If you went to the streets and asked any person who believes the future “what does the future of business communication look like?” they would likely answer you with “The future of business communication is bright.”
And this is the plain truth especially now that there is a huge emergence of new technologies that have changed the way we work and communicate both with our team and customers.
In this article, we are going to take a look at seven predictions of business communications for 2020 and beyond as shared by Mathew Henderson; the author of two viral articles titled do my essay and write my paper.
But before that let’s answer a few business communication questions asked by many people out there.
Business Communication: Q&A
What is business communication?
Business communication is the sharing of information within an enterprise to facilitate the smooth running of an organization or company. Business communication is also the process by which a brand distributes information to promote its products or services to prospective customers.
How important is communication in business?
Communication is important both within and outside the business. Effective communication can help to build a good working relationship between business workers which in turn boost efficiency and help the organization or company achieve its goals.
What is personal business communication?
Personal business communication is the exchange of personal information between staff within the business.
What are the functions of business communication?
The functions of business communication in an organization are to inform, persuade, and inspire. Employees of an organization need to communicate effectively to achieve excellent job performance.
Basic Types of Business Communication
Communication is an integral part of any business’s success. The types of business communications every business owner needs to know include:
Upward business communication
Information from juniors to seniors.
As the name suggests, upward communication is the sharing of information by a subordinate to a manager or a high-level individual within the organizational hierarchy.
Managers and other individuals up the organizational hierarchy need information from the subordinate staff to know how the company or business is operating. The information can be in the form of surveys, reports, or forms.
For instance, junior staff may share sales reports with the management to keep them updated on the sales generated within a specific time.
Downward business communication
Information from seniors to juniors.
This is information shared by the superior to their juniors. Information can be shared in the form of memos, verbal order or written letters. Business leaders need to keep business communication professional and straightforward at all times. For instance, any communication shared should not be difficult to understand by the subordinate.
Lateral business communication
Information from peers to peers.
Lateral communication is the sharing of information between employees of an organization or company. Employees of the IT department can share information with employees of the HR department and vice versa.
External Communication
Information from staff to outside receivers.
This involves information shared by employees, leaders or staff of a company to customers, vendors or partners.
That being said, where will business communication be in 2020 and beyond? What is the future of business communication?
7 Business Communication Predictions
1. Continued Reliance on Cloud Services
Due to increased cybersecurity risks, companies are consistently relying on cloud services to keep information protected and for convenience purposes.
Well, cloud services and cloud computing are two technologies that have been there for many years but what’s new is the increased reliance on these technologies worldwide. Cloud services help in backing up of information and for security purposes.
Every employee needs to be educated about the safety and security of cloud services to enable them to use cloud services to address any security risks. Besides, reliance on cloud services helps to protect environmental impact due to the reduced need for papers and documents.
Businesses can show consumers that they care about their wellbeing reducing environmental waste. Cloud services are also easy to use and speed up the distribution of information.
2. The Need for More Reliable Internet Connections
It started with 1G but we expect to see 5G networks as 3G and 4G continue to experience network congestions especially in big towns.
As more devices in the workplace get connected to the internet, it’s no surprise that there is a need for faster and more dependable internet connections.
We expect to see many devices getting connected to the internet these days than ever as more offices are coming up that rely on the internet for purposes of research, exchange of information and for conducting other business activities.
3G and 4G internet is no longer sustaining the huge demand in internet connections and that’s why Telecom companies are working around the clock to supply 5G networks to both large and small cities.
Is your business 5G-ready?
5G is in simple terms the 5th generation in cellular networks.
3. Integration of Artificial Intelligence
“Artificial Intelligence isn’t a new technology but the latest advancements are spearheading a revolution in business communication”, says Lucas Lauren, a technology consultant in the UK.
Well, the emergence of AI has faced rejection given that reports suggest that 47% of US employees risk losing their jobs. However, when it comes to business communication, AI can do more good than harm.
Chatbots, for instance, automate responses enabling businesses to engage with customers hence enhancing customer service. This way, employees have more time to do other productive things within the company hence improving productivity levels.
4. Increased Use of the Internet of Things
Initially, the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) has been applied mainly in the logistics industries but it’s no surprise that it’s starting to make a debut in the business communication space.
Companies can now communicate with outside companies as well as business partners, and employees can communicate with customers by use of different types of wirelessly connected devices all over the world. A report suggests that there are around 26 million connected gadgets on the internet and we expect to see even more devices connected to the internet in the future.
5. Keen Focus on Cybersecurity
Information leaks and hacks have become a thing of the day and more companies are looking for ways to safeguard information and protect customer data.
A few years back, small businesses thought that cybersecurity is for large companies. Besides, cyber-attacks were only a thing experienced by larger companies like LinkedIn and Yahoo. Wo unto you if you still think that cybersecurity is reserved for Google and Amazon because hackers are targeting businesses of all levels hence the need for a heightened focus on cybersecurity.
Small businesses have become a potential target for cyber attacks since many lack security measures, insufficient employee training, and security resources.
A study has shown that small businesses account for 70 percent of data breaches.
Thankfully, businesses are beginning to starting to get more aware of these cybersecurity risks and we can expect to see a keen focus on cybersecurity.
Large and small businesses are implementing stringent measures to protect information.
Businesses are starting to equip their employees with cybersecurity skills and encouraging them to observe practices that safeguard confidential information such as the use of strong passwords and learning how to detect phishing.
6. Increased Focus on Mobility
The US has more than 96.2 million mobile workers. This number is predicted to go higher due to the continued improvement in broadband technology. Remote working is becoming the preferred way by business to motive employees and boost productivity.
7. Integration of Smart Technology
It’s not a question but smart technology is evident in every part of our lives. From smart homes to smartphones and smartwatches, it’s no doubt the smart technology is increasingly getting integrated into every part of the business communication sphere. Just imagine how cool it is to answer your phone from your smartwatch or using your phone as a remote to switch on/off the lights.
Smart technology has no boundaries when it comes to the automation of office activities.
Is Your Business Ready?
As technology continues to improve, we can expect to see businesses implementing effective technologies that enhance business communications. All this is meant to achieve efficiency and productivity in the workplace.
From the predictions above, it’s no doubt business communication is evolving at lightning speed. The question is “Is your business ready for these predictions?” “What measures have you put in place to adopt these trends in business communication?”
Scott Mathews is a technology consultant and professional freelance writer who offers the best essay writing services UK based. Being interested in everyday business technology advancements, he has shared multiple articles for businesses that want to stay ahead of changes in the industry. Scott also owns an online assignment writing company where he offers services such as essay papers, essay writing services where students can buy custom essay papers at any time.