Here’s the scenario, your team is working remotely (from home or another location) and you’ve got a project due in one week. You’re stuck on a particular task and need help with it. You can’t get in touch with your co-worker because they are not in the office. Unfortunately, you don’t have any online collaboration tools at your disposal leaving you only two options: 1) ask someone else for help via email or 2) call them up.
The first option is probably going to take longer than calling them up. The second option will most likely end up wasting time as well since you’ll have to explain what you want to be done and why you need it done now.
The best solution here is to use an online collaboration tool like Slack, Trello, Asana, Basecamp, etc. These types of tools allow you to chat with your co-workers online and collaborate on projects together. They also provide other features such as file sharing, real-time updates, and more.
If you’re looking for some inspiration, we’ve made a list of online collaboration tools examples that you can check out below:
Table of Contents
What To Look For In Online Collaboration Software?
The following are some key features to look for in online collaboration software:
• File Sharing – If you’re working on a document or image together as a group, you’ll want to make sure you can share it easily with others. This could include uploading it directly to a website, providing access via a link, or even creating a shared folder to which everyone has access.
• Version Control – When working on multiple projects simultaneously, it’s important to have a way to revert to earlier versions of files. Many tools offer this feature by allowing you to save different versions of a file.
• Security & Permissions Management – It’s also important to know how much control you have over who can view and edit certain types of content. Some tools let you assign specific roles to users so they can only see or modify certain parts of a file. Others allow you to set up groups based on role, making it easy to manage permissions.
• Document Editing – While many tools focus primarily on file sharing, some offer basic editing functionality. This might include adding comments or annotations to a document, inserting hyperlinks, or highlighting text.
• Communication Tools – Finally, it’s helpful to have a way to communicate with others through email, chat, or IM.
How Do I Choose The Best Project Collaboration Tools?
There are several factors to consider when choosing a project collaboration tool. These include ease of use, security, scalability, and cost. Here’s what you should do before selecting one:
1. Determine Your Needs
Do you need a simple file-sharing solution that allows you to upload and download files? Or would you prefer something more robust that provides additional features like version control and permission management?
2. Consider Security
How secure does the tool need to be? Is there any sensitive data being stored within the system? Will you need to store credit card numbers or other financial information?
3. Think About Scalability
Will you be growing quickly? How much storage space does the tool require? What kind of bandwidth (bandwidth refers to how fast network traffic travels) does it need?
4. Evaluate the Cost
Does the tool come for free? Are there extra fees for things like upgrades, support, or training? Can you get a trial version?
5. Find Out More Information
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential solutions, check out reviews written about them by other people. Plenty of websites are dedicated to reviewing various products, including sites like Capterra, G2 Crowd, and Wirecutter.
6. Make Sure It Works With Your Team
Finally, don’t forget to test the product yourself! Try downloading the software onto your computer and connecting to the internet to ensure it works properly. You may also want to try installing it on a virtual machine if you plan to run it on a laptop or desktop.
Some Well Known Online Collaboration Tools Examples We Recommend
- Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams is an online meeting platform that combines high-quality audio, video, chat, and screen-sharing options to help teams collaborate across locations. It can be used to host live events with thousands of participants and also facilitates everything from 1-1 calls and private team meetings to virtual town halls and webinars. The platform integrates seamlessly with Microsoft conferencing solutions, including Skype for Business, Lync, and Outlook Web App. Enterprises are using Microsoft Teams to connect employees in real-time while also allowing them to participate remotely.
- Slack – Slack is another popular online collaboration tool that comes as a web application and mobile app. It has built-in integrations with many apps and services, making it easy to share files, collaborate on documents, and keep track of projects.
- Zoho Projects – Zoho Projects is a cloud-based team collaboration platform that makes it easy to organize tasks, set up meetings, and share documents.
- Office 365 – Office 365 is a suite of cloud applications offered by Microsoft that includes email, document editing, and collaboration tools. Our customers use Office 365 because it’s reliable and easy to use.
- Google Drive – Google Drive is a cloud-based file hosting service that lets users access all their files from anywhere. The service also integrates well with Gmail and Hangouts.
- Google Docs – Google Docs is a cloud-based collaborative platform that lets you create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, and surveys. It includes advanced formatting options such as tables, charts, and graphs. Google Docs is excellent, especially if your team is in multiple locations.
- Trello – Trello is a visual Kanban board that helps you organize and manage projects. It supports multiple users, custom fields, and integrations with apps and services.
- Asana – Asana is a project management tool that allows teams to communicate, coordinate, and track progress through different channels. It integrates with many apps and services, including Gmail, Dropbox, Salesforce, etc.
- Dropbox – This cloud-based file-sharing application makes it simple for teams to share files, folders, and other content across multiple computers and devices. Users can access shared content through a web browser, desktop app, or mobile app. Dropbox has an intuitive interface that helps users easily organize and manage files.
- BaseCamp – BaseCamp is an online project management tool that enables small teams to plan, organize, and manage projects efficiently. The software includes calendar views, Gantt chart functionality, issue tracking, wikis, blogs, RSS feeds, etc.
