Why are HR and comms teams struggling to connect today?
The modern workplace is noisier than ever. HR and internal comms leaders are competing with Slack pings, email overload, and endless Zoom calls. Important updates—from benefit changes to cultural initiatives—often get lost in the shuffle. Employees feel disconnected, and that disconnection shows up in engagement surveys and retention metrics.
We’ve seen it firsthand. One Yapp employee shared, “Before we started talking to teams about mobile-first communication, many admitted that their employees skipped reading HR announcements entirely. They simply couldn’t cut through the noise.”
This is where a mobile event app can transform the game for comms leaders. Designed originally for conferences, these tools now double as dynamic platforms for internal communication, making HR updates impossible to miss. And unlike mass emails, they actually invite interaction.
Even external sources agree. According to Gallup, engaged employees are 23% more profitable than their disengaged peers. But engagement requires more than posters in the breakroom—it requires smart, mobile-first communication.
For example, we’ve shared ways to boost engagement at private events that apply equally well to company-wide comms.
What happens when announcements don’t land?
When HR and leadership announcements miss the mark, teams feel left out, rumors spread, and trust erodes. This isn’t just frustrating—it’s expensive. Lost productivity from poor communication costs large companies an estimated $62.4 million per year, according to SHRM.
Let’s get specific about the pain points:
- Missed benefits updates: Employees don’t take advantage of programs simply because they never saw the memo.
- Slow response to changes: Critical updates (like policy changes or office closures) take hours or days to reach everyone.
- Low engagement with culture: Programs like recognition, wellness, or DEI often fizzle without visibility.
- Fragmented tools: Teams juggle multiple platforms—email, intranet, and chat apps—without a clear hub.
One of our product managers put it bluntly: “Internal comms leaders don’t just need another inbox. They need a megaphone—and a way to see if people are actually listening.”
Case studies back this up. Take Cole Haan, for instance. They created internal training and recognition apps with Yapp. The result? Over 1,000 employees engaged, with more than 2,400 in-app interactions. Instead of pushing messages into the void, they sparked a company-wide conversation.
How are mobile apps solving the problem?
Here’s the shift: comms leaders are using platforms like Yapp not just as an event app, but as an always-on communication hub for employees. This simple move checks every box internal comms teams are struggling with.
- Centralized hub: All announcements, schedules, and HR resources live in one mobile-friendly space.
- Real-time updates: Push notifications make sure everyone sees time-sensitive changes instantly.
- Engagement tools: Social feeds, polls, and recognition pages turn passive readers into active participants.
- Scalability: One app works across regions, teams, or even the whole enterprise.
- Cost efficiency: By replacing printing, email blasts, and custom builds, Yapp saves organizations thousands each year.
At Verizon, teams saved 10% of their annual event costs while rolling out training and appreciation apps for hundreds of employees. That kind of ROI is why HR and comms departments are taking mobile-first strategies seriously.
Another Yapp team member told us, “It’s amazing to watch HR teams breathe easier once their updates live in an app. They finally see who’s opening content, engaging with polls, and actually connecting with culture.”
For those exploring internal tools, our guide to building an internal communication app is a great starting point.
And here’s the kicker: these apps aren’t only for global giants. Nonprofits, schools, and startups are adopting Yapp for the exact same reason—better connection, less noise, more engagement.
Ready to make the leap?
Internal comms is no longer about posters in the breakroom or all-staff emails. Employees live on their phones, and the smartest HR leaders are meeting them there. By leveraging Yapp’s mobile event app platform for internal use, organizations are cutting costs, amplifying culture, and boosting engagement.
So the real question is: what’s stopping you?
Ready to make your next event better? Start your trial now!
