If your organization hasn’t already invested in collaboration technology, you’re behind the ball, according to installers and software providers.
Collaboration technology like unified communication systems, productivity platforms, screen sharing, videoconferencing, instant messaging, online whiteboards, file sharing and others are now a crucial component to doing business.
According to Aaron McArdle, CEO of conference room installer RoomReady, says any successful company should embrace technology to help them get the job done.
For example, successful banks should be technology companies that offer financial services, and plumbing companies should be technology companies that offer plumbing services.
“Technology is the foundation of how all great companies grow, innovate and scale,” McArdle says. “If you don’t embrace that, you’re going to be at a disadvantage.”
One of the most important areas where technology can help is collaborating and communicating.
“People talking to people is the most important part of your business,” McArdle says. “Anything you can do to facilitate that is a secret weapon for you.”
Supporting remote work & business continuity
With the world recovering from COVID-19, these solutions are even more valuable than they were before, says Mark Strassman, senior vice president and general manager for LogMeIn’s communication and collaboration business unit, the provider of meeting platform GoToMeeting.
“Collaboration solutions allow people to connect seamlessly from anywhere, empowering them to work from anywhere,” Strassman says. “Some employees find themselves more productive at home, while others prefer the office or even a combination of the two with the recent rise of flexible work culture.”
“Efficient workflow and open communication channels are the only way to make this type of work possible,” Strassman says. “Collaboration tools improve employee efficiency by advancing communication, promoting common goals, fostering shared values and building relationships.
According to Strassman, organizations won’t succeed without effective ways to work together both internally and externally.
“Employing tools with video functionality can improve interactions with both clients and coworkers, and help teams convey concepts in a more concise way than with less effective forms of communication,” Strassman says.
In the same vein, these tools can also help remote work companies find and retain talent, says McArdle, who heads a technology company based in Normal, Ill. Collaboration solutions keep employees connected regardless of the physical distance between them.
“We can say, ‘You can live wherever you want – we’re happy to employ you. We’ll have video team calls every day so you feel like you’re part of the team,’” McArdle says. “We’d never have the opportunity to employ them were it not for collaboration technology.”
Tips for Buying Collaboration Technology
Move faster, more efficiently
Collaboration platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, GoToMeeting, Zoom and others allow employees to collaborate and communicate both internally and externally much faster than without those solutions.
Users can share their screen, share files and hold a virtual meeting in a fraction of the time it would take without these solutions.
“Speed is king, and collaboration technology allows you to move faster,” McArdle says. “The more you’re invested, the more effective and faster you can move.”
Remote work was already trending up before the coronavirus impacted physical office settings, and collaboration solutions like GoToMeeting from Strassman and LogMeIn have helped organizations transition to remote work and pick up where they left off.
To make remote work possible, organizations need an efficient workflow and open channels of communication, Strassman says.
“Collaboration tools improve employee efficiency by advancing communication, promoting common goals, fostering shared values and building relationships,” Strassman says.
If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!
Leave a Reply