We have email. Do we really need Instant Messaging?

There is always a need for tighter control of information and effective collaboration in an Enterprise. Establishing productive interaction and transplug collaboration across boundaries are critical requirements for the enterprise. transplug communications can enable a variety of interactions, knowledge sharing and co-operation among co- workers, partners, customers and prospects. Effectively implemented Instant Messaging can improve the quality of communication, and dramatically speed-up decision making compared to Email.

The decisive advantages Instant Messaging has over Email:

• Fastest way to stay in touch with colleagues, vendors, or customers
• Instant Messaging can be used to tap potential business and reach beyond closed corporate walls--from customer service to instant purchasing and marketing
• Presence Awareness-- You can see who is online, who is available, who is busy without needing to interrupt or contact them
• Achieve security compliance—Monitor and audit all exchange of data and log and archive all conversations
• As instant as a phone call; only cheaper and unlimited usage
• Easy to use-- instant messengers are small, simple and unobtrusive by definition. Using an instant messenger is as simple as clicking on a person name to send a message.
• It's Instant - You can get instant replies, unlike the usual delay in mails – the window popping up and the idea that a person is waiting for an answer ensures the person pinged replies immediately
• Extend direct transplug communications to mobile phones, smart phones and PDA's allowing people on the move to easily remain in touch with their network of contacts.
• No Spam, more privacy. An email can be a spam while an EIM system contact cannot be as all the users are validated
• Send large files to your colleague with very little resources to send the same amount of data
• Responses are more favorable - Email inboxes are cluttered with spam messages and people aren’t responsive to email anymore
• Easily switch to richer communication like voice and video—Increase the effectivity of communication with another party.
• IM flattens the organization hierarchy by having a person-to-person interaction.
• Most creativity happens during tacit-to-tacit knowledge exchange - during conversation. Instant Messaging is conversation cast into text.
• Brainstorming is more effective on chat than on email and even face-to-face conversation. Delays imposed by asynchronous email delivery and waiting for your turn to talk in a room can block productivity.
• Broadcast Messages—Instant messengers can be used by the higher management to send out messages to the whole organization in a single click. This makes it more casual and saves valuable management time.
  

The emergence of Enterprise Instant Messaging and Communication system helps the enterprise increase collaboration between geographically separated employees while still keeping their data and networks secure.