Collaboration With Web-Based Tools
By Rob Lovell, CEO Hostway UK
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39 percent of executives expect to telecommute more over the next two years. |
Remote working has becoming a way of life in the modern business environment. According to a survey by the
Economist Intelligence Unit undertaken in November 2004, 39 percent of executives expect to telecommute more over the next two years. Additionally, 42 percent said they would work remotely while traveling on business. The advance of wireless networks and mobile technologies and increased awareness of security issues, together with changes in legislation supporting work/life balance is fuelling the demand for mobile working.
Interaction Costs of Expansion
In addition to mobile or remote working there is also the issue of teams being disparate as companies become more global. The problem is that the more we see teams working from different locations, the more collaboration is suffering. Individuals working on their own out of the office, either on the road or at home, are becoming used to being exactly that, individual. But as the old adage reminds us 'there is no I in team."
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If there isn't good enough collaboration and visibility on all the sections of a project then managing it can become a real nightmare. |
Alongside this is the problem that remote workers don't always have access to the work they need. Access to files that are stored only in the office can be nearly impossible. And if there isn't good enough collaboration and visibility on all the sections of a project then managing it can become a real nightmare.
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Many organizations are now starting to look at Web-based tools that provide a central repository. |
In order for teams to work together on projects, and at the same time maximize productivity, staff needs to be able to have real-time visibility and access to the work their colleagues are doing. But, what if I am an employee in London and my colleague in Hong Kong forgot to publish his updated work before my workday started? How do I know what stage he is at and what I need to do during my working day in order to enable him to carry on progressing the project tomorrow? It is for this reason, as well as for the needs of the mobile workforce, that many organizations are now starting to look at Web-based tools that provide a central repository, which store all the information worked on and can be accessed in real time.
Web-based Flexibility
Services, such as Windows SharePoint, enhance work-team productivity for small to medium-sized businesses through simple and effective, Web-based collaboration tools. Being Web-based means it is a flexible solution for both companies who have a few offices across the country and those with offices across the world. It allows teams to keep connected and productive, enabling better decisions and stronger relationships with customers, partners and suppliers.
Real-Time Benefits
Effective collaboration tools offer great benefits above the simple fact that remote teams can work together, including the ability to distribute business-critical information more securely through password-protected sites than through email. This security step has become essential in the current climate of hackers and viruses.
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By offering visibility of a projects status, team members and managers can see at a glance whether a project is on schedule and meeting its targets. |
Web-based collaboration can also have positive effects across the business, such as increased efficiency. By offering visibility of a projects status, team members and managers can see at a glance whether a project is on schedule and meeting its targets. This in turn reduces the need for meetings, which can be both time-consuming and costly. Project cycles will also be reduced leading to an increase in productivity as a result of clearer communications. With real-time visibility, the need to rework parts of the project will also be reduced as mistakes can be rectified immediately.
In a world of globalization and collaboration, there are many benefits to be gleaned. But it's not enough just to have mobile technology in place allowing people to work out of the office, on their own. In our modern workforce, we must ensure that we are enabling staff to productively work with teammates. It's important that good communication and visibility is maintained even though workers are moving further into the field. Web-based collaboration is a vital part of the remote working trend.
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