Talent retention is about more than competitive pay. In fact, research shows that engaged employees look for a 31% pay increase to consider taking a job with another organization.
So what can you do to inspire this type of loyalty among your employees? Besides fostering employee development, career growth, and performance management — all while creating a culture of recognition — you can harness your employee engagement software to reduce employee turnover.
Here’s how:
Use platform data and employee feedback to identify disengaged employees and their pain points, staying ahead of potential issues
Launch well-being initiatives, providing resources and programs that support physical mental, and emotional health and boost employee satisfaction
Make social recognition an integral part of company culture, showing employees that you value their contributions
Your software allows you to track employee engagement — and discover areas of the employee experience that need improvement. These actionable insights can help you pinpoint the benefits and workplace changes that will make the biggest difference to employee retention.
#6. Transition: Supporting change and offboarding with care
The employee lifecycle doesn’t end when an employee hands in their notice. How you handle transitions — whether that’s a promotion, a role change, or an exit — can impact your employer brand and the morale of remaining employees.
So treat transitions as a chance to gather useful feedback from your employees. Try to discover what they did and didn’t like about the employee experience — and seek concrete ways to improve employee engagement.
You can use your employee engagement software at this stage in the employee lifecycle to:
Provide resources and support as an employee transitions to a new role
Send automated exit pulse surveys to capture valuable feedback before an employee leaves
Create a centralized content hub where employees can document workflows, processes, and critical knowledge before leaving
Analyze employee feedback to inform future engagement strategies
End the relationship on a positive note and ex-employees are more likely to recommend your organization as a place to work. They may even “boomerang” back to you when looking for their next role.
{{mobile-survey="/image"}}
Maximize your employee lifecycle with the best employee engagement tools
The employee lifecycle is a series of opportunities to engage, develop, and retain talent. And good employee engagement software provides tools to optimize every stage of that journey.
With the right platform, you can improve internal communications, training, recognition, and connection. You can inspire employees to feel more invested in their work, so they’re happier and more loyal to your organization.
Pick a mobile-first engagement tool and you ensure that every member of your workforce gets access to the same great employee experience. They can access your platform via their smartphones, checking in at a time and place that works for them.
So what does all of this mean for your organization? Sustained engagement throughout the whole of the employee lifecycle across your entire organization means:
Improved productivity
Reduced absenteeism
Lower levels of attrition
Improved employee well-being
According to Gallup, high engagement teams also experience a 23% increase in profitability, which makes employee engagement software an excellent investment for any organization.
Every week is EMS Week at Blink — because we care, too
EMS Week may be over, but at Blink, our appreciation for emergency medical professionals doesn’t end with the calendar. For us, recognizing the lifesaving work of EMTs, paramedics, and staff isn’t a once-a-year gesture — it’s a year-round commitment grounded in care.
This year’s EMS Week theme, “We care for everyone,” says it best. EMS teams are there for all of us — and it’s our job to be there for them.
Behind every siren is a team that deserves support
The reality of working in emergency medical services is demanding on every level. Long hours, unpredictable situations, and high-stakes decisions are just part of the job. And for EMS professionals, that job never really stops — holidays, weekends, middle-of-the-night calls.
It’s a role that requires not just skill and courage, but constant coordination, communication, and clarity. And that’s where Blink comes in.
Caring for others starts with caring for your team. That’s why Blink is designed to meet the needs of EMS professionals — not just as employees, but as people.
At Blink, we’re proud to serve thousands of paramedics, EMTs, and staff across some of the country’s largest EMS organizations.
Assisting EMS behind the scenes
We’re proud to work with EMS organizations across the country — from city ambulance services to rural responder units — to help their teams stay connected, informed, and empowered, no matter where the job takes them.
Whether they’re responding to an emergency or prepping for the next shift, EMS workers need tools that work as hard as they do.
With Blink, EMS organizations can:
Send real-time updates about protocols, routes, or equipment changes
Deliver training resources straight to mobile devices
Coordinate shifts and crews with better visibility and fewer delays
Recognize outstanding work with peer-to-peer shoutouts and leadership messages
Give employees a voice with surveys, feedback tools, and two-way communication
Foster connection between teams that rarely see each other face-to-face
Poor communication is the #1 most common stressor for EMS workers (BMC Emergency Medicine)
Built for the field — not just the office
EMS professionals don’t spend their days behind a desk. So why rely on systems that expect them to?
Blink is a mobile-first employee experience platform, built for people whose work happens on the move. We make it easier for EMS leaders to reach every team member — from the newest trainee to the most experienced paramedic — and equip them with the information they need, when they need it.
EMS professionals care for everyone with every call they answer. At Blink, we believe the same care should be extended to them — through tools that reduce friction, strengthen connection, and show that their work and well-being truly matter.
We believe EMS teams deserve more than recognition during one week of the year. They deserve better tools, better communication, and better connection — every week.
To all the EMS professionals working tirelessly behind the scenes and on the frontlines: thank you. We see you, we support you, and we’re committed to building technology that helps you do what you do best — saving lives.
Blink. And keep your EMS teams stay connected — every hour, every shift, every week.
It’s time for another Life at Blink feature! This week, we’re thrilled to introduce Wick Kaminski, our Enterprise Implementation Manager who works remotely from Austin, TX.
With 1.5 years at Blink, Wick plays a pivotal role in helping our customers bring their workforce together, turning the idea of seamless communication into reality. From his frontline experience to his excitement about empowering employees through Blink, Wick brings passion and purpose to everything he does.
Curious about his journey, his proudest moments, and the culture that makes Blink stand out? Read on to learn more!
How long have you been at Blink?
I have been at Blink for 1.5 years now.
What initially attracted you to join Blink?
First and foremost was the fact that Blink employees use Blink. I think it’s a huge testament to a company’s commitment to excellence when they rely on their own tool to get their daily work done.
Secondly, I was intrigued by the idea of software that had a tangible impact, and I could clearly see how my time in frontline roles would have benefited tremendously from a tool like Blink. Employee communication via a mobile app is a simple and powerful value proposition, and I truly believe every nondigital organization would benefit from the use of it.
What's a project you are proud of from your time at Blink?
My proudest moments at Blink always come when we hit the “launch” button and we observe a workforce that’s READY for a communication outlet. For so many customers I work with, employees haven’t had a channel for sharing back and forth — so when I see the News Feed light up with employees giving recognition and highlighting cool things going on in their area at work, it gives me goosebumps.
