TechCrunch recently reported that Facebook is working on a new work-specific version of its social media outlet, marking a growing trend in company-wide in communications.
For a long time, it may have seemed that certain forms of communication were strictly reserved to either the personal or private sector. Facebook is certainly one of the clearest examples of this. While millions of people use the social media outlet outside of the office, it is often frowned upon when work needs to be done.
However, this does not necessarily mean that social networks like Facebook can't be used for business purposes. This stigma is both a combination of perceptions of how Facebook is normally used and a misunderstanding of how its capabilities can enhance business performance.
FB@Work?
TechCrunch noted that the social media site is working on an at-work version of Facebook in order to make it a better fit for the office setting. While the news source noted that there is little information available about the project, currently know as "FB@Work." However, there is massive potential in the corporate sphere.
Facebook the company uses Facebook to communicate internally through messages and groups, proving its ability to handle the day-to-day business demands of a company. Also, with the growing popularity for the consumerization of IT, being able to have corporate communication systems that are able to support individual user preferences and devices can be aided through the use of social network that most people are comfortable using.
What it means for emergency notification
While Facebook's office model may be years out from being implemented, its development marks an important trend that companies should begin to look at themselves. With more and more people adopting new social technologies, companies should implement communications solutions that utilize tools that workers are familiar with.
This is certainly the case when it comes to emergency notification systems. When a potential crisis arises, decision makers need to be able to communicate a clear and actionable message to their employees. Often times, this quickest and most effective way they can do this is through the outlets that people most frequently use, like Facebook. While internal company communications may be the preferred way of communicating with employees, during times of an emergency, the key is making sure that a message is received.
As a result, it may be the more often-perceived leisurely forms of communication, like Facebook that come to the service. By using a multiple communication platforms, companies can be sure that they are able to reach their customers quickly and efficiently, which is a must during an emergency.
