Whether it’s eating less cookies and counting more steps, or updating your organization’s recordkeeping and retention policies and procedures, it’s the time of year where we resolve to do better. This year, why not resolve to modernize the way that you conduct business?

As consumer expectations about how they interact with organizations continue to change (and regulatory scrutiny keeps pace), many businesses are undergoing shakeups to the way they communicate and collaborate. Platforms like Slack, Workplace by Facebook, and Microsoft Teams command our attention as we move further away from the inbox and towards dynamic collaboration. Meanwhile, text messaging places more pressure on organizations to adapt as its use increasingly blurs the lines between business and personal. It’s hard to say what the new year will bring, but in 2018 one thing is certain – digital transformation can no longer wait.

Year of the Collaboration Platform

In 2017, the adoption of collaboration platforms exploded. Slack surpassed 6 million daily active users who stayed plugged in for an average of ten hours on workdays. The number of organizations using Workplace by Facebook doubled to more than 30,000 in six months. Microsoft announced that Skype for Business would integrate into Teams in 2018, reinforcing a shift towards instant messaging integrating with into comprehensive collaboration platforms. How did these dramatic changes happen so fast? The way we conduct business has changed.

Our phones and laptops are the modern-day toolbox, enabling us to work on flexible timelines with applications that can streamline and improve workflows. However, with everyone having their own priorities, projects, and applications, information often becomes siloed and fragmented due to lack of visibility and communication. That’s where your new Swiss Army knife, the collaboration platform, helps you align your organization, foster teamwork, and increase productivity.

Mobile: No Longer the Exception, but the Rule

Business now happens on the go, in the palms of our hands. As a result, prohibiting text messaging is not only impractical, but also detrimental to your business in today’s omni-channel world. In 2018, we don’t just text friends and family about dinner plans; we text our realtors about the status of an offer on a home, and our colleagues with questions that require an immediate response. For good reason, too: nearly everyone with a mobile device uses text messaging, and you can expect an average response in under 90 seconds.

As the conversation continues to shift away from email, it’s critical for businesses to reconsider their approach to text messaging. With a multitude of messaging apps and social media platforms connecting your business with various segments of clients and prospects, text messaging may be the most optimal channel for immediate short-form communications. Many forward thinking companies have already begun the process of incorporating text messaging into their communication strategies, and those that don’t may find themselves left behind in the competitive landscape.

Enabling Compliant Productivity

In 2018, prohibition and restrictive use policies will become increasingly difficult to maintain. Many of the most popular tools, including Slack, offer free versions which are easily deployed in a matter of minutes. To mitigate the risks that arise due to this kind of “shadow IT,” organizations need to be proactive in embracing and managing these content types rather than relying on unenforceable policies. If they are given the tools they want to use from the start with their employer’s blessing, workers won’t be forced to take technology into their own hands.

With the right policies and innovative technology, organizations can empower their workforce with the latest productivity enhancing communications platforms and channels, while staying compliant and mitigating risks. In 2018, resolve to enable your business to use the best tools for the job.

Learn more about how Smarsh can help enable compliant productivity with comprehensive archiving here.