How would you describe the company culture at Blink in three words?
Autonomous, responsible, supportive.
What’s one thing you’re excited about for the future of Blink?
I’m personally really excited about expanding our self-service resources to better support our small and midsized business customers. We have an endless amount of ideas for improving the experience and making the onboarding as smooth and quick as possible.
Can you tell us about a recent initiative or program launched at Blink that you found particularly exciting?
Our recent feature release of Communities opened up an entirely new and novel avenue for our customers to build community amongst their workforces, and I’ve been really excited to work with my clients to get those up and running.
Communities are opt-in groups within Blink where you provide spaces for employees to connect on non-work-related things like hobbies, pets, special interest groups, affinity groups, clubs, and more.
Why do you work for Blink?
I know what is expected of me, I have the materials and equipment to do my work right, and I have the opportunity to do what I do best every day. And being a frontline-focused organization, we’re also in a unique position: So much of the tech world happens in a bubble and being able to work with the frontline every day is an important reminder of that bubble and the workforces, cultures, and people beyond it.
Why ditching the PDF could be the best thing your comms team ever does
The dreaded PDF.
A multi-page document posted on the company intranet. No summary. No design flair. And zero chance everyone will actually read the thing — especially if you have any number of frontline employees.
Dense blocks of text feel uninspiring and overwhelming in a world where real-time news, multimedia content, and bite-sized morsels of information are now the norm.
So why are so many internal communication messages still stuck in 2005?
“Please see the attached document” may have worked once upon a time. But for today’s workforce — used to scrolling and skimming — this kind of internal communication simply doesn’t cut it.
Let’s take a look at why static comms still linger — and how to move beyond them to deliver social-style communications your workforce will love.
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The PDF problem — and why it persists
Overreliance on PDFs is a tell-tale sign that your internal comms strategy needs a makeover. While the PDF was once the preferred format for read-only updates, in 2025, it’s something of a relic.
Here’s why:
It’s slow, clunky, and hard to read (especially on mobile). Ever tried to read a PDF on a smartphone screen? It’s a miserable experience. Pinching. Zooming. Scrolling from side to side. Endless downloads clogging up your device storage. Even on desktop, downloading a PDF is a process. And reading lots of long-winded text requires a lot of time and concentration — neither of which is easy to come by in the middle of a busy work day.
It doesn’t engage employees. People don’t tend to consume information in document form these days. They prefer feeds, stories, swipes, and reactions. They don’t read studiously through a text. They expect key messages to jump out at them. And PDFs definitely don’t meet the 8-second comms rule — they consistently fail to grab and hold employee attention.
There’s no way to measure impact. PDFs are a one-way street. You send it out and hope it lands — but you never really know. Sure, you can track email metrics like open rates. But you can’t be sure that employees are actually reading the attached doc from beginning to end. It's hard to get a good sense of employee feedback. So you have lots of unanswered questions. Who read it? Did you grab their attention? Did they understand the information shared?
The charge sheet is pretty conclusive. PDFs aren’t fit for a modern communication strategy. And they’re especially frustrating for frontline workers. So why are some companies still using them?
It often comes down to habit — and a feeling that PDFs are an “official” form of communication. Some organizations have always done comms this way and no one has challenged the process yet.
Workplace tech is sometimes also to blame. Many legacy tools still default to static formats. So it’s easier to create a PDF than to explore modern internal communication channels.
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What “modern comms” actually looks like
Modern comms are dynamic, snackable, and social. They split an extended message (that would once have been presented as a PDF) into smaller, bite-sized morsels that are easy — and even fun! —to digest.
If you’re itching to ditch the document in favor of something that meets your audiences where they are, you’ll need help from all the following:
News-feed-style content. Just like LinkedIn or Instagram, your company updates should flow like a content feed. Think attention-grabbing headlines, snappy captions, and plenty of images.
Short-form video.The most popular form of content in recent years, short-form video deserves a place within your internal communication strategy. A quick 60-second vertical video from your CEO will make a much bigger impact than a 4-page memo.
Real-time updates, not quarterly announcements. Because you share rolling company news with your workforce, there’s no need for lengthy quarterly updates. You can make your messages short and snappy, so it’s easy for employees to engage with them during a busy work day.
Comments, likes, and quick polls to boost interaction. Top-down business communication is out. Two-way communication is in. Modern comms gives employees the chance to like, share, and comment on content — and even respond to polls — so they’re always part of the company conversation.
Here’s what a modern internal communications strategy can do for your business.
Better reach, better recall
When messages are delivered in an engaging and accessible format, employees remember them. They’re also more likely to be hanging out on your internal comms channels in the first place, so reach improves too.
Faster adoption of updates
Need to roll out a new process? Launch a policy update? Shift a deadline?
Because modern comms are more likely to land, employees see and understand what’s happening within the workplace. Everyone pulls in the same direction, and behavior change and adoption of new policies get easier.
More authentic connection to your workforce
Today’s workforce craves transparency and authenticity. They want to hear from leaders who sound like real people. And they want to see what their peers are up to, too.
Modern comms make that happen. It gives leaders a way to show up in a relatable way — via short-form videos, comments, and emojis. It gives employees space to voice their own perspectives and connect with one another.
A stronger sense of culture
With video, images, graphics, and interactive internal content, it’s easy to showcase company culture — and help employees feel part of it too.
Recognizing wins. Sparking conversation. Sharing behind-the-scenes moments. Modern comms is great at all of the above. So you make employees feel seen, celebrated, and part of something bigger. You create a shared sense of community — something a PDF could never do.
You can view analytics that tell you how many people are logging in, liking, clicking, and responding. You get the insight you need to hone your internal communication plan and double down on the content your workforce likes best.
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Practical shifts you can make now
The best internal communication tools give you everything you need to deliver a modern comms strategy. But if you’re not ready for a total platform overhaul, there are still things you can do to modernize your employee communications.
Start small and build momentum with the following ideas.
Turn long-form PDFs into bite-sized posts
Break that 6-page deck into a series of short news feed posts. Lead with a headline. Include a key takeaway. Add a graphic or visual. End with a call to action. Use bullet points, simple language, and short paragraphs that make it easy for employees to digest content on the go.
Introduce Stories and visual formats for leadership comms
Video is even easier to consume than short-form text — and it’s great for employee engagement too. A quick Story from your CEO or a candid photo from a site visit helps to humanize your leadership and build trust with employees.
