In modern work culture, one increasingly accepted formula for bolstering productivity is collaboration. It comes with several benefits and becomes essential in the contemporary dynamics of the gig economy, where external collaborations are becoming common. To make collaborations possible, plenty of collaboration tools come handy. They consist of both digital and non-digital tools and enhance both communication and productivity.
Benefits of Collaboration Tools
A collaborative environment entails myriad benefits. It lowers costs, improves communication, shortens timelines, increases transparency, breaks down silos, encourages learning, results in better problem-solving skills and crisis management, enhances overall productivity and even makes remote work possible. Absence of collaborations, on the other hand, can prove unproductive due to misunderstandings, delays and inefficiency. Therefore, to encourage collaboration among teams, an organization needs to equip its employees with the right collaboration tools.
In this era of the gig economy, sometimes projects require the creation of teams consisting of freelancers or people not working in the same organization or even the same country. This enables remote working and a lot of cost-cutting. Digital collaboration tools become vital for such projects as well.
Using Collaboration Tools to Enhance Productivity
Collaboration tools that can be used to enhance productivity are either digital or non-digital or a mix of both. The best tools focus on keeping things organized, tracking of work progress and streamlining communication. Let’s begin with some of the digital or online tools that can help with these:
1. Workflow Management tools
Various platforms available in the market can help enhance workflow within an organization, even across geographical barriers into different office branches. One such practised and reliable platform is HyLyt. This business communications platform focuses on connecting people, applications and data. It helps make things organised and enables seamless sharing of information across different channels within the organization. Assigning tasks, noting work progress, knowledge transfer from old employee to a new employee and hassle-free communication on this platform make collaboration easier and more productive. It has multi factor security authentication to prevent data leaks and breaches as well; making it a highly reliable and recommended platform in the corporate culture.
2. Video Conferencing Tools
Video conferencing tools are made for collaboration. They allow collaboration across geographical barriers. Users can virtually interact face to face, even make presentations and share files through most of the video conferencing platforms. They are beneficial for collaborations occurring across different office branches of a large organization or team members working remotely. Sharing of ideas, detailed discussions and quick problem-solving take place using these platforms. HyLyt being a one stop solution provides the users the option of video conferencing as well.
3. Cloud-Based Storage
Most offices are shifting to cloud-based file storage. It is a low-cost and efficient method to bolster productivity. Instead of having to run to the office for an important file, employees can access files anytime, anywhere. This also enables working remotely on a project. Besides, it allows for effective collaboration and improves productivity. One of the services provided by HyLyt is secure cloud based storage.
Offline Collaboration Tools:
Important physical changes can be made offline to encourage a collaborative environment and streamlining of communication within the organization. Some of the popular methods or mechanisms include hotdesking, huddle rooms and team building activities.
1. Hotdesking
Hotdesking refers to an open office environment where there’s no strict assignment of office space to employees, rather the space is open for employees to work in any area of their choice. Employees can choose to change seats every day and get to sit with different colleagues and know them better. This method can make the office environment more relaxed and allow effective collaboration. Teams can pick an area of their choice within the office space and work together on a project.
2. Huddle Rooms
Huddle rooms are small rooms in the office where team members or colleagues can meet to brief and discuss ideas and solve problems. These rooms typically consist of a space for 4 to 5 people. They might contain chairs, a table, an interactive board or video conferencing appliances. They are effective when it comes to collaborations within an organization.
3. Team Building Activities
Activities encouraging collaboration or allowing display of teamwork can also be undertaken once in a while. These can be fun team games within the office or maybe a day out where colleagues or team members get to know each other better. These activities can help the team members to know about each other’s strengths and work effectively in the future. Better relationships at individual levels would improve communication, teamwork and productivity in the longer run.
Conclusion
Collaboration is an essential and efficient method of boosting productivity in an organization. Organizations need to choose a mix of online and offline collaboration tools to enable effective collaboration and enhanced communication to bolster productivity. Most of these tools are cost-effective and give a higher return on investment, making them indispensable in the modern work culture.