Digital collaboration: How to use modern collaboration for the success of your teams
Optimising processes is a challenge for every organisation. Improved communication, more efficient work on joint projects or the successful integration of external partners are typical problems. The current Corona crisis has increased these challenges. Companies that have made little progress with their digitalisation have had great difficulties, as they were poorly positioned for efficient digital collaboration from the home office.
As a result, the topic of digitalisation and the associated digital collaboration of employees has moved back into focus in many companies.
What are the advantages of digital collaboration?
Digital collaboration means working together on projects using digital solutions. It enables teams of different sizes to discuss issues, share ideas and assign tasks without being in a common place. Hardware gives all team members access to collaboration tools through which all processes are organised.
Used correctly, digital collaboration creates new opportunities and offers numerous advantages, such as
- Fast & transparent communication
- Simplified information and data exchange
- Increasing efficiency and productivity
- Increased satisfaction through location and time-independent work
E-mail is still the primary way to exchange information and data in many companies. Originally developed as a replacement for letters and faxes, it is not very practical for most tasks. While email is like a correspondence, chat programmes like Slack or Skype are perceived like the short conversation with colleagues. The tools enable communication in real time, through chat or video telephony functions, and they also simplify the exchange of data. This significantly speeds up communication.
Tip: When looking for the right tool for your company, a look at the online gaming scene can be helpful. It is a pioneer in terms of digital collaboration and communication tools were developed early on for the intensive exchange during gaming that are also suitable for work in business organisations.
Cloud services such as Google Drive or Dropbox offer central access to information and data. Data silos are thus a thing of the past. Documents are accessible to every employee from any location and can be edited simultaneously by all employees.
Teamwork can be efficiently increased using project management tools. Projects are divided into individual tasks and assigned to employees. Questions or updates on the current status are commented on in the tool in relation to the task. This way, all team members are kept up to date on the project status at all times. Projects can be managed more easily and work processes optimised accordingly. The workload of the team members can be seen at a glance. If individual members are overloaded, tasks are redistributed. This avoids stress and dissatisfaction.
The digital solutions promote the modern approaches of New Work. Working models such as the home office or connecting team members in remote work is easily possible through digital collaboration and creates additional flexibility.
Challenges of digital collaboration & how to overcome them
The success of a change in corporate culture depends on the willingness of all employees and decision-makers to create structural foundations, establish new processes and integrate them into daily work.
Impart knowledge
In order to change the corporate culture, employees with a high level of application competence are needed. To achieve this, companies have the task of providing their employees with the necessary knowledge. New processes are introduced through training and employees are trained in the use of new applications. By providing sufficient space for development, employees are encouraged to accept changes and pass on their knowledge.
Employees cannot avoid getting involved in the new culture and living it every day. In addition to the ability to work in a team, this also requires a high willingness to learn in order to quickly become confident in dealing with new technology and collaboration tools.
Provide hardware & software
For successful digital collaboration throughout the company, hardware and software must be provided and deployed across the board. With laptops, tablets and smartphones, employees are equipped to work from anywhere and at any time.
Conference technology and smartboards enable easy team collaboration from different locations. Access to collaboration tools is possible via modern technology. A variety of free software is available for small businesses and teams. Enterprise solutions combine the functions of several tools and simplify integration.
Data protection & security
The increasing exchange of information and data digitally also increases the requirements for security and data protection. This entails corresponding investment costs for the company, for example in the server structure and secure access to the company network for all employees.
How can Lendis support you in digital collaboration?
With Lendis, companies equip their office and their employees with future-proof electronics and software and thus create the conditions for successful digital collaboration. The desired products are rented at favourable monthly rates, which avoids high one-off payments. Thanks to the rental of your office equipment, your company remains flexible at all times. You always react to current needs and only pay for the equipment you actually use. This keeps your expenses to a minimum.
The range of hardware includes high-quality conference technology and smartboards, as well as modern laptops, tablets and smartphones. Customers who rent laptops, tablets or smartphones automatically receive the latest model for the rented equipment at the end of the rental period, at the latest after 24 months.
Future-proofing the company
Companies should take the current situation as an opportunity to establish digital collaboration. This requires a rethink among decision-makers and employees in order to enable new forms of collaboration. Hardware and software solutions, which can be flexibly procured via the Lendis rental model, provide the necessary tools for this. However, they are no substitute for the willingness of the people involved to bring about a cultural change.
The transformation of business processes to digital collaboration is rarely seamless. Rather, it is a lengthy process that must be continuously lived, developed and adapted to the respective organisation. Companies that drive this transformation today will emerge stronger in the long run.
