
Between April and July 2018, Poppulo conducted a unique piece of research into how employee communications are conducted by IC teams and resonate with employees across a diverse range of industries in the US and Europe.
With internal communications playing a key role in the employee experience, we set out, in conjunction with the world's leading ethnographic research company, Human Factors International, to investigate what communications mean from an employee perspective.The industries included: pharmaceuticals, infrastructure engineering, mail and transport services, healthcare and manufacturing.
Research methods included a combination of work environment observation and in-depth interviews with employees, line managers, and Internal Communicators - to obtain a full picture of communications flow through each organization.
During the research, four distinct generalized personas emerged, with commonly shared characteristics irrespective of industry or sector. The results also show a gulf between the priorities and activities of IC teams, on the one hand, and the needs and wants of employees on the other.

Internal communication is under real pressure. IC teams are expected to support leaders, shape culture, and deliver relevant, personalized communication to an increasingly diverse audience—all while operating at greater speed and scale than ever before. AI arrives at the right moment. It doesn’t replace communicators; it elevates them. Applied well, AI sharpens the fundamentals of effective communication: diagnosing issues, shaping the narrative, guiding leaders, and delivering messages that connect people to purpose and progress. At its best, AI accelerates drafting, adapts content for different formats, improves accessibility, and surfaces insights about what’s landing. Without governance, though, it can create noise or risk. The opportunity for IC teams is to bring AI in thoughtfully, with governance and human judgment at the center. This guide shows how to do exactly that. Inside, you’ll find practical guidance on when to use AI, where humans remain essential, how to establish guardrails, how to prompt effectively, and how to scale AI responsibly across channels and teams.

Clear answers on security, data protection, integrations, deployment, AI governance, and enterprise scalability.

When communication is clear, consistent, and grounded in purpose, HR becomes one of the most powerful drivers of culture and performance. But that only happens when people understand what’s being asked of them—and feel connected to why it matters. This guide is for HR professionals who want to align their communication strategy with the things that matter most: engagement, retention, wellbeing, and trust. It brings together practical thinking, real-world insight, and clear guidance on how to measure what’s working—and where to adjust. From AI and analytics to channel strategy and message design, we explore how to build a communication approach that supports your people and delivers real impact. Inside the Guide How leadership, HR, and internal comms can align to shape culture The impact of AI on HR communication and KPI strategy Why multichannel messaging matters—and how to do it well The KPIs that help HR teams track progress, improve clarity, and build trust A practical framework for building a people-first comms strategy How analytics can help you learn what’s landing and where to improve Smart communication means making every message count. This guide shows you how to do it.