Best Platforms for Asynchronous Communication

A modern workforce relies on the ability to communicate with just one click, but often, the message sender doesn’t require an immediate response. The official term for this mode is “asynchronous communication,” which simply means that the receiver and sender are not exchanging messages at the same time. For teams operating remotely, as a distributed team, or with a hybrid model, asynchronous communication is the primary mode of correspondence. Absent expectations for an immediate response, these dispatches allow teams to focus and complete work without interruption. Members can reply at their own convenience instead, which often results in increased productivity. 

There are many platforms that facilitate this type of communication to help teams work smarter. This piece will explore the best platforms for asynchronous communication and how your team can benefit from this method.

What is Asynchronous Communication? 

Asynchronous communication is any type of communication that does not require an immediate response. Communication occurs out-of-sync, whereas synchronous communication occurs in real-time. A primary example of asynchronous communication is email. The average response time of an email is anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. This allows employees to focus on other tasks without formulating an immediate response. Other examples include recorded video messages or document mentions such as Google Docs. Synchronous communication requires an instant response, for example, phone calls, video messaging, and instant messaging. 

Benefits of Asynchronous Communication 

The ability to work outside an office setting reduces common distractions that hinder focused work. In fact, workplace distractions account for 37 minutes of productive work lost each day. Noisy office conversations, informal meetings, and water-cooler talk all contribute to these interruptions. In comparison, working from home offers a quieter environment in which team members can focus. 

Asynchronous communication promotes further opportunities to work uninterrupted, making it a top communication choice for remote workers. For example, it’s much easier for team members to address an email inbox at once instead of continuously throughout the day. The same can be said if a Google Doc requires edits. A team member can simply @mention another colleague and address the edits at a later time. This work ethic promotes a stress-free environment where team members can focus on critical tasks without distraction. 

Asynchronous communication provides additional benefits, including: 

• improve customer service with additional time to formulate quality responses
• increase productivity using the freedom to block out time for focused work
• create a better work ethic by maintaining a singular focus for teams, rather than switching between tasks and increasing the risk of mistakes
• communicate effectively with team members operating in different time zones 
• reduce unhealthy pressure in the workplace by erasing the need to respond immediately
• create a record of communication for future reference to improve operations

While most discussions occur in real-time, employees have other responsibilities to address in a typical workday. By implementing a platform made for asynchronous communication, teams can build a productive and efficient workflow. 

Best Platforms for Asynchronous Communication

Creating a solid workflow structure supports company productivity, which is critical to maintaining profits. An asynchronous communication platform is one of the best options for improving workflows and increasing productivity. Here are some of the best platforms for asynchronous communication. 

1. Google

Google houses many useful asynchronous communication tools, including Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and many more. The platform’s primary benefit is the ability to connect each tool with Google Workspace. Team members can manage a Gmail account while also connecting with Google Drive for document and file sharing. Google also offers Google Groups, allowing teams to build groups with specific members for better collaboration.

Benefits:

• Versatile
• Ease of use
• Free options

2. Hiver

Hiver is a collaboration platform that offers a Gmail-based helpdesk for customer-facing teams. Teams can manage shared inboxes from Gmail to accelerate internal collaboration while also enhancing the customer experience. Asynchronous communication is easy with Hiver, as many of its tools are offered within Gmail.

Benefits: 

• Gmail Integration
• Versatile tools 
• Plans as low as $15

3. Gmelius

Gmelius is a communication and collaboration tool that allows teams to manage company inboxes like support@ and sales@ through Gmail. It offers a variety of innovative asynchronous communication tools perfect for teams, such as email notes, email delegation, and Gmelius’ meeting scheduler. What makes this platform unique is its ability to integrate with other tools that also offer asynchronous communication, such as Google Workspace, Slack, and Trello. While Slack is often used synchronously, it offers users the ability to set statuses notifying team members if someone is away from the computer, to allow time between responses. 

In addition, Trello, a Kanban-style list-making platform, allows teams to communicate within tasks for better organization. The combination of Gmelius’s stand-alone features plus powerful integrations makes this platform a must-have for teams. 

Benefits:

• Integration with other asynchronous tools
• Ease of use
• Plans start as low as $12/month

4. Dropler

Dropler allows teams to capture screenshots and screen recordings and save them to the cloud, accessible via a link that is shareable with anyone. The ability to capture and edit screenshots allows teams to focus on critical responsibilities instead of manually responding to other colleagues with details. Dropler is perfect for teams in customer service, project management, developers, designers, sales, and IT.

Benefits:

• Integration with other asynchronous tools
• Compatible with Mac, Windows, Chrome Extension, and Chromebook.
• Plans start as low as $6/month

5. Front

Front is a customer communication hub that connects commonly used communication channels like email, SMS, social media, and more in one place. Teams can collaborate in real-time or automate manual tasks to expedite workflow. Front helps teams define ownership with team inboxes, shared drafts, and more, so asynchronous communication is a part of every workday. 

Benefits: 

• Ease of use
• Many features
• Plans start at $19/month

Asynchronous communication is still defining the workplace. The ability to focus on critical tasks without interruption helps teams establish a solid workflow that works. By exploring some of the best platforms for asynchronous communication, your team can benefit from the many advantages this communication method has to offer.

After researching the best platforms for asynchronous communication, consider Gmelius as your team’s primary tool. Check out our features and integrations and learn how Gmelius is built to improve team communication and collaboration. Ready to get started? Sign up today!