Five Advantages of Online Collaboration Tools

Five Advantages of Online Collaboration Tools

Five Ways Online Collaboration Tools Can Transform Your Business

Digital is the future and a 2017 survey proves this by showing that more and more people are now working remotely. With this new wave of digital talents, one would also expect the rise in demand for online collaboration tools and project management systems.

Even Flexjobs founder Sara Sutton pointed out that people, whether they are in a traditional office setting or 100% remote, heavily rely on virtual collaboration.

So what does this mean when it comes to the way we work? Why use collaboration tools for business in the first place?

If you’re a part of a remote team, or you manage one, here are five reasons why having reliable online collaboration tools can help boost your business’ productivity:

1. Boosted morale among employees

A report written by Deloitte shows that out of the 3,600 European companies they surveyed, up to 20% are more satisfied with their workplace when they have access to online collaboration tools.

In fact, a third of the employees asked their supervisors and managers to improve such tools, which shows that there’s a demand and need for a digital collaboration system.  This is because these programs highlight the importance of openness and transparency between boss and staff.

This leads to higher employee engagement and company innovation, and eventually contributes to creating a happier workforce.

2. Improved overall task cohesion within the team

Using online collaboration tools and project management software can help cut back on time one needs to dedicate to a project. To further elaborate, a study conducted by Gensler Research Institute proved that a shared to-do list helps teams reduce unnecessary email correspondence.

While miscommunication may be a fear, Gensler’s research also showed that digital collaboration tools only further improved the collective understanding of a current task, without additional meetings and sessions.

3. Boosted company workflows and team efficiency

A study conducted by Capterra shows that 65% of companies who use project management and collaboration software are able to complete projects on time. 61% reported better workload visibility, while 58% believe that these software had a positive impact on their team collaboration.

Communicating expectations and KPIs over a computer can be challenging for some teams. With features such as task delegation, file attachment, and real-time communication all in one online hub, these project management apps and other digital collaboration tools help shorten timelines and decrease company expenses.

4. Goals are visually communicated

Did you know that most people are visual learners? Approximately 65% of the human population find it easier to assess information when consumed visually. This extends to how your team members will understand your vision and having a deadline on a calendar (along with multiple target dates) is not enough to improve efficiency and sense of urgency.

Most online collaboration tools go beyond your usual calendar. Now, tasks can be displayed visually using Kanban boards and presented via screen sharing. This makes it easier to clarify your overall vision of what you’re trying to achieve and avoid confusion within the team.

5. Real-time collaboration

Blank Label co-founder Danny Wong highlights the importance of real-time collaboration if a business plans to accelerate growth. This ensures that everyone is working towards the same goal, rather than having their attention split to various menial or unrelated tasks. As a result, every single member will be held accountable for the productivity of the whole team.

Online collaboration tools like Google Docs allow you to collaborate on a particular task and easily keep track of changes in the same document. This can prove to be useful, especially when you’re pressed for time.

All these prove that online collaboration tools are created to serve as your digital office space. It’s designed to cater to the fast-paced needs of the market and the new opportunities and trends in the online world.

Bea Sanchez is a writer at Aepiphanni, a Business Consultancy that provides Management Consulting, Implementation and Managed Services to business leaders and entrepreneurs seeking to improve or expand operations. She writes about business & entrepreneurship, branding, and digital marketing—content that educates small and medium-sized enterprises and helps them create informed decisions. Beyond writing articles, she’s also fond of copywriting and social media content creation. 

We would love to hear from you.  Please share your thoughts and comments below. If you are seeking advice on how to grow your business, streamline systems and processes, implement software or overcoming challenges to growth, please contact us, directly or submit a request for a complimentary Coffee & a Consult to learn how we can help you CREATE | DESIGN | BUILD an Extraordinary company.

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