Sega Sammy Holdings recently deployed NewCommunicator and we had the opportunity to speak with Takuro Ishimori and Yusuke Tsutsumi to delve into the reasons behind their decision to adopt our product. During our conversation, we also explored the distinctions between NewCommunicator and their previous solution, the open source application Company Communicator.

Seeking an alternate solution

ーSo, why the switch from Company Communicator to NewCommunicator?

When we heard that Company Communicator might not receive maintenance support after the update to new Microsoft Teams in April, we started exploring other options for message broadcasting in Microsoft Teams. While Company Communicator was free to use, the constant need for maintenance with every update on Microsoft Teams was quite a hassle. We reasoned that opting for a service that handles maintenance, even if it comes with a cost, would provide greater stability in the long run.   

ーAnd how did you find out about NewCommunicator?

We searched “company messaging” in Teams Apps and it came on top. We also consulted our tech vendor who confirmed that NewCommunicator would be the best solution.

 ーYou inquired about NewCommunicator right after it was released, but are you always on the lookout for new apps?

Definitely. We are always exploring new tech. Introducing services we need is relatively easy, and our company moves pretty quickly as well to adopt it.

NewCommunicator ― Elevating us to the next stage

ーSo how do you like NewCommunicator so far?

It's been great. NewCommunicator can do everything we could do with Company Communicator, but has improved features that were issues in Company Communicator. One feature I especially appreciate in NewCommunicator, is that the preview pane shows you exactly what your message will look like. When we used Company Communicator, line breaks and spaces wouldn’t reflect in the message as we drafted. This saves us so much time.

ーAny standout features you enjoy?

Being able to insert multiple link buttons and images in the message is definitely a game-changer. We’re excited to see how this impacts engagement. The flexibility in setting destination is another feature that stands out. Not only are we able to send organization-wide messages and group targeted messages, we’re also able to use CSV to upload destinations which means we don’t have to bother our O365 admin to create groups. However, we believe that the most promising feature is the ability to track individuals who clicked on links. This feature can definitely strengthen our internal marketing efforts.

(message creation screen)

(example of user activity report)

ーSo we guess Company Communicator has some limitations

Definitely. We could only insert one link and one image in the message, so it was limiting in terms of how we can provide information. With NewCommunicator, we can now send out more comprehensive and visually appealing messages, thus, we anticipate delivering more informative and effective communication.

ーHow has the support been from the NewCommunicator team?

We’re so happy with their support. They’re quick to respond and assist with whatever we need. Having this kind of support is such a relief. The manuals are straightforward and easy to follow as well. We did the initial setup ourselves without any issues.  

ーWhat kind of content do you typically broadcast?

All kinds. Since we have businesses in gaming and sports, we send updates on gaming and sports events. We also send information on health check-ups and messages from senior management. Some employees don’t really check our intranet site, that’s why we tend to rely heavily on Teams to disseminate internal information. This is exactly why there was no hesitation in adopting NewCommunicator.

ーBy the time this interview is out, we will have released a feature to embed videos in messages

That sounds amazing! We were talking internally about how we wanted to be able to play a video in Microsoft Teams. We will be using this feature extensively.

Beyond message broadcasting

ーAny other possibilities you envision with NewCommunicator?

Yes. Since we can measure responses with link click rates and open rate tracking, incorporating surveys and analyzing them is something we would like to explore.

ーSo not just broadcasting messages?

Exactly. Integrating it with employee pulse surveys and internal marketing is a possibility. We look forward to further discussions on this with the NewCommunicator team.

ーAbsolutely! Thank you for sharing your insights and experiences with us!

Disclaimer: The organization, department, position, and content featured in this article are accurate as of the time of publication, based on the interview conducted.