How Digital Collaboration Tools Are Changing the Way We Work
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, offices around the world have become gradually better acquainted with the world of remote and hybrid workflows. Increasingly, it’s possible to contribute to a project, even if you’re not in the same building as your colleagues. In fact, in many cases, entire businesses are run by people who have never met one another in person.
In order to facilitate this, a vast and diverse ecosystem of digital collaboration tools has emerged. These allow us to share files securely, and to ensure everyone is clear on the timeline of a given project.
But it would be a mistake to assume that all of these applications and websites are just there to make life easier for remote workers. As we’ll see, they can play an important role in a more traditional office setup, too.
The Human Side of Collaboration Tools
At their best, these tools vastly reduce the amount of mental energy we all waste on keeping track of our communication. Text-based, asynchronous chats are sensibly labeled and organized, and version histories are managed in a way that’s transparent and not dependent on naming conventions.
This means we don’t have to waste time poring through email chains, or searching for the most current version of a given file.
Cloud Storage Optimized for Today’s Needs
It’s vital that members of a given team are able to swap files without creating a security risk. In a modern cloud storage solution, this is primarily done through encryption and access control. A remote server might host all of the files your team needs, but restrict access on a need-to-use basis. This can help safeguard client data, and provide a paper trail that will protect the business against legal challenges.
Overcoming Common Challenges
Of course, there are downsides to switching to an app of this kind. In some cases, the effort spent on learning the intricacies of the app makes it difficult to justify making the switch. In others, the app creates an additional source of distraction, and actually causes contributors to adopt bad working habits.
Often, these challenges can be addressed by proactively seeking to develop good working habits. For example, users might time-restrict their logins, so that they can set aside a good portion of the day for deep work, and avoid spending too much time chatting to one another.
Conclusion: Making Tools Work for You
The app that’s right for you might depend on the nature of your project, and the personal preferences of your team. It’s a good idea to gather opinions before forcing everyone to make a switch. That way, you’ll know whether you’re going to encounter resistance!
