Why Stakeholders Interaction solution from AIMediaComms?

July 17, 2013 - PRLog -- There has been a significant shift in the importance of corporate communications over recent years, allied to the recognition of reputation as a key business asset; our software helps the communications function operate more effectively in a globalised, de-regulated world where accountability and social responsibility are important business drivers.
The New ‘Communications Web’
Journalists are no longer content to just talk to press officers. They are now part of a more complex network of interactions – what we call the “communications web”. To get the full story, they are in contact with other stakeholders, from employees and trade unions to government bodies and regulators – all of whom will have a view of your organisation. This means that, more than ever before, a company must present a consistent message to all stakeholder groups; messages must be aligned. With such a broad audience listening to your every word it is important that corporate communicators talk with one voice.
Channels of Communication
In the communications web, traditional print and broadcast media retain their importance, but new channels have opened up that are of equal importance such as Twitter, Facebook, YouTube etc. The internet has broken down geographical boundaries; where news travels instantly, where relatively small issues can become serious very quickly. It is thus important that stakeholder engagements utilise social media, and that publishing processes are streamlined such that one consistent message can be broadcast to all channels and stakeholders simultaneously.
The Changing Business Landscape
The environment in which businesses operate has changed fundamentally in the past ten years. The direct impact of the financial crisis and the ensuing global recession has materially changed the conditions affecting the public sector and business. Indeed in the light of scandals such as Enron, Arthur Anderson and the like, the private sector has particularly had to reassess operations, discard “the business as usual mantra”, and recognise that trust and confidence needs to be rebuilt. To do so requires that an organisation engages in meaningful relationships and regular communications with all stakeholders.
More Effective Use of Resources
Many organisations face increasing budget pressures over the coming months. Communications departments across the country are reassessing priorities to ensure that activities are relevant, focused and effective, especially if headcounts are affected. Software that streamlines communication processes, from contact to campaign management through issues to key message management, and provides fast access to all stakeholder interactions will help to deliver business efficiencies. Effective reporting and the analysis of communications activities will help focus your resources for greatest benefit; enabling the corporate communications function to achieve more with less resources.
Integrated Communications
For an organisation to maintain consistency in its communications, it is important that teams separated by function, brand, location and/or geography are ‘on the same page’. They have to understand the breadth and depth of all stakeholder interactions to avoid unnecessary difficulties that may arise out of inconsistencies across, for example, different shifts, or between internal and external communications. This means that communicators need to have access to a corporate memory that ensures, for example, that the latest press line is consistent with what was said to the unions and employees during internal restructuring negotiations.
Governance & Sustainability
Organisations recognise that sustainability; compliance and accountability need to be engrained in their operations if they are to receive the ‘new licence to operate’ that is awarded formally by regulators, but informally by other stakeholders. Factors affecting this licence are the decline in public trust of business; changing expectations of society regarding business ethics and the ease of access to information concerning an organisation’s activities. The corporate communicator must rebuild this trust, and for compliance purposes record all interactions with stakeholders and maintain secure audit trails of these in a system designed to help protect corporate reputation.
Managing Crises
A strong reputation will help companies through a crisis. If a company is trusted by stakeholders, has a good reputation under normal circumstances, then it will have the luxury of the benefit of the doubt when a crises occurs. Thus consistent, accurate and targeted stakeholder interactions and easy access to them can facilitate effective issue management and risk mitigation. In the event of a crisis or incident, the ability to react, identify resources and act quickly can be the difference between success and failure. Your key spokespeople can quickly access briefing statements, press lines, media bids and other pertinent information 24/7 and distribute them to selected audiences.
Reputation Value
According to recent studies more than 75% of the market value of the typical FTSE 100 Company is now accounted for by intangible assets including reputation. Yet if reputation has a value, so the loss of reputation has a cost. Thus it is important that as a custodian of corporate reputation that communications teams have processes and software tools in place that protect and uphold this reputation through affective stakeholder interactions and measure/reports its effectiveness.

Please visit www.aimediacomms.com and book a demo now to see how our software can trasform your stakeholder interactions.