Today’s teams are changing. Not only do we all have access to more technology and transformative tools than ever before, but we’re also working in a variety of different ways too. The coronavirus pandemic shifted the status of remote work from “becoming increasingly popular” to “practical necessity”. As lockdown eases and employees return to work, remote work will remain high on the agenda and will play a significant role in the way we work over the coming months and years.
To enable flexible and responsive work, project management tools are becoming more sophisticated, incorporating enhanced communication functions. Email is beginning to wane in popularity, while instant messaging tools grow. Video conferencing, which enjoyed an explosion of popularity during lockdown, will continue to shift how we communicate and collaborate away from centralised office and boardroom locations to remote and mobile capability.
Collaboration software, tools that allow for instant messaging, video, and file-sharing in the same place, are quickly becoming the central hub for many workplaces. These tools aren’t just essential for larger businesses that need to connect worldwide employees – they’re also making a huge difference to the way small businesses maintain their competitive edge.
How collaboration tools are
transforming the workplace
Although companies have always relied on tools like file-sharing services and conferencing phones to make collaboration easier, the environment we’re seeing today is a huge step forward. The modern collaboration system is an all-in-one environment where people can stay connected in a way that’s more immersive than anything we’ve experienced before.
Given the advantages it brings to enabling productivity in the new work environment, SMBs are first in line to take advantage of cloud technology. Collaboration tools allow for teams to stay connected from wherever they might be. Because all the solutions required for excellent collaboration are located in the same singular platform, these systems help make work more efficient for everyone.
Rather than having an overabundance of emails, along with multiple other tools to keep track of, employees can ensure they have access to everything from instant messaging to knowledge base documents all in the same place. For the SMB, this means it’s possible to create a universal hub for better work. Thanks to cloud-based tools, employees are able to stay connected through calls, video and messages while working remote.
The benefits of
collaboration tools for SMBs
Although many modern tools tend to be embraced first by enterprises and then by smaller brands, it’s easy to assume collaborative systems aren’t intended for smaller businesses. However, the truth is that SMBs are the companies that can sometimes benefit most from these solutions. For instance, the advantages include:
- Bigger cost savings: Not only do small businesses get an all-in-one environment with just one bill when they use collaboration tools, but they can eliminate other costs too. For instance, video conferencing reduces the need for global travel, while instant messaging and cloud file sharing means people can interact from all over the world, requiring less physical office space and overheads.
- Future-proofing: Collaboration tools offer businesses a future-proofing strategy to make sure that their software remains consistently second-to-none. Vendors roll out regular updates included in the cost of service, removing any need to rip and replace old hardware every time an update comes out. A managed service helps to keep any business on the cutting edge, with innovation included in the price of a subscription. Only the cloud can deliver that kind of forward-thinking.
- Flexibility and mobility: Collaboration tools give businesses the power to embrace the benefits of new remote workers whenever and however they choose. This means they can easily onboard contractors and freelancers when they need more staff. Additionally, there’s plenty of freedom to find the best talent from around the world.
- Consolidation and efficiency: Bringing multiple tools for efficient teamwork together into the same environment creates a more efficient and productive workplace, by streamlining employee performance. It also gives IT departments and leaders fewer tools they’d need to watch over from a distance.
Using collaboration tools
in the SMB
As an affordable, flexible and efficient way of bringing teams together, collaboration tools have a multitude of benefits to offer the modern SMB. Because vendors are focussed on making these services as simple and accessible as possible, they’re very easy to implement into any workplace environment.
Many collaboration tools come with a low barrier to entry and can integrate with your existing communication services. What’s more, as your team continues to grow, you have the freedom to upgrade and expand your functionalities however you choose.
As cloud capability delivers the security and reliability required by businesses to base their service provision on, adoption of collaboration tools is cheaper than ever. With warnings of recession hanging over the UK economy, businesses face a difficult time of remaining competitive while managing diminishing budgets. The connection, cost savings and continuity offered by collaboration tools can give SMBs the secure footing they need to push their operations into the future.
This article comes courtesy of RingCentral, a leading business
communications platform providing unified communications, contact centre and
customer engagement as a service.
