10 of the Best Team online collaboration Tools
With the new ways of working online across countries and multiple teams, it has never been more important to be able to manage our communications effectively with best in class online collaboration tools.
Over the past three years these tools have continued to improve and develop providing a really enhanced work experience and supporting the new hybrid ways of working online whilst providing a good experience. Centralised platforms have become the norm for all of us and looking back, it’s hard to understand how we survived without them, regardless, it ensures that teams can work together well, regardless of their location.
Why use these tools to work with your teams online?
There are lots of reasons Team Collaboration tools work, one of the main reasons is that it stops you having to follow so many email threads (although some people refuse to give this up 🙂 – when you have a central hub which is shared in a transparent, people can easily access and solve the queries they have directly and much more quickly. It also goes a long way to sharing more information with more people, hopefully adding to their knowledge of projects and products and services.
Here are some examples of the best, tried and tested Team collaboration tools:
Slack
A popular team messaging and collaboration platform that offers channels, direct messaging, file sharing, and integrations with other tools.
Microsoft Teams
A unified communication and collaboration platform that combines chat, video meetings, file storage, and integration with other Microsoft products.
Trello
A visual project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help teams organize and prioritize tasks.
Asana
A flexible project management tool that allows teams to track tasks, assign responsibilities, and collaborate on projects in a visual interface.
Google Workspace (formerly G Suite)
A suite of productivity and collaboration tools including Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides.
Basecamp
A project management and team collaboration tool that offers a centralized workspace for communication, file sharing, task management, and scheduling.
Monday.com
A visual collaboration platform that helps teams manage projects, tasks, and workflows with customizable boards and automation features.
Jira
A popular tool for software development teams, Jira offers issue tracking, project management, and collaboration features to plan, track, and release software.
Zoom
A video conferencing and online meeting platform that enables teams to connect through high-quality video and audio calls, screen sharing, and collaboration features.
GitHub
While primarily known as a code repository, GitHub also offers collaboration features for software development teams, including issue tracking, project management, and code review.
Frequently asked questions:
What are online collaboration tools?
Online collaboration tools are software applications or platforms that enable individuals or teams to work together remotely, regardless of their physical location. These tools provide features such as document sharing, real-time editing, video conferencing, task management, and communication channels, all designed to enhance collaboration and productivity in a virtual environment.
Why should I use online collaboration tools?
- Enhanced teamwork: These tools facilitate seamless collaboration, allowing team members to work together on shared projects, documents, and tasks in real time.
- Improved communication: Online collaboration tools provide various communication channels, such as chat, video conferencing, and commenting features, enabling efficient and effective communication among team members.
- Increased productivity: With features like task management, file sharing, and document version control, online collaboration tools streamline workflows and ensure everyone stays organized and on track.
- Flexibility and remote work: These tools enable individuals and teams to work from anywhere, making them ideal for remote teams or organizations with distributed workforce, fostering flexibility and work-life balance.
What are some popular online collaboration tools?
- Microsoft Teams: A comprehensive platform that combines chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integrations, allowing teams to collaborate and communicate effectively within a single interface.
- Slack: A real-time messaging platform designed for team communication, Slack offers channels, direct messaging, file sharing, and integration capabilities with other tools and services.
- Google Workspace (formerly G Suite): A suite of productivity and collaboration tools including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive, enabling real-time document editing, file sharing, and video conferencing through Google Meet.
- Trello: A visual project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to help teams organize and track tasks, assign responsibilities, and collaborate on projects in a flexible and intuitive manner.
Are online collaboration tools secure?
Online collaboration tools prioritize security to protect user data and ensure privacy. While security measures may vary between tools, reputable providers typically employ encryption protocols, secure authentication mechanisms, and regular software updates to safeguard information. It’s important to choose tools from trusted vendors, review their security policies, and adhere to best practices like using strong passwords and sharing sensitive data securely. Additionally, organizations may have specific compliance requirements that can be considered when selecting a collaboration tool to ensure it meets necessary security standards.