Encourage employee-generated content
Employees are often experts in social media-style comms. And with the right guardrails in place, an internal creator culture can work wonders for your modern comms strategy. Give people a way to share their wins, co-worker shoutouts, and day-in-the-life content — and your feed will be filled with authentic, culture-building content, sure to engage your workforce.
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Ready to put your PDFs out to pasture?
PDFs had their moment. They were useful when all we knew were static, desktop-based systems. But — in 2025 — they’re no longer an effective way to share information with your workforce.
Your people are busy. They’re mobile. They’re social media savvy. Frontline employees, in particular, need mobile-first comms that fit seamlessly into a jam-packed work day. If you want their attention and their trust, you have to meet all employees where they are, with content that actually connects.
That means rethinking formats, making your messages more fun and engaging — and producing content that feels less like a boring homework assignment. So bring in visuals. Spark a dialogue. And make life easy for employees with short, snappy snippets of content.
So next time you’re about to hit “Save as PDF,” pause. Could it be a feed post? A 30-second video? A quick poll? If the answer’s yes — skip the static doc and go modern. Your employees (and their attention spans) will thank you. Blink makes it easy.
More than 80% of the global workforce is deskless. That's more than 2.7 billion people working outside of a traditional office setting, making it more important than ever to have effective communication tools in place.
This guide is designed to help business leaders keep their deskless employees connected and communicating, no matter where they are. We'll cover a variety of topics, from why communication is so important (and often challenging!) for deskless workers, to how to choose and evaluate digital communication tools to engage your deskless workforce with ease.
Why communication is important for deskless workers
With such a strong majority of the global workforce that is deskless, purposeful corporate communication solutions are crucial. This means ensuring all employees feel connected, in-the-loop and heard - even as a deskless team. As such, there are a number of reasons effective employee communication is important for frontline workers and their wider teams.
1. Reduces turnover
With the Great Resignation still in full swing, all business leaders need to be focusing on employee retention. This becomes even more prominent for the deskless workforce, with52% of frontline workers claiming they would leave their job over tech tools in 2022.
Additionally, according to a survey of 8,000+ global frontline workers and C-suite executives, 45% of frontline workers were planning on leaving the frontline altogether this year.
With most corporate communications tools not designed for them and frontline engagement projects lacking in substance, deskless workers are showing high turnover rates and low job satisfaction, creating an unstable workforce for your business.
Effective communication can improve job satisfaction by creating a sense of community and increasing transparency from leadership. This also helps to reduce misunderstandings and conflicts among employees, leading to better employee retention rates.
2. Increases profits
Better communication means better engagement. Indeed tells us that improved communication works to connect and keep open lines of communication between employees and other members of the organization, which ultimately works to create better engagement between employees. But did you know that this can have a further positive impact on your company profitability?
Engaged employees, who feel heard, valued and involved in communications, are more productive, and this increased productivity can often result in a more profitable business.
As we highlighted in our recentEmployee Engagement Statistics Guide, highly engaged organizations achieve a 23% difference in profitability, alongside a 43% difference in turnover. By driving home your employee engagement with impactful, intuitive communication, you’re investing in the success of your deskless workforce, and the long-term success and overall profitability of your business.
3. Drives employee experience & empowerment
Deskless workers often have limited access to traditional channels of communication, such as email or company intranet. Providing alternative means of communication, such as mobile apps designed for the frontline, can help improve the employee experience by giving them a voice and empowering them in their work environment.
This also allows for agile, on-the-go, two-way communication that deskless employees need in their fast-paced work environments, which is where communications for deskless workers often fall short.
Better employee experience can also boost your bottom line. HBR research shows that a shift in employee experience would result in a 45% increase in profits per person-hour, adding significantly to both individual, team and overall company success.
4. Increases productivity & organization
Effective organizational communication can increase productivity by reducing miscommunications and streamlining processes. It also allows for better frontline organization, as employees have access to important information and updates in real time.
This helps deskless workers stay on top of their tasks and responsibilities, leading to more productive employees and a more organized frontline.
Without efficient two-way communication solutions, it can be difficult for business leaders to understand, or even acknowledge, the issues their frontline workers are facing. For example, did you know that70% of frontline workers have either suffered from burnout or felt at risk of burning out?
With great team communication, your leaders can hear and respond directly to workers needs, implementing them into their organizational practices.
Whether that means giving employees an intuitive two-way communication solution such as a mobile employee app, an accessible scheduling tool to prevent miscommunications or an easier way to organize shift swaps, effective communication can improve the productivity and organization of your workforce.
5. Boosts trust, engagement & morale
A lack of communication can lead to a disengaged and distrusting workforce, as employees feel isolated and disconnected from the larger company culture.
Research shows that nearly all (99%) of C-suite executives believe their frontline workers trust them, while only a quarter (26%) of workers entirely trust their organization to communicate company updates and news transparently.
Clearly, as part of the C-Suite it's important to understand how purposeful internal communications help to build a sense of community among deskless workers. By increasing transparency from leadership, you can drive employee engagement long-term. In turn, this can improve overall job satisfaction, minimize churn and build trust with your workers.
6. Improves worker safety
Proper communication can also improve safety in the workplace. Problems with communication leading to major accidents/incidents are well known, according to HSE.
Proper frontline communication includes informing deskless employees of important safety updates, as well as providing a platform for reporting concerns or hazards. In turn, this can lead to a better quality of work and decrease the likelihood of accidents or injuries on the job.
The Blink frontline engagement app offers a central Hub for storing core company policies, procedures and training documents, ensuring all teams have access to important information and updates in real time. It also includes Secure Chats, giving frontline employees the ability to report concerns or hazards directly to management for swift resolution.
The challenges of communicating with deskless workers
While the benefits are great, it can be a huge challenge to communicate with deskless workers in the modern work environment. Some key challenges of communicating with deskless workers include:
Budget: When you're under-budgeted and under pressure, finding the right communication channels and tools for your deskless workers can be a complex and costly process for business leaders that don't know where to invest.
Old software or no access to tech: Deskless workers may not have access to the same technology or software that office-based employees do, leading to communication disconnects, especially when using tech not designed for them.
Implementing new software: Introducing new communication software can also be a challenge, requiring dedicated training and support to ensure adoption and success for your deskless teams.
Easy access to the right information: Deskless workers often require easy access to essential information, such as company updates, product knowledge or HR policies. Without proper communication channels in place, there can be a breakdown in sharing important information with these teams.
