4 Technologies That Enhance Workplace Collaboration

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There is no denying that workplace collaboration is key to business success. Collaboration enhances how your team works as a unit to solve problems, leading to better innovation, improved communication, more efficient processes, and increased success. Therefore, it is no surprise that a Gensler workplace survey discovered that 52% of American workers say workplace collaboration is very important. Fortunately, many tools help modern workplaces collaborate more effectively than ever before. Below are four technologies that enhance workplace collaboration.

1. High-speed internet

Every workplace needs a fast and reliable internet network to guarantee effective collaboration. Indeed, a lot of the modern office’s workflow depends on connectivity. Many companies have team members in different parts of the world. As such, a fast business internet connection is essential for these workers to connect and work together through chat, audio, and video calls. Video conferencing with patrons thousands of miles away is also only possible when you enjoy a high-speed internet connection. Sadly, 60% of respondents in a recent MonsterCloud survey of 2,000 employees cited slow internet connection speeds as their biggest IT pet peeve. Luckily, you can rely on Cloudflare testing to discover how fast your network is and fine-tune it if necessary.

2. Coordination technology

Coordination tools are arguably the most comprehensive type of collaborative technology out there. Indeed, they integrate taskwork and teamwork functions, allowing groups and individuals to connect interpersonally and coordinate office tasks and activities. As such, coordination tools simplify end-to-end workflow management, keep things moving, and make your business more efficient. Employee time trackers, e-calendars, and enterprise resource planning software are good examples of coordination technology. On-premise, web, or cloud-hosted project management systems and internal employee portals are also great examples of coordination technology.

3. Communication technology

As its name suggests, communication technology allows for interactions between individuals and groups via the internet. These communication software tools enhance interactions irrespective of where employees are located, whether in different areas of the workplace or different parts of the world. These tools are typically unstructured because they are not designed to be preemptive. As such, they require no calendar sharing or prior scheduling to function effectively. Instant messaging apps, emails, and digital voicemail applications are classic examples of modern workplace communication technology. Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls and team, department, or organization-wide chat forums are great examples of communication technology.

4. Conferencing technology

Two core features typically define conferencing tools. Firstly, they facilitate the communication of two or more employees through cloud-based or internet-based platforms in real-time. Secondly, they allow the interacting group to view a unified screen. This second feature is perhaps what distinguishes conferencing tools from other types of collaboration technology. Conferencing software allows for all workers to simultaneously access, make changes, and work on the single screen or for one presenter to oversee screen movements and functions, like during a presentation. Shared digital whiteboards that allow users to generate, review, and edit information simultaneously are excellent examples of conferencing technology. You can also invest in video conferencing tools that allow screen sharing and document-sharing solutions for your conferencing needs.