Companies already using Microsoft Teams might question the benefits of Viva Engage in their workplace. However, Viva Engage and Teams serve very distinct purposes. While Teams is excellent for collaboration within a department, it tends to create silos that help small groups focus on tasks.
In contrast, Viva Engage (formerly Yammer) encourages communication across different departments. This internal social network prevents information silos and promotes exchanges across all hierarchical levels, helping flatten organizational structures.
If you’re wondering why to use Viva Engage as part of your internal communications strategy, here are several key advantages to consider.
Unlocking Hidden Knowledge Across Your Organization
One of the major benefits of Viva Engage is its ability to facilitate knowledge sharing. Similar to public social networks, Viva Engage allows employees to ask questions and receive answers from in-house experts, stimulating valuable discussions.
Open topic groups created within Viva Engage empower employees to access information beyond their immediate team. For instance, a Human Resources group can share updates on benefits, encouraging lively and transparent discussions rather than limiting information to a simple email or static newsletter.
Enhancing Cross-Department Collaboration
Another crucial benefit of Viva Engage is its power to break down departmental silos. Especially in large or remote organizations, informal exchanges through Viva Engage help employees stay informed about projects and events happening across the company, fostering collaboration and 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 Engagement Through Interaction
Boosting employee engagement is among the most valuable benefits of Viva Engage. The platform makes it easy for employees to interact, ask questions, and share news, thus reinforcing their sense of involvement. Higher engagement levels often correlate directly with increased productivity and reduced employee turnover.
Interactive features like polls and comment sections add to this engagement. Knowing the best time to post on Viva Engage is crucial to maximizing impact — discover more in our dedicated guide: How to identify the best time to publish on Viva Engage? to find out more.
Supporting Corporate Culture Development
A strong corporate culture requires constant nurturing. Viva Engage provides the ideal platform for sharing lighter, engaging content — from gifs to memes — helping cultivate a positive workplace atmosphere. Managers can easily communicate informally with teams, enhancing overall employee well-being.
For more best practices on supporting corporate culture through internal communication, visit our article: Internal communication trends 2024..
Seamless Integration with Microsoft 365 Tools
Already using Microsoft 365? Then another major benefit of Viva Engage is its seamless integration with SharePoint, Teams, and other Office tools. This creates a unified, streamlined digital workspace, maximizing your technology investment and simplifying everyday workflows.
For a complete roadmap to transitioning from Workplace to Viva Engage, don’t miss our guide: From Workplace to Viva Engage: A transition guide to successful internal communications.
Maximize Viva Engage Results with Communication Insights
At Tryane Analytics, we help internal communication professionals harness the full benefits of Viva Engage through our solution, Communication Insights.
Our cross-channel analytics platform connects all your internal communication tools (intranet, newsletter, corporate social networks) in one place. Analyze the performance of every channel, understand audience engagement, and adjust your communication strategy accordingly.
Features like “best time to post” identify the optimal moments to publish content on Viva Engage and SharePoint, boosting engagement. Plus, we automatically generate insightful monthly or annual reports, so you can easily showcase your results to leadership.
To see real-world results, discover how we helped a client achieve +50% more engagement on SharePoint thanks to Communication Insights.
Conclusion: Why the Benefits of Viva Engage Are Worth It
In conclusion, the benefits of Viva Engage extend far beyond being a simple corporate social network. It fosters knowledge sharing, strengthens employee engagement, and supports the development of a vibrant company culture. Combined with powerful analytics tools like Communication Insights, your internal communications strategy will reach new levels of effectiveness.
👉 Contact us today to find out how Tryane Analytics can help you maximize the benefits of Viva Engage and make your workplace 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