20 Best Internal Communication Tools for Connecting Hybrid Teams

Connecting hybrid and remote teams is paramount for fostering collaboration, cohesion, and productivity in modern work environments. 

But ‘connecting’ doesn’t simply mean building a single line of communication between your hybrid team and management, through which your CEO can filter messages down. (Is anyone else picturing cups on a string? …Just me?)

It means laying the foundation for an inclusive culture, investing in a two-way open-comms environment, and committing to constantly reflecting and improving your internal communication strategy.

But why bother? Well, apart from the undeniable fact that your people deserve to be happy in their jobs, good internal comms helps hybrid teams achieve higher levels of morale. 
And higher morale = higher job satisfaction, which translates to solid retention rates. Simple as. 

So, here are 20 internal communication tools for connecting hybrid teams we recommend checking out.

What are internal communication tools?

Internal communication tools are software that helps companies manage employee communications. These tools can help streamline communication between managers and employees, or between employees themselves.

The best internal communication tools emphasize open over top-down comms, inclusivity and accessibility, and a great user experience. 

Types of internal communication

Leader-to-employee communication

Also known as top-down communication, this type of communication involves messages initiated by leaders or management to convey directives, goals, and important updates to employees, fostering alignment and clarity within the organization.

Employee-to-leader communication

These channels enable employees to provide feedback, suggestions, and concerns directly to leaders or management, promoting transparency, trust, and employee engagement.

Employee-to-employee communication

Communication among colleagues at the same hierarchical level or within the same department, facilitating collaboration, knowledge sharing, and teamwork to achieve common goals. Investing in team communication is crucial if you want to prevent organizational siloes. 

Information delivery

This encompasses the dissemination of factual information, updates, and announcements relevant to employees' roles, responsibilities, and the organization as a whole, ensuring everyone stays informed and aligned.

Culture communication

Efforts aimed at reinforcing and promoting the organization's values, beliefs, and norms to employees, shaping the organizational culture and fostering a sense of belonging and identity.

Change management

Communication strategies aimed at informing employees about organizational changes, addressing concerns, and facilitating transition and adoption, ensuring smooth implementation and acceptance of changes.

Crisis management

Communication initiatives employed during emergencies or crises to provide timely information, guidance, and reassurance to employees, maintaining trust, and ensuring organizational resilience.

20 best internal communication tools for your company

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that in our increasingly digital working world, there are A LOT of tool types for internal communication you can consider adding to your tech stack. (At least 20, as the headline implies!)

From intranets to digital screens and survey tools employee social networks, these are the internal communication tools to know about for effective employee communications.

1. Intranets 
2. Instant messaging tools
3. Collaboration tools
4. Internal newsletters
5. Employee surveys
6. Task management tools
7. Community channels
8. Video conferencing tools
9. Onboarding center
10. News center
11. Employee feedback apps
12. Employee recognition and reward center
13. Team bonding tools
14. Employee engagement analytics
15. CEO/leadership blog
16. File sharing and management software
17. Podcasts
18. Employee experience tools
19. Job board
20. Knowledge base

1. Intranets

Intranets are private networks accessible only to an organization's employees. They provide a platform for teams to communicate while staying up-to-date on company news and announcements. A modern social intranet, like Workvivo, offers employees an engaging newsfeed, company updates, notifications, access to company newsletters, a mobile app, and more.

Key benefits

• Can be used to share sensitive information.
• Allows for easy collaboration on projects.
• Can be customized to fit the needs of the organization.

Intranet software examples

• Workvivo
• SharePoint
• Confluence

2. Instant messaging tools

Instant messaging tools enable real-time communication between employees, fostering quick collaboration and information sharing.

Key benefits

• Facilitates quick communication and decision-making.
• Supports informal and spontaneous conversations.
• Can be accessed from desktop or mobile devices.

Instant messaging tool examples

• Slack
• Microsoft Teams
• WhatsApp for Business

3. Collaboration tools

Collaboration tools allow employees to work together on projects, share documents, and coordinate tasks efficiently.

Key benefits

• Promotes teamwork and productivity.
• Facilitates remote collaboration among distributed teams.
• Centralizes project-related information and updates.

