Featured image: How Collaboration Tools Help the Changing Workforce

Today’s changing global workforce has created a new way to work. Workers, especially millennials, are no longer keen on spending years pursuing long careers in one organization, nor do they want the traditional constrictions of a 9-5 job. Instead, they prefer to become freelancers or start their own companies and work flexible hours that are in line with their other non-work related life goals and aspirations.

In the same vein, companies that are looking to cut back on the expense of providing workspace for their employees have created Flexible Work Option programs so that employees can work from anywhere, anytime, and have the flexibility for a work/life balance they may otherwise not have.

 

Such a workforce calls for technological solutions that facilitate mobility, teamwork, and collaboration.

Collaboration tools provide groups of workers a platform to communicate, coordinate, and accomplish their projects and objectives.

 

Here are the main benefits collaboration tools provide to those using them:

1. Easily Track Projects
Most collaboration tools have project tracking capabilities, which allows team members to easily see the status of project progress. For instance, collaboration tools allow workers to share documents, see what changes were made to the project, communicate with each other, schedule tasks, and assign tasks to project managers. In addition, team members can see all the tasks completed and the tasks that need to be completed to achieve the objectives of the project
 
2. Allow Workers To Do Their Work From Anywhere
Workers are able to do their work from anywhere in the world as long as they have Internet connection. This means that a company can assign a number of workers from different countries or locations to one project and still get them to work in an organized manner. This also means that employees who are unable to physically come to work can still contribute to the project from home.
 
3. Make Reporting Easy
Every project requires some form of reporting. Collaboration tools make it easy to generate integrated reports with project details including progress, remaining activities, time and effort, expenses etc. Automated reporting allows team members to focus on their work instead of using their time to develop reports manually or individually.
 
4. Efficiency and Improved Speed
Online collaboration tools eliminate the need to arrange meetings to get documents and reports from other team members. Users are able to upload files directly to the workspace, which allows other members to review them, make changes, and give feedback faster and more efficiently.
 
5. Central Storage Of Data And Documents
Collaboration tools allow members to save all their work online. They can therefore access the files from anywhere in the world and are able to see any changes made by other people who are working on the project.
 
 

Other benefits collaboration tools provide include:

  • Increasing employee satisfaction
  • Savingfor travel expenses
  • Improving access to expert knowledge from anywhere in the world
  • Facilitating faster realization of objectives

 

Looking to use IBM Connections as your collaboration tool and don’t know where to start?

Let's Talk!

 

Back to all news
Open newsletter modal