More often than not, enterprise social media novices think networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, are the only elements of a successful effort. However, eWeek recently reported implementing an enterprise wiki and intranet software, among other things, can help organizations benefit from the growing popularity of social web 2.0 tools.

eWeeks points to a study sponsored by VoIP-leader Skype and carried out by Incites Research that found enterprise email use will likely decrease in 2011 and beyond. While email vendors may be unhappy to hear this, their role in corporate communications isn’t necessarily declining. Companies are merely looking for new ways to reach their customers. Furthermore, collaboration tools, such as wiki software, expedite internal discussions relating to software development projects and other initiatives requiring sound task management and employee interaction.

Email’s rise as the primary method of enterprise communication in the last decade means it’s unlikely social media will replace it entirely. eWeek notes that email provides a more secure communication tool than social media, as networks can only be viewed by those with authorization. Issues of security exist, but following best practices laid out by IT security experts can help companies avoid data breaches related to email.

In terms of social media websites, security is a major issue. However, implementing private tools, such as wikis and customized applications, protected behind encrypted enterprise networks can offer security levels similar to email.

Email also provided these companies with an accountability tool. Employees send substantial email - both internally and externally - to prove communication based on email timestamps. However, the development of private collaboration tools, will limit the amount of internal email sent for this reason. Furthermore, since email is often used to help tack progress on a new project, implementing wikis or other internal social applications can eliminate the reliance of email for progress tracking.

Also adding to the rise of social tools in the workplace is the growth of enterprise mobility. While all smartphones and tablets are compatible with email, security concerns have forced some companies to look for new methods of communication. As the technology continues to evolve, a number of currently novel concepts will likely become business-critical tools. For example, as companies design private applications for enterprise use, it is expected that these tools - whether wikis, social networks or other customized collaborations solutions - will be integrated for smartphone and tablet use.