Email may be on its way to becoming the new snail mail.
A survey of chief information officers by Robert Half Technology suggests that real-time workplace communication tools like instant messaging and Microsoft's Sharepoint will surpass traditional email in popularity within the next five years.
The survey of more than 1,400 CIOs from companies across the U.S. found that 54 percent of respondents believe real-time workplace communication tools, including instant messaging, Sharepoint and Yammer, will be much or somewhat more popular than email in the next five years. Thirty-eight percent of CIOs predicted that email would have the same level of popularity in five years.
Robert Half Technology also noted that a movement to real-time tools can result in several benefits in the workplace, including speed, convenience and the ability to foster collaboration, teamwork and camaraderie among employees.
"Although email remains an important communication tool, the increased use of real-time technologies affects the IT environment," said John Reed, executive director of Robert Half Technology. "Employers are looking for the right people to deploy these tools in new ways to increase efficiency. IT professionals should consider the importance of keeping current with real-time technologies in order to stay competitive in the job market."
What are your thoughts? Do you see real-time communication tools surpassing e-mail's popularity at your agency within the next five years?
Brittany Ballenstedt
Brittany Ballenstedt writes Nextgov's Wired Workplace blog, which delves into the issues facing employees who work in the federal information technology sector. Before joining Nextgov, Brittany covered federal pay and benefits issues as a staff correspondent for Government Executive and served as an associate editor for National Journal's Technology Daily. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Mansfield University and originally hails from Pennsylvania. She currently lives near Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where her husband is stationed.
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