Disconnected, disengaged & distributed: With teams spread across various locations, it can be difficult for deskless workers to feel connected and engaged with the company and their coworkers. Effective communication helps bridge this disconnect.
No sense of community or belonging: Deskless workers may not have the same office community or team spirit as traditional office-based employees, making it crucial for businesses to find ways to build a sense of belonging and connection within their remote or distributed teams.
So – how can leaders overcome these challenges and drive stronger communication between their employees? Let’s take a look.
How to improve communication with deskless workers
Build a digital culture
The pressure’s on for leaders in the frontline sector to digitize their communication efforts with deskless employees. As such, many companies are now developing digitalization strategies that enhance employee experience and drive performance.
One key to business success in a post-Covid world is to embrace a digital culture.
For digital culture to be successful, it must be driven from the ground up.
Clearly, it's important for business leaders to embrace a digital culture, with communication tools and processes that accommodate deskless workers. This means investing in the right technology solutions, as well as training and support for adoption of more complex tools.
For leaders of a deskless organization, digital communication can reduce the complexity of managing a dispersed team, as well as improve transparency and accessibility for employees in remote locations, making everyone's lives easier.
Digital transformation and digital adoption are now key concepts for the deskless workforce, and a focus on digital culture can ensure deskless workers feel connected and included in company processes. With your workers able to access important information and comms from the palm of their hand, you'll have no shortage of engaged, on-the-ball and informed employees.
And remember, this digital transformation must be built from the ground up, with impactful input from deskless workers themselves on their communication needs and challenges.
Listen to and act on feedback
As important as it is to have the right communication tools in place, it's also essential for business leaders to implement processes that gather and listen to feedback from their deskless teams. Ask for input on what channels and tools they prefer, as well as how communication processes can be improved, and implement it in your communication strategy.
Direct communication with features such as surveys, polls or secure chats can make it easier for deskless workers to provide their input. And listening to and implementing this feedback can lead to more successful communication strategies with your deskless teams.
When workers know that their feedback is being listened to, and acted upon, they will be more receptive to future engagement strategies and communications.
With the right processes in place, deskless workers can feel just as heard, connected, included as their office-based colleagues, leading to a more natural, intuitive communication flow within the entire organization.
Provide easy access to key information
By providing an easy-to-access, intuitively designed central Hub for information and communication, deskless workers have easy access to the essential information they need for their roles. This includes company updates, product knowledge, HR policies and more - all in one place, accessible on any device.
A central Hub can also promote a sense of community by allowing deskless workers to connect with their colleagues and share ideas or important information.
This not only saves valuable time for you and your employees, but can also boost your productivity and improve communication initiatives in the long run.
Focus on building a sense of belonging and connection
Though they may not have the same office community as traditional office-based employees, there are still ways to build a sense of belonging and connection for deskless workers.
This includes regularly scheduled check-ins with managers or team members, virtual (and meaningful) team building activities, and offering opportunities for professional development.
These efforts can help deskless workers feel included, valued, and connected with their colleagues and the company as a whole, which can improve employee engagement in a way that feels natural and earned.
Keep two-way communication channels open
As we touched on, it’s important for deskless workers to not only receive information, but also have the opportunity to share their ideas and feedback.
Communication should not be a one way street from the top down. Employees should be engaging in two-way conversations with both each other and management in order to keep communication open and transparent.
This can be done through regular check-ins or meetings, as well as utilizing communication tools that allow for a two-way flow of information - such as Secure Chats or collaboration platforms.
Encourage real employee recognition
Recognition and appreciation are important for all employees, but can be even more impactful for deskless workers who may not have the same opportunities for team praise or company events.
Implementing a recognition program, with features such as virtual badges or “shout-outs”, can help deskless workers feel seen and valued. And don’t underestimate the power of a personalized thank you note or Feed shoutout from leadership - deskless employees can feel just as appreciated through these small gestures.
The role of technology in deskless communication & employee engagement
The right employee technology is vital for your team communication. And as the deskless workforce continues to grow, so does the need for communication technology and tools specifically designed for them.
Reports show that 75% of deskless workers spend most of their work time using some form of technology, yet 60% reported being unsatisfied with the tech they use.
This is where better employee communication and engagement apps come in. By investing in technology that truly supports and engages your deskless team, you’re able to better connect with them, reaping all of the benefits of great communication we explored above.
But what is the exact role of technology in team comms and employee engagement? Here are a few key roles great technology solutions can play:
Easy communication & real-time responses
The right tech should connect your deskless employees with ease, ensuring they have the same access to communication as their desk-based colleagues. With mobile and desktop apps, they can easily communicate no matter where they are or what device they’re using, making one key role of employee tech easy and intuitive communication.
Successful communication also relies on timely responses, and the right employee communication app should support this with real-time messaging and notifications. This helps to keep your deskless team in-the-loop, ensuring they have access to important information as it happens.
Easy access to important information
Employee engagement technology reduces complexity and overhead for your teams by simplifying password management with single sign on to your tools. By centralizing important information, documents and updates on one platform, employees can easily access what they need without having to navigate multiple systems or chase down colleagues, resulting in a better overall employee experience.
Easy implementation & adoption
A key role of the right technology in team communication and engagement is simple implementation and adoption. Look for a solution that’s easy to set up and navigate, with support available when you need it. This helps make the transition smoother, leading to faster adoption and better results from your tech investment.
It can also be useful to choose a technology that feels familiar to employees in order to drive adoption of your chosen tool. By providing a user-friendly, familiar experience, such as a mobile app, deskless workers are more likely to engage and adopt the technology in their day-to-day work.
One core role of employee communication tech is to help your business leaders focus on driving real change and value, rather than being bogged down by day-to-day IT management. Look for a solution that is scalable and customizable, allowing you to easily adapt your communication strategy as your business grows and changes.
By developing business value away from business-as-usual (BAU) IT and into an employee communication and engagement platform fit for your frontline, you’re investing in your deskless workforce, and ultimately, your organization.
How to measure the impact of communication technology on your workforce
C-suite leaders are starting to catch on to the potential benefits employee communications technologies, tools and apps can have on their workforce. In fact, leadership trends show increased HR support of supervisors and managers with innovative processes and technology. But how can those leaders measure the success of these digital initiatives?
As part of the C-Suite, the CIO will want to see ROI on any investment made in employee communication technology. In fact, data from CIO found that 81 percent of IT leaders agree that CIOs are under extreme pressure to defend their technology investments and prove ROI.
