And how are businesses using them?

The use of collaboration tools

Due to the wide variety of choice that is available in today’s market, collaboration tools are being adopted by millions of businesses of all sizes, from start-ups to enterprises.

Companies and teams are discovering the benefits of using said tools for day-to-day working and project collaboration, from stronger team relationships to saved time and money. And so many have begun to make the move from on-premises to the cloud.

Read more: The state of online collaboration tools for businesses

Accountancy firms, media companies and governments are just a few of the wide range of industries that are benefiting from the flexibility of collaboration tools. Have a look at three popular use cases for how businesses are utilising their cloud-based collaboration tools in 2017 and beyond.

Use Case #1

Co-ordinating large projects

Efficient and successful project management can be achieved with the right collaboration tool. Collaboration tools allow businesses to keep the transparency with their team members, clients and business partners. This transparency will keep communication open and ensure a smooth-running process – as everyone involved can remain updated throughout each stage of the project.

According to a report from IT Cortex, 39% of projects failing due to lack of planning, resources and activities and 57% of projects failing due to breakdown in communications. When used correctly, collaboration tools can provide the foundation to completing projects more effectively – with features such as real-time activity streams, structured file and folder management, team calendars and more.

Use Case #2

Working with external clients

Client satisfaction is crucial to success. HelpScout says that it is 6-7 times more expensive to acquire a new customer than it is to keep a current one. What’s more, Bain & Co says that a customer is 4 times more likely to buy from a competitor if the problem is service related versus price or product related.

So, if your business is dealing with hundreds, possibly thousands, of clients; it can appear impossible to satisfy them all, especially whilst keeping an organised system of files and communication for everyone. Collaboration tools are a fuss-free solution; you securely store information in one place and in a structured format; making it easier to locate files, share them with clients and get projects signed off. Happy clients equal happy business.

Read more: Top tips for securely sharing files with Clinked

Use Case #3

Managing virtual teams

According to a survey from Cisco, 69% of employees cited higher productivity when working remotely, and 75% of those surveyed said the timeliness of their work improved. With there being evidence that it is beneficial to employees and team members when they are given the ability to work from out of the office, the popularity of remote working is rising.

Collaboration tools work perfectly with remote teams, as the feature-rich solutions can bring team members and employees together virtually, rather than physically; and the work can still get done, without time wasted on the commute and continuous distractions of being in an office environment.

Picking the right collaboration tool for your business

Amazingly, 46% of small company owners still rely on old technologies to track and organise projects, such as pen and paper, email and excel; according to Twoodo. In order to keep up with the times and remain competitive, businesses need to innovate and improve the way in which they collaborate with team members, employees, clients and even business partners.

In order to choose the right collaboration tool, you can consider questions such as –

• What do I need in a collaboration tool?

Features, security, customisations and more – these are just a few requirements to start thinking about, especially given the large number of vendors that offer a variety of different features and functions. It’s important to knuckle down and do your research, rather than choosing the first solution you come across.

• How long will it take to implement? And how much will it cost?

If you have a budget and time frame, these factors will influence the collaboration tool that you choose. Some solutions only take minutes to set up and others can take months. This is something that you can ask the vendor directly when considering your options.

So, if you’d like to find out how you can use Clinked for your business collaboration, you can head over to our website, take a look at our features or sign up for a free 10-day trial today. 

Learn more about using Clinked for your business collaboration