5 Types of remote team collaboration tools

5 Types of Remote Team Collaboration Tools for Improved Efficiency in the Workplace

After Covid-19, there's been an increase in the number of companies adopting remote work.

This used to be considered a luxury that only a lucky few were able to enjoy, but companies have begun to realize that it's not necessary for staff to be physically at the office in order to produce good work, and are making it a part of their work culture.

Now, remote or hybrid work is gradually becoming the norm in the lives of the modern work place. 16% of US companies are operating fully remote, and in a recent study, 98% of workers expressed the desire to flexibly, showing the growing sentiment towards remote and hybrid work.

There's also a growing number of job seekers looking for hybrid work arrangements, and no longer seeing it as a benefit, but rather a necessity.

Challenges Working with Remote Teams

Although it's convenient and provides opportunities for better work-life balance, working remotely poses some real challenges.

And some companies are still skeptical about whether it'll be possible for their staff to overcome these barriers and stay focused and efficient with their work.

Some of these challenges include:

• Effective team communication

• Cross-team collaboration

• File sharing

• Task management

But thanks to the development of new remote collaboration tools, many of these issues have been solved over the last few years.

5 Essential Types of Remote Collaboration Tools

Today, there are a number of collaboration software that's become available for remote workers that allow for remote collaboration pretty much anywhere in the world.

In this article, we'll be looking at some of the different types of collaboration tools that can help improve the efficiency of remote workers, working outside the office.

Real-time chats and business messengers

Real-time chats and business team messengers are probably one of the most important type of tools available for effective remote collaboration.

These tools are a must have to allow remote workers to communicate with each other via chat, and they usually come in the form of applications that can be downloaded onto the desktop PC and mobile phones.

The purpose of these tools is to simplify communication between remote team members and to make team communication more transparent and easy to track.

Some of these team collaboration tools, come in the form of all-in-one solutions where file sharing, video and voice conferencing, project management and even customer support is possible within a single space.

These tools greatly increase productivity and transparency in the work that's being done by all members.

Some examples of team chats for remote teams:

• Channel Talk

• Slack

• Microsoft teams

• Discord

Voice and video conferencing software

Another important and probably the most prominent type of team collaboration tool would be voice and video conferencing software.

These type of software allow voice and video calls between each team member and is one of the most popular remote work tools available in todays workplace.

Many teams utilize video calls to recreate in person meetings through virtual meetings online, while voice calls are used to communicate important information to each other without having to use a phone.

Another benefit of these apps is that they're able to facilitate screen sharing. Screen sharing allows users to see other people's screens from their perspectives and is used to help simplify the explanation and understanding of often difficult concepts.

The purpose of these voice and video conferencing platforms is to help teams feel connected and on the same page about important events or tasks, with just a few clicks and without requiring them to physically move long distances.

Some examples of voice and video conferencing software:

• Zoom

• Microsoft teams

• Skype

• Discord

Knowledge sharing apps

Knowledge sharing applications, also referred to as document collaboration tools, are another key type of remote team collaboration tool, that are designed to facilitate the sharing of information, documents, and insights among team members, regardless of their location.

These apps can include features like document repositories, forums for discussion, and even social networking features to encourage interaction and shared learning.

One of the main advantages of these apps is their ability to centralize information, making it more accessible and easy to find.

Another benefit is that these apps generally allow for co-editing and live collaboration of projects, making it possible for remote teams to work together on a single task or project together in real-time.

For example, you could have 3 people working on completing the same power point presentation at the same time. You could have one person add images, while another person write the text content, as the final person edits the overall slide order of the presentation.

These type of remote collaboration tools improve efficiency, as team members can spend less time searching for information and more time on their actual work.

Some examples of knowledge sharing apps for remote teams:

• Confluence

• Google Docs

• Evernote

• Notion

File sharing software

File sharing software is another essential tool for remote collaboration.

These tools allow distributed teams to effortlessly share, access, and manage files, irrespective of their location, within a single space.

Users are able to control who is able to access the files by either inviting other remote team members, or by modifying access permissions directly on the platform itself.

This type of software is key to ensuring seamless collaboration on shared documents, projects, and tasks, and allows remote collaboration anywhere in the world.

Some examples of file sharing software for remote teams:

• Dropbox

• Google Drive

• OneDrive

• Channel Talk

Project management tools

Project management tools are indispensable remote team collaboration tools that help coordinate tasks, deadlines, and projects across remote teams.

These tools provide a centralized space where teams can plan, track, and collaborate on projects, regardless of their physical location.

Typically, a good project management tool will offer features such as task assignment, progress tracking, timeline creation, and reporting capabilities.

The main advantage of project management tools is their ability to provide visibility into project progress and individual responsibilities, helping ensure that everyone is on the same page and tasks are completed in a timely manner.

These tools facilitate organization, efficiency, and productivity in a remote work setting, making the process of managing projects much more streamlined and effective.

If you're planning to build a remote team, getting a project management tool will be essential.

Some examples of project management tools for remote teams:

• Asana

• Trello

• Jira

• Basecamp

• Monday.com

Utilizing Remote Collaboration Tools for Improved Productivity

The importance of remote team collaboration tools cannot be overstated in today's digital work landscape.

These remote working tools, ranging from real-time chat platforms to project management software, have become essential in addressing the unique challenges posed by remote work.

They foster effective communication, facilitate knowledge and file sharing, and aid in project coordination, thereby significantly improving productivity for all remote teams.

By centralizing information, promoting transparency, and providing platforms for seamless interaction, these tools help remote teams operate as effectively as if they were working side-by-side in a traditional office setting.

Investing in the right collaboration tools is key to harnessing the full potential of remote work and creating a cohesive, efficient, and high-performing team.