This can be done through surveys, pulse check-ins, or feedback from leaders and managers on team performance. Additionally, you should consider investing in a technology that provides real-time employee engagement analytics, like ourFrontline Intelligence feature, to get live insights into how your deskless teams are utilizing the tool.
This key data can help inform and improve your internal communication strategy, ultimately leading to better, and more tangible, ROI.
It’s also important to consider other measures of success, such as improved team profitability, communication and collaboration, boosted employee engagement and satisfaction rates, increased productivity, and higher retention rates for deskless employees. These all contribute to the overall impact of employee communication technology on your workforce.
Final thoughts
At Blink, ouremployee communication and engagement software offers a mobile-first, intuitive solution for your deskless workforce. We support real-time communication, easy access to important information, and simple implementation and adoption – all key roles of technology in team communication and employee engagement.
Our employee app is made for the frontline, to support the needs of your deskless team and drive business value in the process.
Interested in learning more? Request a demo today to see how Blink can drive value for your deskless organization.
Hannah’s hard work and dedication to quality don’t go unnoticed, and she is a key contributor to making the department successful. She is an amazing self-starter, reliable, and always team-oriented.
In her role, she is responsible for everything relating to customer quality response at the facility, which helps us increase customer satisfaction and efficiency and adhere to regulations that are critical to the manufacturing process. Her role includes but is not limited to: Customer complaint investigations (TICS), Return Material Authorizations (RMAs), NCMR generation and completion via software (C-Pro), participation in CAPA processes for addressing internal and external requests, supplier (SCARS), supervising returned material, tracking, inventory adjustments and corrections, analysis, and reporting.
She also supervises the calibration of laboratory equipment and weigh scales, and conducts preventive maintenance of testing instruments, important for preventing defects and maintaining consistency.
Throughout all of this, she manages to deliver clear, concise communication across all levels of the organization.
What does she want to do next?
She’ll be supported to do whatever she wants to do!
Good internal communication is the glue that holds organizations together. It keeps everyone informed, aligned, and connected — helping employees understand company priorities and feel part of a shared purpose.
In 2026, internal communication involves more than noticeboards and scattered email threads. Organizations with hybrid or frontline teams need modern internal communication platforms like Blink to connect employees, simplify updates, and enable easy collaboration.
A successful internal communication strategy includes all communication types: top-down, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer. These channels work together to connect employees and ensure information flows throughout your organization.
For larger or dispersed teams, achieving this can feel like a tall order. But with the right internal communication software, even global workforces can stay connected and engaged.
Luckily, many new tools and platforms can help your company improve communication.
Types of internal communication tools and platforms
Before diving into specific providers, it helps to understand the main types of internal communication software shaping the modern workplace in 2026.
The most effective organizations use a combination of these tools — or a single employee experience platform like Blink, which combines many of these functions into a single mobile-first solution.
Instant messaging tools
Internal communication isn’t just top-down. Co-worker collaboration tools keep conversations flowing across teams and locations by enabling quick information sharing, file exchange, and informal social connections.
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Advantages:
A communication tool that allows employees to chat and share information (along with emojis and GIFs)
Most instant messaging tools are available on both desktop and mobile
Messaging tools can be used for communication between co-workers, but also for information-sharing between leadership and employees
Best tools: Blink, Slack, Jive, Workvivo
Emails and newsletters
Digital newsletters have always been great for sharing essential company updates. Modern tools enhance this channel with templates, analytics, and branded content delivery.
Best tools: ContactMonkey, Axero, Poppulo, Staffbase
Audio and video conferencing tools
Rewind a decade and video conferencing probably wouldn’t be one of the top staff communication tools on your list. Today, however, in a world of remote and hybrid teams, video conferencing tools are a workplace essential. They allow employees to talk face-to-face, even when they’re not based in the same office.Now a workplace essential, these tools make remote and hybrid meetings seamless — from one-to-one calls to company-wide events.
Best tools: Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams
Employee recognition center
Recognition platforms reward effort and build engagement by blending social recognition with tangible rewards to boost morale and employee retention.
Best tools: Blink, Bonusly, Unily
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Employee engagement and surveys
Engage your employees and you experience countless benefits, including improved productivity, customer loyalty, and profitability. But if you really want to improve employee engagement, you need to measure it.
Employee surveys and feedback forms are an essential part of any internal communication toolkit. They support bottom-up communication and give you valuable insight into how employees really feel about working for your firm.
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Best tools: Blink, SurveyMonkey, Bonusly, Qualtrics
Company news feed
A private, social-style feed alerts employees to company updates and important cultural moments.
Best tools: Blink, Workvivo, Staffbase, Happeo
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Project management
Project management platforms keep work visible, accountable, and collaborative.
Best tools: Asana, monday.com
Intranet
Evolving beyond traditional intranets, these tools now enable engagement, two-way communication, and document collaboration.
Mobile-first employee communication apps centralize updates, messaging, and engagement features — ideal for hybrid and frontline teams.
Best tools: Blink, Workvivo
Employee experience platform
These top-tier employee experience platforms offer a user-friendly way to access messaging, news, surveys, recognition programs, and HR functions.
These platforms go beyond communication — supporting onboarding, engagement, and culture-building.
Best tools: Blink, Workvivo, Staffbase
The takeaway:
Modern internal communication relies on an integrated ecosystem or a unified platform like Blink, which simplifies your tech stack and enhances workforce connection.
Blink serves as a mobile-first communication app, a modern intranet, a recognition tool, and a complete employee experience platform.That agility makes it ideal for companies looking to streamline their technology and boost employee engagement.
20 best internal communication tools
Ready to find the right comms solution for your organization? Take a look at our round-up of the best internal communication tools for 2025.
Blink is a modern internal communication tool and employee experience platform that brings together messaging, news, surveys, recognition, and analytics into a single mobile-first solution. It’s designed for organizations that want to improve communication, engagement, and access to information across both desk-based and frontline teams.
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As a mobile-first internal communication platform, Blink’s unified interface lets teams share updates, message peers, and access essential workplace applications in real time, without a corporate email address — no matter their location.
Unlike single-purpose messaging apps, Blink functions as an all-in-one internal communication software, combining collaboration and employee engagement tools in one place.
Features like pulse surveys, recognition, and content personalization enable two-way communication and make company-wide updates more meaningful.
Blink also includes social-style communication features — such as Stories, Communities, and a personalized news feed — that make information sharing intuitive and engaging. Built-in analytics help leaders understand message reach, engagement trends, and content effectiveness.
