Most teams have been working remotely since the start of the pandemic. However, as many employees prepare to head back (or already have) to the physical office, it's time to re-evaluate the tools of remote collaboration. Designed as a last-minute emergency solution, remote working tools have focused hugely on ensuring a reliable and secure connection as well as access to remote-friendly equipment. Laptops, webcam, microphones, headphones, VPNs, those are the most commonly researched solutions since 2020. But, one year later, it's to boost cooperation rather than connection.
An overall virtual office chat
The long-lost art of chatting is back, and it's here to stay. However, for those who have grown up away from chat rooms and forums, it can be tricky to manage the chat functions in most collaborative platforms. MS Teams, one of the most popular remote project management tools during the pandemic, offers no less than 6 ways of using chat. Countless employees waste time misusing or ignoring chat functions, preferring email or video calls when it's not appropriate. Needless to say, a brief tutorial for the less chat-experienced users could increase productivity and cooperative output.
A safe dev environment
Development teams have been forced to adapt quickly. Many have lost access to the internal dev server during the pandemic. As a result, they've looked for simple, effective and cooperative solutions, such as a cloud coding system. The pandemic has contributed to a shift of mindset: You don't need a huge machine with high memory and CPU to run code. Keeping everything in the cloud means developers can carry on working without installing anything on their devices. From a cooperation perspective, the code is visible and accessible to everyone in the team at the same time. From a practical point of view, the business doesn't need to worry about equipment costs anymore.
A smart-thinking marketing workflow
Do you remember the good old days when the marketing and sales teams used to organize debrief meetings? Nowadays, when the business picks up a new lead, the process needs to be smooth and quick. Therefore, a business that hasn't yet created an automated marketing workflow is missing out. The workflow can ensure new leads receive an introductory email and can progress safely through the lead generation stages without manual intervention. Indeed, who can afford to waste time when most conversation processes occur online? If your business can't set up automated cooperative strategies between teams, your audience is unlikely to wait for you.
Self-service data analytics reporting
Business intelligence, sales figures, and marketing data are some of the most commonly read reports in the business. Many small companies continue to set up organizational meetings during which reports are shared with the relevant parties. The process is not only time-demanding, but it is also counterproductive. Automated reporting tools can create and tailor reports with the relevant data for each expertise level. This will enable team management to make informed decisions in real-time based on real data. Additionally, teams can cooperate more effectively as they gain access to the same information.
Cooperation in a remote environment needs to focus on making relevant information accessible, available, and usable to everyone. Tools that encourage fast-paced communication, work, and exchange can bring the digital workplace to the next level.