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Email is something that most people have or check on a daily basis. While we can be overwhelmed by shear volume (I used to get over 400 emails a day at work), why do we spend so much time going through it? Sure there are spam filters and junk mail filters, but you have to consistently check those to see that they are working properly and not dropping you wanted email in the ‘trash’.

Now some companies are trying to get rid of internal email altogether. While I find it interesting to think of no more internal emails, is it a wise course? Can Facebook type sites and Instant Messaging really replace email? My first thought was ‘Possibly’, but then I came to a resounding ‘No’. Wait… what? Why ‘No’? Well email is much like a letter that you send via snail mail (Post), it goes on its way after you send it, and then waits until the recipient opens it. Sure the recipient could just throw it in the trash without reading it, but they can also keep it for future reference. Instant Messaging is great for real-time communication, but what if you need to ask a question when they are not available to answer and what if the log is lost. Facebook type pages for each person can take care of the post a question, wait for an answer scenario, but now you have just added time to the persons day instead of freeing up time. Why? Well now, not only do they have to check their email for external communications, but they have to now go to another application (web or other wise) and look for those internal communications. Which leads to added time (or wasted time).

You could argue either way, but for now I don’t see a clear solution to getting email onto the retirement train…