Should you add social media into the mix? What about project management software with collaboration capabilities? With so many possibilities, it can be hard to know where to start, let alone weigh the pros and cons of each. When you think of business applications, Microsoft undoubtedly comes to mind. MS Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, Excel—these applications have ruled the business space since they first launched in the s.
Cloud-based versions of the Office apps mentioned above Word, Powerpoint etc. This is a hefty office management suite that provides your team with a variety of apps and services. The oversight and governance required to maintain this suite, particularly when maintaining desktop apps, best fits larger organizations..
This office will need to invest time and resources into training to help facilitate user adoption of each tool and service. There is going to be some application overlap, especially among the workplace collaboration tools, so be sure to provide your team with some rules of use regarding which apps to use for different types of work so they can use each tool effectively.
This also allows teams to work on files at the same time which helps eliminate version control issues and enables users to share files with people both inside and outside the organization by updating the share settings. Each version includes both the business applications and collaboration tools content management, chat, video conferencing etc. Flexible work environments are one of the key qualities that prospective employees are looking for in the modern world, particularly millennials and generation Z.
As such, forward-thinking companies are seeking to create progressive, accessible workspaces that attract all types of talent, whilst providing their employees with a good work-life balance. Collaboration tools support flexible workplaces, since they allow users to access the tool at any moment in time and from any geographic location, making teamwork and communication straightforward, even when working remotely.
This supports larger companies that may have several offices in different locations and time zones. Moreover, not only does the tool create adaptable, virtual work spaces, but it also helps save employees the money and time that is associated with commuting or travelling for business meetings.
Features include conference calling, task management and calendar sharing, all of which are accessible easily via the one platform, allowing for hassle-free virtual meetings wherever and whenever.
One of the greatest concerns amongst modern business owners is the threat of potential security breaches, particularly for those that hold copious amounts of sensitive data. Investing in cloud collaboration platforms help alleviate these apprehensions, since they are a secure way to carry out day-to-day work. During the initial set-up stages, those in charge can establish rigid controls on the access and viewing of specific documents or information. This allows permissions to be granted to employees based on their individual roles and responsibilities.
The objective is to adopt technologies that will sustain workplace collaboration and spark innovation between teams. The rapid shift to full-time remote work caused work teams to become less interconnected, and this paved the way for the growth of online collaboration tools like social collaboration platforms. As these tools offered solutions to the challenges presented by remotely distributed teams, company operations stabilized.
Now that we are approaching almost two years since the transition, the effect of remote work on employee well-being is being examined. Since employee experience is crucial to the overall performance of the organization, more employers are making the employee experience a priority in the midst of IT investments.
The following statistics show how online collaboration tools have affected, both positively and negatively, the way remote workers perform their roles. The wider adoption of teleworking practices shifted the way we work and brought a number of advantages to both employees and employers.
Online collaboration software empowered workers as they continue to cope with the restrictions imposed by the pandemic. When teams migrated collaborative activities online, organizations soon discovered that with the right tools, employees are able to work together even in virtual mode.
The productivity levels achieved in online collaboration may not be able to rival what we used to achieve as we huddle together in one room, but VR and AR are slowly improving the virtual landscape. The following statistics reveal that employers are past the coping stage. Instead, the path towards hybrid work has opened new opportunities to redefine work experience and personal growth. The more you are willing to listen to other people, the more you will be able to understand their positions and be able to offer plausible insights, ideas and solutions.
Clarity is also very important — ensure that all other team members understand what you are trying to communicate to them by encouraging them to ask questions and start conversations. The difference between communication and collaboration is that collaboration is always two way. In a way, collaboration requires that certain communication skills and techniques be refined in order to create dialogue instead of debates. Offer your input, but be sure to encourage your teammates to give theirs as well.
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