Meet our new LiveTiles Reach: An employee comms app, for new ways of work 

In today’s world of work, effective internal communications have never been more crucial. Companies must engage with employees in a meaningful way, delivering timely and relevant messages that are easily accessible, regardless of location or device.  

That is why we are thrilled to announce a major update to our awarded employee communications app, LiveTiles Reach. While first access to these new features will be available starting in 2024, today we are giving you a sneak peek into how this update is set to revolutionize how you communicate within your organization.  

With features like our new AI Virtual Assistant, we are making it simpler and smarter to create and engage with content. Read on to discover how LiveTiles Reach is solving the challenges of internal communications, making it more efficient, personalized, and insightful than ever before. 

The new ways of work

According to the latest Gartner research on Employee Engagement and Performance Communications, helping employees understand how their work connects to the goals of others and the company can improve performance by up to 10%. 

In the past, traditional internal communications methods like employee magazines or in-house intranet content were often seen as resource-intensive without delivering much value. However, new research shows that investing in a modern internal communications strategy that utilizes mobile app technology can be a game-changer. It not only reaches employees more effectively but also bridges the gap between strategy and operations, helping companies flourish. 

Employee apps, like LiveTiles Reach, are gaining popularity to reach workers on their own smartphones or tablets. They use push notifications and custom-targeted alerts, making them especially useful for connecting with employees who do not have regular access to a computer or corporate email. This includes remote and non-desk workers, freelancers, and temps. As this work style becomes more common, employee apps provide easy access to important company information and tools, helping to keep employees engaged and aligned with the company’s goals. 

Why LiveTiles Reach? 

IDC research shows that employees spend about 20% of their time just looking for the info they need to do their jobs well. This is a big deal for all workers, but especially for those who do not sit at a desk all day. Using an employee app can cut down this wasted time by around 15%, which can even boost how much each employee contributes to the company’s ROI.  

This is precisely why LiveTiles Reach exists. It is a mobile-first employee communication app designed to be the cornerstone of corporate and social communication. Reach serves as a one-stop hub for internal comms, tailored for companies of all sizes. Whether you are a frontline worker or an office employee, Reach has gotten you covered. 

Not only does it integrate seamlessly with the M365 ecosystem, but it also offers the flexibility of authenticating from various sources like Google or Okta. And if you are not using a Microsoft environment, no worries—Reach is not reliant on MS licensing. Plus, you can extend and customize its functionality via the Reach Plugin Framework. 

Reach is part of the broader LiveTiles ecosystem, envisioned as the “preferred front door” to the LiveTiles’ EX Platform. It ensures a consistent user experience across different functionalities, from analytics to publishing. In short, LiveTiles Reach is the perfect solution to drive employee engagement and make workdays more efficient for everyone. 

Today, Reach is being used by thousands of employees worldwide in leading industries such as education, retail, and financial institutions. 

What is new in LiveTiles Reach?

Adapting internal communication to fit the evolving business environment and the needs of today’s workforce is quite a challenge. That is why our teams have spent over three years developing our new LiveTiles Reach with a clear goal in mind: to empower teams to easily create, execute and measure captivating content that rises above the noise and keeps employees up-to-date and engaged. 

Here is everything new: 

A brand new user interface

Navigating through a complex platform can be overwhelming, which is why we have invested years into refining LiveTiles Reach. Our new user interface is more than just an aesthetic upgrade; it is a comprehensive redesign for both web and mobile apps, with a strong focus on a human and user-centered experience.  

We’ve used LiveTiles design system in our product and are working on accessibility improvements. – Laura Folleto, Senior UX Designer at LiveTIies

Key new features 

• Simplified Navigation: No more jumping between Hub, Reach, and other modules. Everything is now integrated into a single, cohesive admin experience.
• Modern Configuration: Say goodbye to outdated JSON configurations. Our new interface is built on modern SPFX configurations, making it easier for administrators. 
• User-Centric Design: We have examined the UX implications across the full LiveTiles product ecosystem to ensure that the new interface is as user-friendly as possible. 
• WCAG Compliance: Accessibility is a priority for us. Our new interface is fully compliant with WCAG standards. 