Collaboration tool examples

• Asana
• Trello
• Basecamp

4. Internal newsletters

Internal newsletters deliver company news, updates, and announcements to employees' inboxes on a regular basis.

Key benefits

• Keeps employees informed about company initiatives and events.
• Provides a centralized source of information.
• Can be customized to target specific departments or teams.

Newsletters software examples

• Mailchimp
• Campaign Monitor
• Sendinblue

5. Employee surveys

Employee surveys gather feedback from employees on various aspects of the organization, such as job satisfaction, engagement, and workplace culture. Check out our template for designing an effective employee survey here.

Key benefits

• Provides insights into employee opinions and sentiments.
• Helps identify areas for improvement and employee satisfaction.
• Encourages employee participation and engagement.

Survey software examples

• SurveyMonkey
• Google Forms
• Typeform

6. Task management tools

Task management tools help teams organize, track, and prioritize tasks and projects, ensuring deadlines are met and goals are achieved.

Key Benefits

• Improves productivity and efficiency by centralizing task management.
• Facilitates collaboration and communication among team members.
• Provides visibility into project progress and status.

Task management tool examples

• Todoist
• Wrike
• Monday.com

7. Community channels

Community channels provide forums or discussion boards where employees can engage in conversations, share knowledge, and collaborate on projects or common interests. They offer employees a shared, active workspace and allow them to react to each other’s messages with emojis and take part in conversations.

Key benefits

• Facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration among employees.
• Creates a sense of community and belonging within the organization.
• Provides a platform for informal communication and idea exchange.

Community channel examples

• Slack channels
• Microsoft Teams channels
• Workplace from Meta

Workplace from Meta is leaving the market and has named Workvivo by Zoom as its only preferred migration partner. Find out more here.

8. Video conferencing tools

Video conferencing tools enable virtual meetings, allowing employees to communicate face-to-face in real-time, regardless of their location.

Key benefits

• Enables face-to-face communication and virtual meetings.
• Facilitates real-time collaboration regardless of physical location.
• Enhances communication by allowing participants to see facial expressions and body language.

Videoconferencing tool examples

• Zoom
• Microsoft Teams 
• Google Meet

9. Onboarding center

An onboarding center is a centralized hub or platform that provides resources, training materials, and information for new employees during the onboarding process.

Key benefits

• Provides new employees with access to resources and training materials.
• Streamlines the onboarding process by centralizing information.
• Helps new hires feel welcome and prepared for their roles.

Examples of tools with onboarding centers

• BambooHR
• Workday
• SAP SuccessFactors

10. News center

A news center is a platform or section of the company intranet dedicated to sharing news, updates, and announcements relevant to employees.

Key benefits

• Keeps employees informed about important news and updates.
• Provides a centralized source of information for employees.
• Promotes transparency and alignment with company goals and initiatives.

News center examples

• News section on the company intranet
• Corporate blog
• Newsletter distribution platform

11. Feedback apps

Feedback apps enable employees to provide feedback, suggestions, and opinions on various aspects of the organization, promoting a culture of continuous improvement and transparency.

Key benefits

• Enables employees to provide feedback and suggestions.
• Promotes a culture of transparency and continuous improvement.
• Helps identify areas for growth and development within the organization.

Feedback app examples

• 15Five
• TINYpulse
• Culture Amp

12. Employee recognition and reward center

Employee recognition and reward centers are platforms or programs that allow managers and peers to recognize and reward employees for their contributions and achievements.

Key benefits

• Recognizes and celebrates employee achievements and contributions.
• Boosts morale and motivation among employees.
• Reinforces desired behaviors and values within the organization.

Employee recognition and reward tool examples

• Bonusly
• Kudos
• Achievers

13. Team bonding tools

Team bonding tools facilitate team-building activities, events, and initiatives aimed at fostering camaraderie, collaboration, and a positive work culture among team members.

Key benefits

• Facilitates team-building activities and initiatives.
• Strengthens relationships and camaraderie among team members.
• Improves collaboration and communication within teams.

14. Employee engagement analytics

Employee engagement analytics tools measure and analyze employee engagement levels, sentiments, and behaviors to identify trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity.

