Updated on 09/25/2024
Companies already using Microsoft Teams may be skeptical about adopting another collaboration tool like Viva Engage (Yammer). However, Viva Engage (Yammer) and Teams fulfill very distinct functions. Teams is a highly effective collaboration tool for people within a department. It is designed to create silos, helping groups of employees to focus on specific tasks.
Conversely, Viva Engage (Yammer) encourages communication between different departments. This internal social network is designed to prevent the dispersal of information. Many companies are finding that it also encourages exchanges between different hierarchical levels, helping to flatten the organizational structure.
If you’re still on the fence about integrating Viva Engage (Yammer) into your internal communications strategy, here are a few benefits to consider.
Accessing unshared knowledge
If you’ve ever searched for recommendations on various topics on social networks like Facebook, you know that collective opinions can be invaluable. In a corporate environment, Viva Engage (Yammer) plays a similar role by facilitating access to relevant information via publicly posed questions. Rather than sending an e-mail, you can ask a question in Viva Engage (Yammer) and receive answers from in-house experts, while sparking enriching discussions.
Viva Engage (Yammer) also lets you form groups around specific topics. These open groups encourage knowledge sharing, where everyone can draw on information even outside their own department. For example, a group dedicated to human resources can share updates on employee benefits, and this information can be discussed in a more interactive way than a simple e-mail or newsletter.
Promoting interaction between company departments
In a large company, employees may never cross paths, especially when working remotely. Viva Engage (Yammer) is a powerful tool for breaking down these silos and encouraging internal communication between different departments. Informal exchanges enable employees from different departments to keep abreast of projects and events, reinforcing collaboration and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how data analysis can improve inter-departmental communication strategy, read our article How to improve your internal communication strategy with data analysis.
Boosting employee commitment
One of the key benefits of Viva Engage (Yammer) is its ability to boost employee engagement. The more easily they can interact, ask questions or share events, the more involved they feel. Employee engagement has a direct effect on productivity and reduces turnover. The interactive features of Viva Engage (Yammer), such as polls and comments, reinforce this engagement.
How to identify the best time to publish on Viva Engage (Yammer) is also a key factor in boosting this engagement. See our guide How to identify the best time to publish on Viva Engage? to find out more.
Supporting the development of corporate culture
A good corporate culture needs to be nurtured and reinforced by tools like Viva Engage (Yammer). This social network enables lighter content such as gifs or memes to be shared, promoting a more relaxed atmosphere and preventing the culture from becoming toxic. Managers can post engaging messages and address more informal topics, supporting employee well-being.
For an overview of best practices in supporting corporate culture through internal communication, read our article Internal communication trends 2024.
Integration with Office 365 tools
If your company already uses Microsoft 365, Viva Engage (Yammer) is a natural complement to tools like SharePoint or Teams, creating a complete, integrated digital workspace. This maximizes your investment while simplifying workflows. To understand how this integration can optimize your communications strategy, check out our guide on From Workplace to Viva Engage: A transition guide to successful internal communications.
How Tryane Can Help
With Communication Insight, our cross-channel analytics solution, we help internal communications professionals optimize their use of Viva Engage (Yammer). Our platform connects all your internal channels (intranet, newsletters, corporate social networks) and centralizes all your KPIs to provide you with an overview. This enables you to analyze the impact of each channel and proactively adjust your strategy.
For example, our “best time to post” functionality helps you identify the optimal times to publish on Viva Engage (Yammer) and SharePoint to maximize employee engagement. What’s more, we automatically generate monthly or annual reports to provide you with key insights to share with your superiors.
For more information on how we can improve the effectiveness of your internal campaigns, see +50% engagement on SharePoint thanks to Analytics.
Conclusion
Viva Engage (Yammer) is much more than just a social communications tool. It fosters knowledge exchange, employee engagement and the development of a positive corporate culture. By integrating an analytics solution like Communication Insight, you can go even further in optimizing your internal communication and measuring its impact.
Please contact us today to learn more about how our solutions can make your company more competitive.
Benefits of Viva Engage
Yammer for businesses
Internal communication with Viva Engage
Collaboration using Yammer
Enterprise social network Microsoft
Employee engagement with Viva Engage
Features of Yammer
Viva Engage vs Teams
Viva Engage communities
Yammer productivity