As of 2024, WhatsApp dominates as Africa’s leading messaging app, with 96% penetration in South Africa and 95% in Nigeria. Despite its broad usage, some companies question its effectiveness in engaging deskless employees. However, its extensive reach and low data cost—around 10 cents per month—make WhatsApp an ideal tool for connecting with employees who lack traditional office access. (Sources: World Population Review, Fortunly, WhatsTheBigData)
The Benefits of Using WhatsApp for deskless employees:
- Employees are much more engaged in the purpose of their work by being included in regular company updates and cultural activities.
- They have a direct channel on a messaging app that they intuitively know how to engage with, to find instant answers to their questions or instant access to e.g. payslips and proof of employment, or to get connected to HR support without having to go queue at HR’s office or pass on a message and never hear back.
- Paper handling costs are eliminated resulting in huge cost savings for the business, and HR admin time is reduced by up to 80%.
- Better quality job applicant screening and improved employee satisfaction result in 70% improved employee retention.
Innovation using WhatsApp
- Administering Training for a Remote Workforce: Training remote employees is often costly, time-consuming, and ineffective. Cimory, Indonesia’s largest dairy company, transformed this challenge by converting its training into a chat-based format using Mintor’s platform. This approach enabled them to upskill their nationwide workforce, allowing employees to learn on the go, in bite-sized chunks, at their convenience. As a result, employees became more productive, and the quality of their work improved. The initiative achieved a 95% course completion rate, with 98% of users rating their WhatsApp chat-based learning experience as excellent.
- Recruiting locally and remotely: Enabling individuals without computer access to apply for sea-going jobs at I&J and Sea Harvest, eliminating costs for internet cafes, paper, and travel. Youth Capital reports a 90% reduction in job application costs. Wilderness allows candidates from rural villages in seven African countries to apply for local jobs via WhatsApp.
- Supporting frontline and factory workers, where they are at: Tshedza Security and John Thompson are just two companies that empower their employees to instantly access payslips, tax certificates and shift rosters, and connect with HR/Payroll about queries, no matter the time or place of day. All through automated Whatsapp Bots.
The result – an informed, engaged and empowered workforce that feels included as valued members of staff, motivated to be loyal and to give their best.
