Collaboration is an essential part of any business, and in today’s digital age, enterprise collaboration has become even more critical. Companies are utilizing collaboration tools to work together more efficiently than ever before. The rise of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, social media, and smartphones has completely transformed the way we work, not to mention the emergence of the trend to work from home.
This transformation has led to a growing demand for collaboration tools that can support teamwork, innovation, and productivity. In this article, we will discuss the latest trends in microsoft 365 & sharepoint and how they are changing the way we work.
1. Cloud-Based Collaboration
Cloud computing, when combined with other technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), offers incredible business tools and solutions. Cloud-based collaboration is therefore becoming increasingly popular among businesses of all sizes.
It enables teams to collaborate on projects and share information in real time from anywhere in the world. As such, cloud solutions have played a critical role in promoting and fostering the culture of work from home, as employees now collaborate with each other from dispersed geographical locations seamlessly.
Cloud-based collaboration tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive are making it easier than ever to store and share files, documents, and data. This has increased productivity, as teams can access information from any device and work together more efficiently.
2. Video Collaboration
It’s untrue to say that video collaboration tools have just emerged; they have been around for some time. However, the pandemic gave an incredible boost to video collaboration tools like Skype, Zoom, Teams, and WebEx as governments compelled companies to shut their brick-and-mortar offices.
These tools allow teams to conduct virtual meetings, share screens, and collaborate on projects in real-time. In fact, Zoom and Skype and the likes of it made it possible for businesses to survive the pandemic. Moreover, they made us realize that so much work is possible without actually being physically present at your workplace.
Therefore, video collaboration has become a sine qua non for remote teams, as it allows people to work as if they were in the same room. It has also made it easier for companies to work with freelancers, contractors, suppliers, and other remote workers.
3. Social Media Collaboration
Social media platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Twitter were some of the first enterprise collaboration tools. LinkedIn and Facebook groups help professionals from the same field collaborate and share their knowledge.
Companies use these platforms to communicate with customers, partners, vendors, and employees. Not only this, but social media platforms also enable knowledge-sharing, brainstorming, and problem-solving. This has led to an increase in transparency and a more open culture within organizations.
4. Mobile Collaboration
Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets have completely transformed our way of working. Concepts like bring-your-own-device (BYOD) have made employees use their own devices to access company data and collaborate with their colleagues.
While proper security and authentication measures are necessary to ensure the security of enterprise data, many companies build their own secure platforms and then let their employees use the platform on their own devices.
This has led to an increase in mobility and flexibility, as employees can work from anywhere, at any time. Mobile collaboration tools such as Slack, Trello, and Asana are also making it easier for teams to work together on the go.
5. Artificial Intelligence
One cannot ignore Artificial intelligence (AI) ‘s role in making team collaboration easier and seamless. Businesses are using AI to automate repetitive tasks, analyze data, and provide insights that enable teams to make better decisions.
For example, many online businesses are utilizing chatbots to answer common questions and provide support to customers. This automation of customer support functions reduces the burden on your customer service agents and frees them to focus on other matters.
Similarly, another amazing AI tool is predictive analytics, which businesses are using to identify trends and patterns in data. Hence, with AI algorithms in place, you can qualitatively and quantitatively measure how remote and on-premises teams collaborate.
Moreover, organizations are also using AI to develop virtual assistants that can help employees with tasks such as scheduling meetings, booking flights or trains, and managing their to-do lists.
6. Blockchain
Blockchain is a decentralized ledger that is used to record transactions, store data, and share information securely. This technology is used for supply chain management, identity verification, and other collaborative projects that require secure, transparent, and tamper-proof records.
Blockchain is also used to develop decentralized applications (dApps) and mobile apps that can be used for peer-to-peer collaboration and transactions. As a result, blockchain technology continues to change the way we work.
7. Virtual and Augmented Reality
Virtual and augmented reality technologies are also becoming increasingly popular in enterprise collaboration, particularly for manufacturing organizations. Manufacturers are utilizing these technologies to enable remote collaboration, training, and simulation.
For example, virtual reality is used to simulate a manufacturing process, allowing employees to train in a safe and controlled environment. On the other hand, augmented reality is used to overlay information onto real-world objects, allowing employees to work together more efficiently.
8. Gamification
Gamification is another rising trend in enterprise collaboration. The gamification approach uses game design elements to engage and motivate employees. You can use gamification for training, problem-solving, and innovation.
For example, a company may use a gamified platform to encourage employees to share their ideas and collaborate on new projects.
9. Personalization
Personalization allows employees to customize their collaboration tools to meet their individual needs and preferences. For example, employees using Tableau or Power BI are able to choose their own dashboard layout or select their preferred collaboration tools.
When managers and decision-makers encourage personalization, employees are more likely to transition to collaborative practices and tools. Moreover, it also improves employee engagement and productivity, as employees are able to work in a way that suits their unique needs.
10. Integration
Integration tools are critical in today’s enterprise world. The integration lets you connect different collaboration tools and platforms, allowing employees to work together seamlessly.
For example, an employee may be able to access their email, calendar, and project management tool from a single dashboard. This approach can improve productivity and reduce the time and effort required to switch between different tools. It also helps break down data silos that constrict your ability to collaborate.
Wrap Up
To sum it up, the latest trends in enterprise collaboration are transforming the way we perceive work and do it. Businesses are rapidly evolving their work cultures to suit the needs of modern times. Those who resist this change will be pushed out of business.
Companies must adapt to these changes if they want to remain competitive. By adopting the abovementioned trends, businesses can improve productivity, increase innovation, and enhance communication within their organizations. Collaboration is no longer a nice-to-have feature but a crucial element of any successful business. And these trends in enterprise collaboration are making it easier than ever before to work together more efficiently and effectively.
Xavor provides Microsoft 365 and SharePoint services. Contact us at [email protected] to learn how we can help you enable collaboration at your organization.