You’ve probably heard the saying, “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it.”
That pretty statement doesn’t only ring true in the musical band, it’s effective in scaling your business too. You need to work with other people, even more so in today’s booming modern technology.
The advances have made collaboration such a constant and continuous affair; the pulse of the digital world.
So, in order to bring the team members together, sharing ideas, projects and missions; we suggest you get your company acquainted with online collaboration tools and empower remote workers to do even greater things.
Online collaboration tool refers to software programs or applications that allow people to effectively work together. It’s a platform mostly used by businesses to get their team onboard, streamlining the creative process of every project.
These online team collaboration tools open regular communication, with chat and video facilities, allowing members to brainstorm and comment. It overall improves the external and internal workflows of the organization.
There are two types of online collaboration; synchronous communication and asynchronous communication.
By comparison, synchronous communication indulges in immediate response and real-time convos. Inversely, asynchronous communication is a lot slower wherein virtual engagement doesn’t happen in real-time.
While these online collaboration mechanisms are both highly relevant in the more flexible working style, one simply deems more effective than the other.
With the rise of virtual assistants, online collaboration tools are becoming invaluable in the success of a business.
Check out the two main advantages of using OCT.
• Easier Workflow
With hybrid teams and remote teams creating a work arrangement fusion, collaboration tools are fashioned to maintain connectivity and productivity.
Collaboration tools are handy in trimming down long phone calls, email threads and redundant conferences.
Every team member will get to focus on the core tasks, track down progress and get answers to quick questions, ensuring a smooth work transition with reduced intermissions.
• Save Money
Once your company gets familiar with remote work, you’ll understand how instrumental it is in accessing a great pool of talent. Honestly, you can create your own team of Avengers from scratch.
Even more exciting, you can get them with less money because you won’t be needing a big working office or any equipment like furniture as full-time employees do.
You only need collaboration tools for flowing operation; saving both budget and time.
So, you’re asking, what is the most popular collaboration tool? Are there free collaboration tools?
Well, there are tons of collaboration software that you and your team can use over the internet, either paid or free.
In no time, you’re going to be able to build that successful virtual team and increase your company’s productivity.
Of course, we have the tech companies to thank for, opening up possibilities with this list of online collaboration tools.
• Google Workspace
Google Workspace also called G Suite is amongst the frontrunners in the best collaboration app category.
This tool offers the team to join meetings, share links and brainstorm ideas in real time which is made possible with its unique cloud-based architecture.
G Suite covers a wide range of functions with the help of virtual tools like the calendar, drive, slides and sheets. It can also sync across devices, accessible by anyone with a Google account.
• Trello
Trello is probably one of those collaboration tools that are built to be user-friendly; simple and adaptable.
You can organize assignments/projects into boards, using column headings to sort out tasks in each card. It automatically updates, which keeps the team on the same page.
And the icing on the cake is that it’s totally FREE.
• Slack
“Make work life simpler, more pleasant and more productive.”
Slack makes true of its slogan promise because it really excels in making things easily connected. It works using spaces called channels, with a bunch of integration tools to help facilitate work.
You can message and video-call anyone, form a group outside your current team and collaborate instantaneously.
• Asana
Asana is a popular project management tool that concentrates on every team member and virtual business manager. It assigns the task to members, create a timeline, tracks deadline and even add followers.
In a nutshell, it helps businesses thrive because it’s transparent and fail-safe to maneuver, a very conducive aspect in strategic planning.
• Proofhub
Proofhub is another management tool that features comprehensive functions, not too overwhelming that you feel lost managing any project.
It has milestones, time tracking, a calendar and report notifications; perfect for planning, organization and monitoring projects.
You can also go up and down reviewing and approving files with their proofing tool.
• Redbooth
Redbooth was formerly known as Teambox, it’s an online collaboration tool that enables access through various devices.
It’s quite modern, using Gantt charts and video conferencing to collaborate and strategize.
• Zapier
What Zapier does best as an online collaboration tool, is helping businesses mass-produce web applications by simplifying work.
You can automate just about anything without writing codes. It disregards the unnecessary repetitive task that keeps slowing you down. It also features many integrations, making the entire system more efficient.
• Canva
If you’re big on aesthetics, Canva will surely be your favorite. It’s a design wizard, with a robust template and image gallery that will surely help your post stand out.
Canva works very easily by dragging and dropping images and text. So simplified that it even won an award as Editors’ Choice for collaboration apps.
• WeTransfer
Worried about sending large files to team members? Well, worry not, WeTransfer can share those hefty documents up to 2GB, free of charge.
Besides that, this collaboration tool has amazing security features, with two-factor authentication for its users and a password-protect element.
• Mural
Mural is one of those collaborative tools in teaching and learning, helping students and teachers with some distance learning, and providing illustrations that are editable.
This online collaboration tool features sticky notes, charts, diagrams and a hundred other templates.
For businesses, Mural is a globally-trusted app, handy in improving business workflow through its many integrations and apps.
The appeal of online collaboration tools increases as working virtually becomes a regular occurrence.
In this fast-pacing information age, it’s essential for everyone in the organization to learn about online collaboration tools and effectively use them to stay on the same page.
So, what is the best online collaborative tool?
That depends, an organization should look into the very nature of its core foundation first before deciding.
Nonetheless, if there is one secret to success, it lies in the ability to get the teamwork running.
Work with a virtual assistant will only be completely leveraged with the help of online collaboration tools, elevating productivity and encouraging positive engagement.
VAV.Asia is one of the leading virtual assistant services in Asia Pacific (APAC) providing top-notch administrative, clerical, and support to help your business grow remarkably fast.