Pros
Unified internal communication toolset: Blink combines chat, news, surveys, recognition, and analytics.
Mobile-first accessibility: It works on smartphones and desktops, and doesn`t require a company email.
Seamless integrations: Connects with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, HRIS, and scheduling tools.
Data-driven insights: The analytics dashboards measure communication performance and engagement.
Cons
The search functionality could benefit from more advanced filtering and refinement options.
Pricing
Pricing is available on request
Use Cases
Strengthening culture and alignment through data-informed communication strategies
Connecting hybrid and frontline teams with one internal communication platform
Centralizing all company messages, tools, and resources in a single hub
Improving engagement through interactive multimedia content
2. Asana
Asana is a well-known project management tool and, if you use it, you’re in good company. Around 85% of Fortune 100 companies say they use Asana.
With this workplace communication platform, you can create, prioritize, and allocate tasks. You can view tasks in timeline, board, and list formats — and track your progress toward milestones.
The visual format makes it easy to see which tasks your team needs to complete first. And the process of identifying and remedying project bottlenecks becomes much easier too.
Pros
A free version that supports 10 members and comes with unlimited storage, tasks, and messages
A clean, intuitive interface and a comprehensive selection of project and task management tools
Comes with a mobile app so employees can keep of track of projects on the go
Good integration with third-party tools
Cons
A high volume of email notifications can be frustrating for users
One of the more expensive project management solutions available
The mobile experience pales in comparison to the desktop experience
Collaboration tools aren’t as extensive and effective as those of other project management tools on the market
Pricing
Monthly pricing for Asana starts at a basic free plan. A business plan costs $24.99 per user per month when billed annually.
Use cases
Giving remote teams the tools they need to manage projects effectively
Cross-team collaboration
Status updates and reporting — leaders can view dashboards and reports to stay informed of project progress.
3. Jive
Jive is a community-building communication tool that you can use for top-down, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer connection. Team members can share photos, videos, documents, status updates, and blog posts. They can also decide whether their post gets seen by one team member, a specific group, or the whole organization.
Another great feature of Jive is its People Directory. Here, employees can search for co-workers they want to connect with, based on their skills, endorsements, and favorite activities.
Pros
Jive is an all-purpose business communication tool
Supports personalized news updates
Provides a single inbox so employees can manage all company communications and conversations in one place
Cons
Jive has a complicated interface and a cluttered layout that can be difficult for users to understand and navigate
Limited integrations with the other workplace tools you use
Some users say the Jive mobile app is slow and clunky with lackluster features
Pricing
Pricing is available on request.
Use cases
Creating a centralized hub for updates and document sharing
Personalizing company updates to make them more relevant and engaging
Giving employees the tools they need to interact with leadership, managers, and coworkers
4. Zoom
Zoom is often listed as one of the most reliable video conferencing platforms. It offers excellent audio and visual quality, even when internet connection is patchy, and it’s really easy to use.
You can record meetings, direct meeting participants to breakout rooms, and make use of a meeting annotation function. Zoom offers a range of other useful features too, including an online whiteboard and virtual working spaces (known as Zoom Huddles).
Pros
User-friendly interface
Can run small one-to-one meetings, large conferences, and anything in between
Advanced features include breakout rooms and webinar hosting
Cons
Zoom can be expensive for larger teams, with add-ons needed for meetings of more than 500 participants
Pricing
A Pro plan, for up to 99 users, costs $15.99 per user per month. A Business Plan, for up to 250 users and with a greater range of features, costs $21.99 per user per month.
Use cases
Running live meetings and webinars
Supporting video and audio communication for hybrid and remote teams
5. Bonusly
Bonusly gives you all the tools you need to run a successful recognition program. Via an intuitive platform, employees can tag peers and congratulate them on their accomplishments. Congratulated employees earn points, which they can then use to claim their preferred reward — a gift card, cash, or a charitable donation.
Reporting tools give leaders insight into team dynamics and patterns of recognition. It helps you to discover top performers and identify people who haven’t had any recognition in a while.
Pros
A user-friendly interface and next to no learning curve
The option to tailor recognition programs to fit your culture and values
Out-of-the-box integrations with other workplace tools including Workday, Asana, and Slack
Cons
Limited analytics — so it can be hard for companies to understand employee engagement and recognition patterns
Pricing
Monthly pricing options for Bonusly starts at $2 per user.
Use cases
Strengthening company culture and employee morale with regular recognition, even when employees are working remotely
Creating a culture of peer-to-peer recognition — employees can award points and praise to their co-workers
6. Axero
Axero is an internal comms platform designed to unify teams, increase productivity, and improve workplace culture. It features mass email tools, an activity stream, a blogging platform, and instant messaging.
Using Axero, you can create a central hub for files, communications, and company updates. Collaboration features also come in handy, with space for team discussions and the option to co-edit documents.
Pros
Axero’s customer service is responsive and helpful
Good customization and integration options
A comprehensive employee directory that makes it easy for staff to find and connect with co-workers
Cons
A steep learning curve — users say that Axero can be overwhelming for beginners
Some users say that Axero functionality lags behind that of other intranet competitors
Limited features on the mobile version
Pricing
Pricing is available on request.
Use cases
Creating a single hub for news, updates, and resources
Supporting collaboration across your company, with file sharing and team discussions
Building a personalized employee experience, with custom dashboards tailored to the roles and departments of employees
7. ContactMonkey
ContactMonkey is one of the best newsletter platforms available. Unlike some of its competitors, ContactMonkey integrates with both Outlook and Gmail so you can send emails from and receive replies to your usual inbox.
The platform provides an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop email builder. Multiple team members can collaborate on the same email. And analytics tools help you judge which newsletter content is best engaging your workforce, so you can create more of the same.
Pros
Employee survey tools so you can email your surveys to the workforce with ease
Integration with Outlook and Gmail
SMS integration that allows you to reach employees with urgent updates
Real-time tracking and analytics — so you get insight into email open rates and click-throughs
Cons
You can only use ContactMonkey for internal emails, not external marketing emails
Only supports communication over email, which may not be particularly engaging or appropriate for all organizations
Unlikely to fulfill all your internal communication needs
Pricing
Prices start from $600 per month for 500 employees. Prices for more extensive plans are available on request.
