What is collaboration software?

The Internet has enabled us to work from anywhere in the world, but that doesn't mean we have to be inherently remote or alone. Collaboration software, which used to be called groupware, helps enable better collaboration through automation, procedures and better communication. It allows teams to work on projects more effectively whether they are sharing a desk or communicating from different sites around the world. Collaboration software allows you and your team to track who does and did what and to give a shared view of different objectives, so everyone can literally be on the same page.

Collaboration software also enables the sharing, storing and management of files and a calendar, helping save time on finding where data is and keeping your team focused on deadlines. 

Some kinds of collaboration software are:

• File Sharing
• Idea Management
• Presentation Software
• Project Management
• Social Networking
• Survey
• Team Collaboration Software
• Web Conferencing

Collaboration software also falls under the slighly more general umbrella of project management tools and procedures, meaning that collaboration software also includes the following:

• Agile Project Management
• Professional Services Automation (PSA)
• Project Management
• Project Portfolio Management
• Task Management
• Time Tracking
• Visual Project Management

Of course, you could consider all cloud computing software as a service as collaborative because that's the essence of why the Internet was invented, to weave connections throughout the world.

How do you find the right collaboration software for your team?

There's no doubt that this is a big software category and it can be overwhelming. The best way to start deciding which is the right collaboration software for you is to look at your team's needs because, afterall, that's who will be using it. 

Start by asking yourself or even your team these questions:

• Where are we most productive? Where are we least productive? The first step in deciding this is really knowing if you are measuring productivity at all. For some teams that are paid hourly, a time clock may be useful. For other teams, that work more freely, a daily or weekly retrospective on what you've accomplished could be beneficial. 
• How do we communicate? Different collaboration software involves different communication tools. Do you need private one-to-one messaging? Do you need to create communication channels based on topics? Do you want to integrate email communication into your collaboration software so you can track how different team members work with different clients? Do you have multiple offices or allow people to work from home and could benefit from video conferencing? 
• Who do you need to communicate with? If you only collaborate internally, you will need one type of tool, as if you collaborate externally, with external freelancers or directly with the clients, you will need collaboration tools with more complex communcation layers.
• What are the current tools we are using? Do you want to continue with them? The most productive and efficient teams use tools that integrate together almost seamlessly. If you want to continue using, say, your current accounting software, you may want to consider only collaboration software that integrates in there, even if it's just to maintain one set of client contact information.

Once you have these questions answered, it's time to start your search for the right collaboration software. Begin by looking at the app reviews written by businesses like yours or go ahead and give a free call to 1-888-SOFTWARE and we'll help you find the right collaboration software for you to trial for free today!