- AutoTask – Autotask is a CRM software designed specifically for small businesses. It provides sales, marketing, customer support, accounting, and more in one place. With this cloud-based solution, you can easily store information about customers, prospects, leads, opportunities, invoices, payments, track time, contracts, etc. AutoTask has a simple user interface that makes it easy to navigate through the system. You can create new contacts, set up reminders, create tasks, and update contact details. You can also enter notes, attachments, and photos into your contacts. The app also includes a built-in chat function that instantly lets you talk to your contacts. The best part of AutoTask is that it integrates with popular apps such as Gmail, Outlook, Salesforce, and QuickBooks. We’ve been using it for years and have had no complaints.
Online Collaboration Examples You Might Want To Try If You Haven’t Already
ClickUp
ClickUp is a collaborative tool designed to help teams communicate and collaborate effectively. It allows users to create, share, edit, and comment on documents and tasks. It also includes features for creating and collaborating on wikis. Users can comment on files and tasks, assign comments and chat with other teammates for increased communication and collaboration.
Task management tools help you stay organized and focused while working on your projects. You can create lists, organize them using folders, and assign due dates to each item. You can also add notes, tags, and attachments to your items. You can even share your lists with others via email or social media.
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is an easy-to-use web-based platform for teams that allows you to create meetings, share your desktop, view presentations, chat, and record audio and video. GoToMeeting is ideal for small groups of people working together remotely, and it is free for personal use. You can also use GoToMeeting for team collaboration, including virtual whiteboarding, file sharing, and instant messaging. The other valuable features of the platform include message sending, group chats, video calls, screen sharing, file transfer, audio/video conferencing, and a one-time meeting scheduling feature that instantly schedules meetings with Google Calendar or Outlook.
TextMagic
TextMagic enables you to send messages to your customers, team members, and business partners via SMS, email, or web apps. You can also create automatic or mass texts for your customers, team, and business partners. TextMagic allows you to keep your whole team informed about all text communications. You can also conduct SMS surveys to gather valuable feedback from your customers and leads.
The platform offers an easy-to-use interface, allowing users to create automated messages, schedule them to send at specific times, and track responses. Users can also add pictures and other media to their messages, making it easier to engage with recipients. Businesses can integrate with third-party services, including social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter and payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal.
Wrike
Wrike is a cloud-based project management tool that helps businesses create and manage complex projects. It includes time tracking, resource planning, reporting, and CRM integration. Wrike is ideal for managing large projects, especially those involving multiple people and departments.
Users can view reports to see how they’re doing against goals and deadlines. They can also use dashboards to get a quick overview of important metrics. Wrike’s calendar feature helps users plan meetings and events.
Wrike’s flexible workflow engine allows users to automate repetitive tasks, reducing errors and increasing efficiency. Projects can be assigned to different team members, who can then access and modify the project’s content.
Tasks are automatically created when someone creates a document in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Google Docs, or OneNote. Tasks can be shared with colleagues and clients through email, Dropbox, Slack, etc.
Acquire
Acquire Live Chat Software is an online live chat software and a customer communication solution. Acquire is a complete customer communication solution that provides a top-notch customer experience. Acquire is a feature-rich platform with a full range of toolsets to provide the best customer service to customers, including live chat software, chatbot, co-browsers, customer profile management, video and voice calls, and many more. Some of the other features of Acquire are chat history, real-time conversations, intelligent message routing, targeted messaging, two-way communications, customization, analytics, and reporting.
Acquire Live Chat is an online tool that allows businesses to monitor their website traffic and offers real-time analytics. It provides a platform for businesses to interact with their clients and customers through live chat. Companies can quickly identify problems and resolve issues before impacting customer experience by monitoring visitor activity.
There are many different live chat software platforms out there. Some are free, and others require a monthly subscription fee. There are even some that are entirely free. You should choose a platform that works best for you and your company.
FreshConnect
FreshConnect by FreshWorks is an internal communications platform that helps teams collaborate effectively. Users can communicate with each other in real time, whether they’re working together on a single task or across multiple projects. Teams can also discuss issues within tickets, deals, or even conversations.
Conversational commerce is an emerging technology area that allows businesses to engage customers through real-time chat interactions by providing customer service and sales assistance via text messaging, voice calls, video chats, and other forms of communication. Thus allowing companies to interact directly with customers, providing them with information, answers, and solutions to their problems.
Stormboard
Stormboard helps you create a plan or project, track its progress, assign tasks to your teams, and set deadlines, goals, and milestones. You can also share information with others using our secure messaging system.
Stormboard is an online collaboration tool and meeting platform that allows you to create and share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other files. You can also collaborate with others using chat, voice calls, video calls, and file sharing. There are hundreds of built-in templates for business processes that will compile all the information stored in your storm (the digital workspace) into a report in word, excel, ppt, or another format that you can edit and use as meeting minutes or presentations.
Teamwork
Teamwork is an online collaboration tool designed to make it easy for teams to share information quickly across time zones and locations. It includes a suite of tools: project management (Gantt charts), help desk (ticketing system), team chat (chat rooms), CRM (customer relationship management), and Spaces (content collaboration). It’s an online collaboration platform that connects teams across organizations. Teamwork helps them communicate, collaborate, and create value together. Teams can connect through chat, file sharing, video conferencing, and other tools. Their goal is to help teams work smarter and faster by providing a single place to share ideas, discuss topics, and get feedback.
Which Tools Do You Use?
We understand that there are many different ways to collaborate online, and the online collaboration tools examples we gave barely scratch the surface. What types of online collaboration tools and collaborative software are you currently using? We’d love to hear about them! If you have a favorite project management tool to work online, let us know in the comments section below!
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