Millennial-focused messaging app moves into the workplace

Group messenger app Blend started out as a college-focused photo sharing app. Having moved into group chat it’s now looking to enter the enterprise space.

Apps for Android, iOS and web platforms were rolled out last year and the company is now releasing a Mac desktop version. This will have the same sophisticated chat features of its mobile and web predecessors, with an attractive and intuitive user interface for private group messaging.

Last year, Blend surveyed 200,000 millennial users and found that one in every eight chat messages contains multimedia (photo, video, link, etc) -- up from one in 30 in 2014. It also found that between 2-3pm is the most popular messaging time, meaning people are messaging in working hours. The Blend app is built to facilitate conversations around engaging media content, but also includes a distraction-free mode for the workplace.

"Building off the success of our millennial-focused consumer app, we're excited to see Blend taking off in the corporate setting," says Akash Nigam, CEO at Blend. "Our new Mac app is a game-changer for building company culture. We’re taking the enterprise functionality of Slack and pairing it with the playfulness of our mobile app, and creating a hybrid desktop app that makes daily communication and sharing content simple and fun. As we continue to expand and enhance the standard office experience in 2016, we expect an influx of corporate users".

Blend is appealing to employees as a tool for office culture and social communication due to its design, ease of use, and emphasis on multimedia content. In addition to its private messaging features, the app also allows verified users, such as brands and celebrities, to create public groups for direct communication with their fans and consumers.

The Mac version is available to download now from the Blend site.

Image Credit: Syda Productions / Shutterstock