Comparison of Collaboration Tools & Software

What are Collaboration Tools?

Basically, any software that contributes to optimizing teamwork or specific projects can be referred to as a collaboration tool. Many specialized solutions focus on improving communication. For example, formal or informal direct messages can be sent, communicated in groups, and/or generally relevant content can be quickly exchanged. Collaboration tools often offer users the opportunity to easily ask questions, receive their tasks, check them, and access shared knowledge and important files. A comprehensive collaboration platform can include a wide variety of features that support appropriate processes. Collaboration software is often used in conjunction with project management tools, task management software, or other business-critical programs. At least when they do not already include such functions. Ideally, through integration with other systems, seamless, maximally efficient workflows are created in project and task completion.

Good collaboration tools bring, among other things, the following features or benefits:

• They provide functions for chats, discussions, and other internal or external communication.
• Collaboration tools enable all relevant people to use documents and other content in a straightforward, centralized manner - including version control.
• They allow individual and team calendars to be managed by department or at the enterprise level.
• They support users in collaborating on assets, projects, processes, etc., as well as commenting on or exchanging tasks and project details.
• They offer customized areas and project views for direct internal and external work on these.
• They can be customized, among other things, by setting access rights to documents, chats, calendars, and project views.

How do collaboration tools work and what key benefits do they bring?

In order to optimize typical work processes in the company or to organize projects more efficiently, the use of a collaboration tool is naturally not necessarily needed. Small teams or generally manageable projects can be managed absolutely advantageously without such software. Nevertheless, even here specific solutions or perhaps individual applications for collaboration can provide additional efficiency advantages. The larger and more diverse the teams or projects become - and if external forces are possibly involved - the value of a specialized collaboration platform becomes more obvious. In fact, with such prerequisites, almost nothing works without appropriate tools. The overview is then lacking, which means that important tasks are processed incorrectly, done twice, or not taken over at all. The collaboration software supports all participants in the precise, correct implementation of individual tasks, meeting deadlines, and many other typical to-dos. For example, file-sharing features and version control ensure that file exchange is always possible in large companies, all those involved always receive up-to-date documents, and no tasks are doubled with them. In addition, collaboration with external partners, which can be easily included in the relevant processes for them via the collaboration tool, can be designed particularly smoothly. The functional possibilities are immense. Almost every aspect of cooperation can actually be supported with a modern collaboration platform or individual tools. By individually aligning a collaboration software with the respective requirements, valuable time and costs can be saved, especially in large companies, which can then be reinvested in other areas of the business. Projects or processes that are particularly quickly processed using the software can also have a significant branding effect on (potential) customers.

What are the typical functions of collaboration software?

• Communication: Collaboration tools almost always have an instant messaging system and/or other features for easy exchange. These tools can make communication between individuals, but also across larger teams, much more useful - for example, by creating specific groups.
• File sharing: The ability to share a wide variety of file formats is often integrated into the messaging component of collaboration software. Some solutions can be coupled with a content management system or asset management system for businesses and thus help manage files very efficiently.
• Asset management: Collaboration software can archive files, projects, or even conversations so that employees can access them at a later date. In addition, appropriate tools sometimes have intuitive search functions and/or filters for such purposes.
• Document collaboration: With some collaboration tools, users can create documents of various formats and edit them together with others. These documents can be stored either within the collaboration platform or externally in another integrated content/asset management system.
• Integrations: Collaboration tools generally offer extensive integration options so that users can use their features or data in connection with a content management system, CRM software, or other programs in which related processes play a role.
• VoIP and Video Conferencing: Some solutions offer VoIP or video conferencing features or can be integrated with providers of such features.
• Task Management: With task management functions, users can create tasks and organize them by status, priority, department, etc. This can include Kanban boards, Gantt charts, and other workflows.
• Version Control: Version control ensures that everyone involved is always working with the latest updated version of a file. In addition, users can, if necessary, go back and view previous drafts. The collaboration software effectively helps its users track edits and changes and keep an eye on the overall development of a task or project.
• Calendar: Collaboration software often offers individual and team calendars that automatically synchronize with the tasks or projects created in the application. Calendars can also be transferred to external email solutions and project management systems, task management software, etc.

What types of collaboration software are there?

In fact, there is a large number of differently oriented collaboration tools. The offers differ enormously in their range of functions and also their prices. The selection ranges from quite costly enterprise solutions or collaboration platforms, which aim to support many areas, to completely free open-source systems with specialized application areas. In between, numerous programs line up that can be used free of charge in their basic versions, but with an extended range of functions - which is often needed - they are chargeable. In addition, there are collaboration tools available as local, self-hosted solutions and those that are organized in the cloud by providers as online applications (SaaS). The former have a clear advantage in terms of (data) security. However, they can often only be efficiently managed by larger companies. SaaS options are very comfortable to use even in the smallest of companies. No servers or specialists are required for setup and maintenance here.

What should one pay particular attention to when choosing a collaboration tool?

Searching for a suitable collaboration tool often turns out to be much more difficult than initially expected. This is mainly due to the fact that there are enormous differences in the range of functions of the individual solutions. Therefore, at the very basis, it should first be determined which processes the collaboration software should ultimately support to what extent. Those interested should ask themselves the following questions in particular.

What is the collaboration software needed for? This question is best answered methodically. The easiest way is to create a list on which all requirements are listed and prioritized. For example, there are collaboration tools on the market specifically for creative teams that include virtual whiteboards and interactive idea mapping functions. Others, on the other hand, primarily focus on users who need structured, automated workflows to manage complex tasks. Some tools are very suitable for customer-oriented work environments, which are needed, for example, when dealing closely with ultimate buyers or also with external partners. As soon as many different people with different status in the company handle the software, it is also important to ensure that the collaboration tool has permission levels for the release of individual features, files, etc. The indications mentioned here and other possible points of reference should be weighed very precisely. If important features are missing or, on the other hand, far too many tools that are not needed are on board, this can strongly counteract process optimization.

How large is the team to be supported? Once it has been established which direction or which functions are needed, those interested should highlight how many people will be using the collaboration tool – and also where they are located? Again, there are solutions for all possible requirements. Just because a team has only fewer employees, for example, does not mean at all that a collaboration software makes no sense. Even the smallest departments, which may be decentralized, can benefit greatly from a collaboration tool. Many providers indicate for which team sizes their solutions are ideally suitable. If this value and the functions provided fit, the optimal software moves a big step closer.

Does the application fit established workflows and the general technical infrastructure? Only in relatively rare cases does the introduction of a collaboration tool reset everything. Most of the time, there are already established, purposeful workflows and a certain technical infrastructure that are only supposed to be further optimized by such software. Then, of course, it is important that the new system can harmonize perfectly with the corresponding processes. Many collaboration systems are designed to do exactly this, but not all of them are optimally compatible with everything.

How is the setup, usage, and maintenance designed? Can the collaboration tool of choice be efficiently implemented (by oneself)? Does the application provide enough technical support (and will this possibly be needed more intensively)? Can users work intuitively with the solution or are training courses necessary/appropriate? Can the system be maintained in the long run or does it need external support for this or any other point? In addition to the basic exploration of costs and the benefits for which they are received, these questions usually stand quite far at the end of the considerations for or against a collaboration tool.