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October 30, 2017 30/10/2017

6 Technologies that are Driving Collaboration in the Workplace

Collaboration amongst employees is perhaps one of the most important activities in the workplace today. Gathering together differing viewpoints and leveraging the strengths of each individual is what drives creativity and innovation and what ultimately helps make an organization more competitive. Thankfully, the modern workplace is one where collaboration has never been easier. Here are a few technologies that are facilitating greater teamwork in offices around the world today.

 

Video Conferencing

What’s the next best thing to getting the team together in the conference room for a meeting? Thanks to enhanced video conferencing and cloud technology, now everyone can join in from wherever they happen to be, interacting and engaging with one another in real-time as if they were all physically in the same room. Because video allows for visual cues, it generates more empathy and camaraderie, which is essential to effective collaboration.

 

Electronic Whiteboards

Unlike traditional whiteboards, electronic whiteboards are interactive, allowing individuals and teams to more effectively brainstorm together. Most commonly used in classrooms, more and more businesses are beginning to adopt this technology to boost communication, enable better data sharing and promoting a more collaborative spirit. Rather than wasting time using one-way presentations, such as PowerPoint slideshows, electronic whiteboards facilitate more engagement amongst colleagues.

 

State-of-the-Art Projectors

The latest equipment brings projection capability to the next level. Many of these next generation projectors integrate with electronic whiteboards and other technologies to create interactive multimedia solutions. These projectors allow users to turn almost any flat surface into a collaborative area. Video conferencing and mobility are also supported by most modern projection equipment.

 

Cutting Edge Workspaces

When it comes to workspaces, design and layout can have a tremendous impact on collaboration. Research conducted by the Harvard Business Review found that workspace isn’t just an asset, but can become a strategic driver of growth. With a focus on tearing down silos and increasing unplanned interactions, productivity and the opportunities for collaboration increase. Offices that utilize huddle rooms and co-working spaces powered by innovative technology are prime examples.

 

Internal Social Networks

Collaboration platforms and applications allow employees across the business (and potentially around the world) to share information, coordinate on projects, engage in discussions, locate subject matter experts and build communities. Some of the most popular enterprise social networks today include Slack, Yammer, Asana and Basecamp, all of which incorporate social media characteristics, making them interactive and engaging to employees, particularly those from the Millennial generation.

 

Machine Learning and AI

Many organizations are already leveraging the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning capability to improve efficiency. What many people don’t realize is that these technologies can also help boost collaboration amongst workers as well. For instance, some applications offer plugins that use machine learning to gather and analyze data to help eliminate errors, allocate skills more effectively, accelerate learning and connect employees with the research, solutions, colleagues, and information they need to optimize performance.

 

Advances in technology have now made it possible for teammates and colleagues to connect and collaborate from across the office to across the globe. Even more exciting is the fact that the innovative tools we are using today will continue to improve to become even more incredible in the near future, creating unprecedented opportunities to organizations of every size and industry.

 

Is your workplace taking advantage of these or other collaborative technologies? Tell us more in the comments below!

 

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