Use cases
Engaging email and newsletter communication for employees
Launching employee surveys to help you acquire useful feedback
8. Slack
Slack is an instant messaging tool that supports asynchronous communication. Slack works well for desk-based employees who have access to other platforms, like Google Drive. Slack doesn’t work as well for on-the-go, field-based employees, who don’t have such easy access to separate cloud storage.
People within your organization can launch chat threads, including as many or as few team members as they like. They can create threads for different projects, departments, and topics. Teams also get access to little extras, like file sharing, message search, and a task reminder function.
Pros
User-friendly interface
Integration with a wide range of other workplace software
Customizable notifications
Cons
Doesn’t work well for teams who are on the go — Slack is most suited to desk-based teams
Can be hard to find what you’re looking for across multiple chats and channels
Pricing
Slack offers a limited free plan. Paid plans start from $8.75 per user per month.
Use cases
Ensuring real-time communication between dispersed team members
Providing a variety of internal communication channels — including direct messages, group chats, and channels
SurveyMonkey has made it to our employee survey top spot for its ease of use. This employee communications platform has lots of survey templates to choose from and, if speed is your priority, lots of features that help you get employee feedback fast.
You can choose from hundreds of expert-written questions or write your own. And with the help of custom templates, you can find or create surveys for any situation, whether you want to conduct 360 reviews, find out your Net Promoter score, or seek feedback on your employee engagement efforts.
Pros
Ease of use — SurveyMonkey has a clean, uncluttered interface that employees will enjoy using
Using the Genius Assistant and the “build it for me” feature, you can create surveys quickly
Excellent analytics that help you make sense of employee responses
Cons
Limited free features
Limited customization options, so you may struggle to create complex or specialized surveys
Pricing
Prices start from $30 per user per month.
Use cases
Boosting employee satisfaction and engagement with the help of employee feedback
Making it easy for your teams to launch and respond to employee surveys
10. Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft SharePoint is a file-sharing software that integrates seamlessly with the other Microsoft tools you may already use. You can create branded document libraries called sites, customizing them for document collaboration or top-down comms.
Teams get to share news, documents, and data. They can also edit documents collaboratively — setting notifications so they know when a co-worker makes changes.
Pros
Easy integration with other Microsoft products
Allows you to segment employees by division, giving each division its own calendar and visual timeline
Customization options so you can build forms, workflows, and custom applications for your teams
Cons
Not particularly user-friendly, especially on mobile
Cost of implementation is high and adoption rates tend to be low
Pricing
A basic SharePoint plan costs $5 per user per month.
Use cases
Project collaboration — teams can co-edit documents and manage workflows
An easy way for desk-based teams to access company documents and resources
Using internal announcements and newsletters to communicate with all employees
11. Monday.com
Monday.com is a project management tool that supports comms and employee engagement. You can use this internal communications software to create and assign tasks, track project progress, and create performance-tracking templates for employees.
Team members receive notifications when action is required. And an easy-to-use visual interface makes it easy to see where each project is up to at a glance.
Pros
A comprehensive set of project management tools
Customizable project templates to get you started
A weekly overview so you can see tasks and project milestones you need to tackle over the next few days
Cons
The backend of this business communication software is complicated and involves a steep learning curve
Limited comms tools so Monday.com isn’t useful as a standalone business communication platform
Pricing
Prices start from $8 per user per month.
Use cases
Improving project management and work collaboration
Task and workflow automation to streamline repetitive processes
12. Workvivo
Workvivo is an intranet software company owned by Zoom. You can use this internal communication tool to improve comms, employee engagement, and recognition, too. You can also make use of multiple communication channels and employee feedback tools.
Standout features include live broadcasting tools, so you can launch live streams and podcasts. You can also create microsites, where teams and special interest groups can create their own, tailored communities.
Pros
Strong translation abilities for multilingual organizations
An engaging, social-media-style interface that will feel familiar to employees
Rich communication tools including a news feed and instant messaging (available through integrations with tools like Slack, MS Teams, and Zoom meetings)
Cons
Chat functionality on the mobile app falls behind the desktop experience
Advanced features — including chat, Workvivo TV, and advanced analytics — are add-ons that come at an additional cost
Admins say they want better customization options and improved third-party integrations
Staffbase is an internal communication platform designed to connect and engage employees. It brings company news, messaging, and resources into one place, making it easier for you to reach your workforce — whether they’re remote, hybrid, deskless, or office-based.
With Staffbase, you can communicate over the company intranet and send emails and SMS, all from one centralized dashboard. You can also create tailored content paths so employees receive the right information at the right time.
Pros
A great user experience across desktop and mobile versions
Brings a range of communication and workplace functions into one location, supporting top-down, bottom-up, and peer-to-peer conversations
Built-in reporting so you can see how employees are using the platform and interacting with your content
You can customize the platform so it matches the look and feel of your branding
Cons
Some add-ons and integrations come at an additional cost
There are few out-of-the-box features on the employee app
Search functionality and integrations aren’t as good as they could be
Pricing
Pricing is available on request.
Use cases
Launching employee surveys with in-built tools
Creating a single source of truth within your organization thanks to communication channels that all workers can access
Making comms more personal, with the option to segment your audience and deliver relevant content to different employee groups
14. Poppulo
Poppulo is an email and mobile communications software. It also provides digital signage functionality and digital tools for desk and meeting room management.
You can target messages based on location, role, or interests to cut through the noise. You can also access tools for planning and promoting internal events, like town halls and team meetings.
Pros
Omni-channel communications, across email, SMS, intranet, and digital signage
Drag and drop email design tools plus advanced personalization
Strong analytics — Poppulo gives comms teams clear visibility into message performance
Cons
Poppulo is more complex than some of the other tools on this list, so there can be quite a learning curve
While it brings multiple communication channels together, Poppulo isn’t comprehensive enough to work as a standalone company communication system
Pricing
Pricing is available on request.
Use cases
Enterprise email communication and analytics
Improving the quality of email messaging with employee segmentation tools
Managing office workspace among hybrid teams
15. Qualtrics
Qualtrics is an employee survey and feedback tool. You can use it to capture employee data via surveys and passive listening — and discover how your business is doing across metrics like intent to stay, engagement, inclusion, and wellbeing.
Surveys are easy to customize, with advanced question types and logic, while analytics and reporting tools help you turn insights into actionable strategies.
Pros
Flexible survey design options
Powerful analytics and reporting capabilities
AI tools that guide you to take action based on your employee feedback findings
Cons
Using advanced features effectively may require training
Qualtrics can be overly expensive for smaller businesses
Pricing
Pricing is available on request.