Key benefits

• Provides insights into employee engagement levels and sentiments.
• Helps identify trends and patterns in employee behavior.
• Guides strategic decisions to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity.

Employee engagement analytics tool examples

• Glint
• Culture Amp
• Peakon

15. CEO/leadership blog

A CEO or leadership blog is a platform where company executives share insights, updates, and thoughts on company strategy, industry trends, and organizational culture.
Creating a direct line of communication between leaders and the rest of the company can go a long way toward engaging employees.

Key benefits

• Provides a platform for company executives to share insights and updates.
• Humanizes leadership and promotes transparency within the organization.
• Fosters communication and alignment with company vision and values.

16. File sharing and management software

Document sharing and management software allows employees to create, store, organize, and collaborate on documents, presentations, and files securely.

Key benefits

• Centralizes document storage and organization.
• Facilitates collaboration and version control on documents.
• Enhances efficiency by streamlining document management processes.

File sharing and management software examples

• Google Drive
• Dropbox Business
• Microsoft SharePoint

17. Internal podcasts

Podcasts are audio programs or episodes that employees can listen to on-demand, providing educational, informative, or entertaining content on various topics relevant to the organization. Find out how to create your own here.

Key benefits

• Provides a convenient and engaging format for sharing information.
• Allows employees to consume content on the go.
• Enhances learning and professional development opportunities.

18. Employee experience tools

Employee experience tools focus on enhancing the overall employee experience, encompassing aspects such as onboarding, engagement, development, and wellbeing.

Key benefits

• Focuses on improving overall employee experience and well-being.
• Addresses key aspects such as engagement, development, and wellness.
• Helps attract and retain top talent by prioritizing employee satisfaction.

Employee experience platform examples

• Workvivo
• CultureAmp
• Qualtrics

19. Job board

A job board is a platform where job vacancies within the organization are posted, allowing employees to explore internal career opportunities and apply for new roles.

Key benefits

• Provides visibility into internal job opportunities.
• Encourages career growth and development among employees.
• Streamlines the internal hiring process and promotes internal mobility.
   

20. Knowledge base

A knowledge base is a centralized repository of information, documents, resources, and best practices accessible to employees within an organization. It serves as a comprehensive source of knowledge to support employees in their daily tasks, decision-making, and problem-solving.

Key benefits

• Increases employee efficiency by providing quick access to relevant information.
• Supports onboarding and training efforts for new hires.
• Fosters knowledge retention by capturing institutional knowledge.

Examples of tools with knowledge bases

• Confluence by Atlassian
• Microsoft SharePoint
• Guru

Benefits of using internal communication tools

Some of the most important benefits of internal communication tools include:

Improved collaboration

Facilitates seamless communication and collaboration among team members, regardless of location or time zone.

Enhanced productivity

Streamlines communication processes, reducing delays and ensuring tasks are completed efficiently.

Increased transparency

Provides a platform for transparent communication, keeping all team members informed about project updates, goals, and deadlines.

Better employee engagement

Fosters a sense of belonging and involvement by enabling employees to share ideas, provide feedback, and participate in discussions.

Effective knowledge sharing

Allows for the sharing of information, documents, and resources, enabling team members to access the information they need to perform their tasks effectively.

Remote work support

Facilitates communication and collaboration for remote or distributed teams, helping them stay connected and productive regardless of their physical location.

Reduced email overload

Offers an alternative communication channel to email, reducing inbox clutter and allowing for more focused communication.

Improved company culture

Supports a positive company culture by promoting open communication, transparency, and collaboration among team members.

Streamline internal communication with Workvivo

Streamlining internal communication is crucial for fostering collaboration, enhancing productivity, and building a strong organizational culture – whether your teams are hybrid or not.
With Workvivo's comprehensive suite of internal communication tools, including a social intranet, a central hub for internal communication, comprehensive analytics, and more, organizations can create a connected and engaged workforce.

By leveraging Workvivo, companies can facilitate seamless communication, drive employee engagement, and achieve their business goals with ease – all while delivering an exceptional employee experience.

Ready to transform your internal communication strategy with Workvivo? Book a demo today and discover how our platform can empower your organization to communicate, collaborate, and succeed together.