The Tribe Report 5. The Non-Desk Worker Issue | Page 19

By letting employees opt, in you are putting the control
in their hands. In Tribe’s recent research study, we
heard over and over again how non-desk workers
would like more company communication. Providing
them a tool like an app gives them the opportunity
to communicate with the company without all the
headaches of having to create user accounts for
intranets and email when there’s often fast turnover
and cost associated with setting up those accounts.
When thinking about an app, there are two different
ways to approach it. The first would be a completely
custom-designed app from the ground up. This
isn’t as scary as you think — or as expensive. As
technology advances, the costs to build an app are
dropping rapidly.
The second would be using out-of-the-box software
that in most cases you could tailor to the specific needs
of your company. Before you decide the right approach
for your company, it’s important to think about the
features you’re looking for. Some other things to think
about are security and scalability.

These are just a few of the great out-of-the-box tools
available, and in most cases you can find a tool to meet
your needs. If you can’t, then it’s worth developing
one. Like I said before, it’s not as scary or as hard as
you think. Divide your app into three steps: content,
design and development. Then ask yourself where you
might need help along the way. If you’re lucky, you
have internal departments that can help with each
step. Never underestimate what you and your people
can get done. If you don’t have the resources, then
that’s what we’re here for.
Regardless of your approach, it’s important to keep
in mind your goals for the project. Having a vision of
what you want to achieve at the outset and carrying
those goals through your execution is an important
barometer that will confirm whether the development
process is heading in the right direction.

SOFTWARE FOR MICROSITES
Once you know all the facts, it’ll be much easier to
determine the right solution for you. If you’re looking
for a top-level communication tool to send information
to employees, Red e App might be just the right app
for you. According to the website, “Red e App bridges
enterprise communications with the mobile generation
to establish a secure and uncluttered channel for
actionable communication in real time.” It’s an outof-the-box solution with a lot of great customizable
features allowing you to push information right to an
employee’s mobile device.
Another great easy-to-use tool is HipChat. It’s
particularly good for communication between teams
and workers in the field. It lets you communicate in
real time with colleagues in mobile chat rooms and
through instant messaging. Not only can you chat, you
can also share files and send notifications. Best of all,
it’s easy to manage with an admin that controls who
can join and who can see what information.

1

Red e App
(855) RED-eApp
redeapp.com
SHORTHAND “Red e App bridges enterprise
communications with the mobile generation”
STRENGTH “Timely and action-oriented”

HipChat
2

hipchat.com
FOUNDED 2010
CLIENTS INCLUDE Instagram, Groupon, TBS,
Wired, Allstate
SHORTHAND “HipChat is instant messaging
built for business”
STRENGTH “Runs on just about everything”

WINTER 2012 | 19