Use cases
Improving employee satisfaction and engagement with the help of regular surveys
Creating a culture of 360 feedback to improve the effectiveness of management and leadership
16. Happeo
Happeo is a Google-based intranet that provides a centralized location for all internal communications. It provides a hub for company news, documents, and collaboration tools.
Key features include a social intranet, an employee directory, and an intuitive search function. You can also use AI tools to find and fix gaps in your knowledge base.
Pros
Easy integration with Google Workspace tools
Excellent search functions so it’s easy to find the people, posts, and integrated third-party apps you’re looking for
The option to create hubs and communities based on departments, roles, and shared interests
Cons
Limited integrations beyond the Google suite
A web-first platform, best suited to desk-based teams
Pricing
Pricing is available on request.
Use cases
Creating a centralized hub for updates and document sharing
Unily is an employee experience and internal communications tool. It provides features that support its “four cornerstones” of digital employee experience: Alignment, Engagement, Enablement, and Simplicity.
Key features include email, employee feedback, and recognition tools. You can design, sequence, and automate employee journeys so staff receive relevant information at the right time. You can also use gamification features to improve intranet engagement.
Pros
An excellent desktop version, with an engaging and intuitive user experience
Fine-grained controls for admins
A good range of notifications
Cons
Mixed opinions on Unily’s customer service and ability to support its partners
Translating Unily’s comprehensive desktop features to mobile is a challenge for admins
Pricing
Pricing is available on request.
Use cases
Creating channels for company-wide communications
Boosting employee engagement with dynamic content and gamification
A comprehensive intranet platform, Simpplr supports internal communication and employee engagement. It provides a user-friendly, social-media-style interface and provides AI-driven content recommendations.
Standout features include employee listening tools, surveys, and a recognition program. There are also lots of communication channels you can use across email, SMS, a mobile app, and desktop software.
Pros
An intuitive, uncluttered interface
Strong analytics that make it easy to track engagement metrics and content performance
Great search functions
Cons
Difficult login process, with multiple links provided
Some users say the struggle to integrate Simpplr with their preferred third-party apps
Advanced features can be expensive
Pricing
Pricing is available on request.
Use cases
Making employee feedback and listening a key part of company culture
Creating a centralized hub for communications, resources, and community
Bringing large organizations and distributed teams together
Google Meet is a video conferencing and virtual meeting tool. It’s integrated into Google Workspace, so it connects easily to Gmail, Calendar, and any other Google tools your team happens to use.
It’s incredibly easy to use via an internet browser so users don’t even have to download the software. This makes it one of the most accessible virtual meeting tools currently available.
Pros
Easy to set up and use
The ability to hold meetings with up to 1,000 participants
Chat, emoji, and screen share functions available during meetings
Cons
You need additional tools to fulfil all internal communication needs
Fewer advanced features compared to Zoom and Microsoft Teams
Pricing
Prices start from $6 per user per month.
Use cases
Virtual team meetings, webinars, and company-wide announcements
One-on-one video meetings
Virtual training and employee onboarding
20. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams combines instant messaging, video conferencing, and file-sharing tools. As you’d expect, it offers the best possible integration with other Microsoft Office tech. You can use a selection of tools to create an all-round internal communication solution.
You can use Teams to run video meetings and team chats when your employees are working remotely or across different locations.
Pros
Strong integration with other Microsoft products
Secure communication and file sharing
Cons
Interface isn’t particularly engaging and there are few social-media-style features
Teams is designed for desktop use so mobile users don’t get the same user experience
Pricing
Prices start from $4 per user per month.
Use cases
Creating digital channels for internal communication and project management
Launching video and audio calls and sharing company-wide updates
Bringing remote and hybrid teams together, even when they’re working in different locations
Choosing an internal communication tool for your frontline organization (2026)
The right choice depends on your organization’s structure, workforce, and goals — particularly if you operate with hybrid or frontline teams.
For frontline organizations, the most significant communication challenge is dispersion. To resolve this, every employee should receive critical updates and feel part of the same company culture, even if they rarely visit headquarters.
To build a sense of belonging, choose a mobile-first internal communication platform that’s user-friendly and equally accessible for all.
To identify the best fit, ask yourself these four questions when evaluating internal communication software:
#1. Is your organization office-based, or do you have deskless workers to consider?
Some internal communication tools suit desk-based teams, such as intranets designed for desktop access. However, these are often unsuitable for reaching frontline workers who rely on smartphones.
To prevent information gaps, look for mobile-first internal communication solutions that offer the same functionality across devices. A dedicated mobile app ensures equal access and engagement across every team member — no matter where they work.
#2. Do your employees have regular opportunities to connect during the workday?
Connection drives performance, and employees who feel they belong are much more engaged and productive.
The problem for frontline teams is that they often lack organic “water cooler” moments. Using internal communication tools that enable social-style interaction — such as chat, feeds, and communities — fosters real-time collaboration between field and office teams.
#3. How much time can your employees spend on internal comms each day?
As frontline employees are busy serving customers, maintaining operations, or working off-site, they need a simple and reliable communication platform.
When evaluating tools, prioritize their ease of use, onboarding speeds, and precise message delivery.
Also check adoption rates and engagement levels as they’re powerful indicators of how smoothly a tool integrates into your daily workflow.
#4. How many internal communication goals do you want to cover?
Some platforms specialize in single functions, such as surveys, document sharing, or project management. Others, like all-in-one employee communication platforms, combine these capabilities.
To streamline your tech stack while enhancing connection and engagement, choose an internal communication tool that supports multiple channels — chat, news, surveys, recognition, and analytics — within one system.
The importance of internal communications in an organization
Every organization — frontline or otherwise — needs an effective internal communication strategy thatunites employees behind the company culture and values, improves collaboration, and enhances retention.
Strong internal communication also supports:
Company connection: When employees feel aligned with organizational goals, engagement and satisfaction rise
Change management: Transparent communication ensures buy-in during transitions
Problem-solving: Clear, direct messaging limits misinformation and strengthens trust
Productivity: Employees perform best when information is easy to find and act upon
Many internal communication tools support these goals — from instant messaging and surveys to intranets and recognition platforms. For frontline teams, the right solution must be mobile-first and easy to access on the go.
The right internal communication software can transform a disconnected team into a cohesive, informed community.
Blink shows how this works by helping companies like Go North West connect all their employees through a single digital hub.
Blink. And transform company communication with an all-in-one internal communication platform built for every worker.