The term ‘collaboration platform’ or ‘collaborative platform’ is becoming more and more known among modern businesses.

These tools are designed to boost teams productivity as it allows to share information, files, and documents and helps them communicate faster in an enterprise environment.

In 2021, the market for collaboration platforms is expected to grow up to US$5.1 billion. To compare, in 2019, the size of the market was US$3.5 billion. There are several reasons for such rapid growth.

The majority of businesses realize the usefulness of remote work, coworking spaces, other types of physically decentralized offices, and other more flexible approaches to their workforces. It isn’t necessary to meet the people you work with to discuss projects anymore. You can do it through collaboration and instant communication software.

If your company considers investing in a collaboration platform, there are things to consider first.

To encompass as many connected topics as possible, we’ve compiled common questions and brief answers in a Q&A format.

What Is a Collaboration Platform?

We all know the ‘collaboration’ definition, so the meaning of such a platform is relatively easy to understand. These tools aimed at easier communication and collaboration. All kinds of shared file programs, task and project management features are a part of the tools.

Frank Hamilton from Adsy highlights that:

“From instant messaging to project planning, collaboration software is involved in a plethora of tasks. It can help incorporate knowledge management into your business, which is an important factor in proper information-sharing and problem-solving.”

Collaboration platforms are digital workspaces where you can communicate like in an office while being in different countries.

With a collaboration platform employees can communicate with each other in order to achieve the best results in their processes and find solutions to difficulties that will occur due to remote work. Some examples of providing services on collaboration platforms are emails, personal and group calendars, video meetings, collaborative documents, and message notes.

What Are the Types of Collaboration Platforms?

There are many types of collaboration platforms in the market. Some of them are all-in-one solutions, and some others are as specialized for the following:

• Instant Messaging
• Document Management System (DMS)
• Video Conferencing
• Task Management
• Cloud Storage
• Idea and Knowledge Management

Most of the above collaboration solutions are easily customizable, which makes it easier for you to create a version of the software that will suit your business.

Collaboration Platform Features

Here are some features that are incorporated in a collaboration platform:

• Project planning, management, task, and process scheduling capabilities
• File sharing, including presentations, charts, statistics, company news, spreadsheets, sale proposals, business documents etc.
• Topics, discussion boards, and wikis
• Push notifications & reminders for tasks, emails-messages
• Chat & Video calls with screen-sharing

Achieving advanced collaboration in different ways is is easy with such software because different teams have access to the same files and information. Each takes the data necessary for their own tasks. This eliminates the need to create assignments for each team, which saves time and resources.

Why Should You Consider Investing in a Collaboration Platform?

Such a platform will save:

• Time.
  Your employees won’t need to spend time communicating, doing paperwork, etc. Everything is within the platform, available to regular staff and managers.
• Effort.
  Communication can be done through voice, text, or even video, which makes it easier to customize the workspace to every individual.
• Resources.
  Your company will not need to invest in physical resources like office equipment etc. This will reduce operational costs.

It will also increase the productivity of all your teams since everyone can work from their perfect spot. No commute, no inconveniences connected to work at the office. Not to mention the focus on sustainability due to lower commute. Your employees can go to a coworking space nearby and join the conversation on the go.

What Are the Advantages of a Collaboration Platform?

If all that isn’t enough, here’s a list of benefits a collaborative platform will provide for your business:

• Focus on creating value.
  Instead of troubleshooting Excel or other conventional project management tools, employees can work conveniently and focus on what really matters – value. You will notice a spike in creativity and productivity since there will be fewer annoying disruptions.
• Knowledge management boost.
  With time, the platform will become a large digital library for all staff members. Information about the company, finished projects, innovations, recommendations, etc. will be stored in one place and optionally backed up by a cloud to make sure nothing is lost. New employees will feel like a part of the team much faster, which will decrease turnover.
• Better communication.
  Communication is key to a healthy, well-functioning team. Whether it’s about a project or teambuilding, there have to be convenient channels for chatting. Managers can post daily tasks in time, employees can comment on them and ask questions, getting quick replies, thus increasing performance.
• Innovation motivation.
  If one of your business goals is to nurture innovation, greater progress will be achieved with a collaborative platform. There, you can post about the type of ideas welcomed. Employees will write down ideas, while their co-workers will be able to enhance them, eventually creating new solutions.

Wrapping up

Collaborative platforms are constantly changing and trying to adapt to users’ needs. These pieces of software help create a digital workplace and make a company a wholesome working mechanism. Different teams have access to project files and opportunities to communicate and discuss their tasks.

Should you invest in a collaboration platform? Absolutely. It will bring clarity and transparency to your business and make it more convenient to manage projects you have remote specialists working on.

About Comidor

Comidor Digital Workplace provides a virtual environment where people use Collaboration, Productivity and Knowledge management tools to efficiently perform business tasks and processes, towards operational goals. Learn more.

Author Bio:

Frank Hamilton is a blogger and translator from Manchester. He is a professional writing expert in such topics as blogging, digital marketing and self-education. He also loves traveling and speaks Spanish, French, German, and English.