Collaboration tools are an essential part of any digital workplace. It helps people to work together, share information, and make decisions. It’s an undeniable fact that the more organized and transparent the communication between colleagues is, the more productive an enterprise becomes. Many times, people from different departments need to cooperate in order to complete successfully a project. If all of them are not informed of all the processes that are running, then the project may be a disaster.

To avoid this kind of issue, organizations use collaboration tools. There are many types of collaboration tools, depending on the operational goal and the core operational processes that need to be automated.

Introduction: What is a Collaboration Tool?

Collaboration tools started as simply team chat rooms but they have become essential because of their powerful features such as task management, video conferencing, time tracking, etc.

Besides the different types of collaboration tools, all of them fall under one general definition: A collaboration tool is a software that facilitates the sharing of information between team members or within a company. These tools can be used for a number of purposes such as managing projects, online meetings, document sharing, etc.

Collaboration tools have a variety of applications. For example, in the workplace, they are used to communicating with co-workers while collaborating on a project. In education, they are used to share lesson plans with teachers and students. In healthcare, they are used by doctors to collaborate with other doctors remotely.

Which are the types of collaboration tools?

 1. Instant Messaging

Companies use instant messaging software to improve communication between their staff members who may be located in different departments, places, or even countries. Instant Messaging is faster and easier than emails and phone calls. It’s a time-saving way to ask simple questions, propose ideas or even conduct live polls.

2. Document Management System (DMS) 

With document management systems businesses scale team productivity. Through A DMS you can create, upload, store and share your files with everyone. Knowledge flows freely and safely in the organization, enhancing teambuilding, brainstorming among teams, and teamwork performance.

3. Video Conferencing 

Video conferencing is the collaboration technology that allows businesses to hold meetings with partners,  clients, employees who are located in different places while seeing and talking to them in real-time. Through this collaboration software, you can schedule product demo appointments, interview prospective employees or discuss a new partnership without the need to travel.

4. Task Management

Task management tools offer a checklist of tasks that can be checked off as tasks are completed. The user either creates tasks by himself or is assigned tasks by a supervisor, and others can be notified when a task has been completed. Some of their key features are online whiteboards, task prioritization, and timelines to meet deadlines.

5. Cloud Storage

Data can be stored within the organization but also in the cloud. Cloud storage takes advantage of the power of the server’s information storage system which exists in the cloud. The data can be stored remotely via a telecommunications network.

6. Idea Management

Brainstorming sessions within a team can be an effective method for exchanging information and coming up with the best solution to a problem. Idea management or topics formalize this process, providing a space to capture and store ideas for review and implementation down the line.

7. Wiki and Knowledge Sharing Tools

These collaboration tools allow businesses to create wikis and manage information and internal communication in an organized way. Wikis can be accessed by all the team members so that information can be added by multiple contributors. Also, some tools allow you to assign roles such as contributors, editors, administrators, and viewers.

8. Online Shared Calendars

The shared calendar facilitates the organization’s appointments and meetings without the need to consult all participants. The person organizing the event finds a time interval and checks the availability of the other participants, of the meeting room, and then sends out an invitation. Therefore, you save a lot of time for facilitating teamwork.

9. Note Taking Management

It’s always helpful to jot down notes from meetings or ideas as soon as they appear. Note-taking management apps allow users to store all notes in one formalized app, ensuring they are organized and easily found. Most of them have collaboration capabilities so multiple people access notes for reference later.

10. Enterprise Social Network (ESN)

An enterprise social network (ESN) is an internal, private social network, which companies often use for faster networking among employees. The main advantage of these collaboration tools is that they resemble other widespread social media platforms, so employees are familiar with the use of them because they are experienced with similar interfaces such as Facebook and Twitter.

Conclusion: Bottom Line on Which type of Collaboration Tools to Use for Your Business

Collaboration tools are the backbone of any business that is looking to scale. With the help of collaboration tools, it is possible to stay connected with your customers and employees, share ideas and knowledge, get work done faster and more efficiently. There are many types of collaboration tools available on the market, but not all are suitable for all businesses. It is important to understand what your needs are and find a solution that will be able to meet those needs.

Comidor collaboration software provides a virtual environment where people can use productivity, knowledge management, and collaboration tools to efficiently perform business tasks and processes towards operational goals. The software is user-friendly and allows teams to work together in real-time on major projects. It brings the capabilities of any type of collaboration tool into one single platform. It includes tasks such as data import/export, content management, file sharing, wikis and knowledge management, and project tracking with Gantt charts for collaboration. Request a free demo to explore how to improve business collaboration through automation.