🎉  New Grid Homepage

🎉 New Flow View Homepage

🎉  New Article Layout

Feeds with advanced targeting

Finding what you need in your employee app should be straightforward, not a scavenger hunt. Reach Feeds provides a curated collection of content, from news articles to team updates tailored to your interests or specific audience groups within your organization. 

Key new features 

• Simplified Discoverability: No more endless scrolling or clicking through multiple pages. Find what you are looking for in one unified feed. 
• Personalization: Whether it is organization-governed or tailored to individual preferences, your feed adjusts to show what matters most to you. 
• Audience Targeting: Content is not one-size-fits-all. That is why our feeds are designed to target specific user interests or groups, ensuring relevance. 
• Search-Enabled: Cannot find what you are looking for? Use the search function to quickly locate the content you need. 

A new News Feed: Never Miss an Update 

In a fast-paced work environment, staying updated is crucial but not always easy. That’s why the new LiveTiles Reach brings you a revamped news feed designed to ensure you never miss an important update. 

Key new features 

• Content structure: Imagine a layout similar to your favorite news website, where content is organized in a structured manner for easy consumption.  
• Importance-Based Hierarchies: Not all news is created equal. Our feed allows for a hierarchical approach, organizing content based on its importance to you or the organization. 
• Nudge Mechanism: Ever worry about missing something important? Our nudge feature showcases items you might have missed, ensuring you are always in the know. 

A New Dimension to M365 Integration

M365 is at the heart of what we do. We integrate and build on it to help our customers create the best workplace experience. Now, LiveTiles Reach elevates your Microsoft 365 experience by streamlining integrations to make them both efficient and personalized. 

Key new features 

• Feeds Web Parts: Tailor your feeds to show content that is either governed by the organization or personalized to your own preferences. 
• Microsoft Teams App: Integrate LiveTiles Reach directly into your Microsoft Teams for a unified communication experience. 
• UX/UI Improvements in Reach Web Parts: Enjoy a more intuitive and user-friendly interface with our updated web parts. 
• Viva Connection Cards: Easily connect with Microsoft Viva to further enrich your employee experience. Read more about our Viva Integration here. 
• Unified Search (Elastic and Microsoft Search): Find what you are looking for across both Elastic Search and Microsoft Search with a single, unified search bar. 

Meet your new AI virtual assistant for content creation

Creating engaging and accurate content can be challenging, but it does not have to be. LiveTiles Reach is adding generative AI to help internal communicators, editors, and employees collaborate more effectively in content creation. 

Key new features 

• AI Content Creation Assistant: Our AI assistant helps you generate content quickly. After creating your text, you can use the AI again to optimize it, complete sentences, or even rewrite the entire thing, making sure your message is spot-on. The next short-term step will include content corrections for tone, sentiment, and more. 
• Predictive Analytics: Soon, communicators will be able to see how their content is likely to perform even before publishing, thanks to our AI’s predictive analytics. 

🎉  Simplified Content Creation Experience  

With these new features, content creation becomes not just easier but also more effective, helping you engage your audience like never before

Okta Authentication and OpenID Integration

Identity verification is crucial in today’s digital workplace. That is why we are expanding your options with the integration of Okta and OpenID in LiveTiles Reach. These new features offer more secure and flexible ways for you to verify your identity, making it easier than ever to access the platform safely. 

Summary: What’s Coming to LiveTiles Reach and When

As we mentioned earlier, this is a major milestone for LiveTiles. After three years of research, customer meetings, and feedback loops, our vision is finally becoming a reality. This significant update to LiveTiles Reach, our award-winning employee communications app, is packed with new features designed to make internal communications more efficient, personalized, and insightful.  

From an AI-powered assistant for smart content creation to a revamped user interface, we are taking employee engagement to the next level. While we are giving you a preview today, early access to these new features will be available starting in 2024. 

Key Highlights 

• AI-Powered Assistant: Make content creation a breeze with our new AI assistant. 
• Simplified Navigation and Design: Experience our new user-friendly interface in early 2024. 
• Enhanced Engagement: Interact with content in more engaging ways. 
• WCAG Compliance: Accessibility is a priority, and our new design meets all standards. 
• Okta Authentication and OpenID Integration: We are bringing more options for identity verification to Reach. 

Don’t Miss Out! 

Ready to revolutionize your internal communications? Book an introduction demo with an employee engagement expert to learn more and get prepared for the full release in 2024.