Instant Messaging Maintains its Workplace Presence

Instant messaging has lost some of its sheen with the rise of text messaging, Facebook, MySpace and other social media tools, but it’s still alive – and even growing – in the workplace. The Wall Street Journal has an overview of instant messaging’s role and benefits to organizations.

The WSJ says instant messaging is “invading” the workplace, but it cites a 2006 survey that only roughly one-third of U.S. employees use it – and many do so without their employer’s knowledge. According to the story, Gartner predicts instant messaging to become the “de facto tool for voice, video and text chat” for 95% of big-company employees within five years.

The story cites several benefits familiar to instant messaging users: rapid communication, collaboration opportunities, cell phone and mobile device access, file and video sharing, and the ability to overcome geographic and time zone challenges. But many companies remain fearful of security concerns, sidetracked employees and losing control of employee activities.

Will instant messaging will become the “de facto tool” within five years, as Gartner predicts? It seems unlikely. For companies that have embraced instant messaging, it will remain as common as e-mail or the telephone. But if an organization hasn’t adopted instant messaging already (due to the typical security and productivity concerns), it’s doubtful they will change their stance anytime soon. And the new wave of online tools (wikis, blogs and the like) offers fresher and better ways for teams to collaborate and increase productivity.