How to Choose the Best Online Collaboration Platform for Your Team

Anyone running a business knows how important communication with other team members is. Working together on projects with a colleague a thousand miles away can be just as good, if not better, than if you were working with them at the same desk and in the same office. Within your team there may be those who only work part-time, those who work Flexi hours, or those who work weekends, so, accommodating all their needs and requirements can be tricky, however not impossible.  Take a look at some tips for choosing an online platform.

What do you need to consider?

Getting everyone together at the same time could be a logistical nightmare, but it doesn’t need to be.  If you use an online collaboration platform, you can check in with employees daily, hold meetings, work on new projects, and even get together to exchange ideas.

So, when looking for an online platform, you need to consider what you want. What are your minimum requirements? Do you require a platform that specializes in video conferencing? Is instant messaging top of your list of priorities? Or are you looking for a good all-round collaboration platform like mattermost.com? Knowing what you want to get out of a platform now will save lots of stress and inconvenience later.

Top Tips for Choosing a Platform

Take advantage of online reviews. Real honest feedback you gather from online reviews is quite often the best way to establish if your considering platform is the right choice for both you and your business.

What packages are available? Does the platform offer a one size fits all, a free trial or a monthly all-inclusive package?

What does your team think? As your team members will be daily users, do they have any preferences, and if so, what are they and why? Have they any real experience with the platforms. The feedback, good or bad could prove useful and help shape your decision.

Safety

Consider how safe and secure the platform is. Have there been any security or data breaches? What personal details will you be sharing over the platform and how will they be kept safe. Will your team’s private information stay private?

What is their customer service like? Do they answer messages from customers and if so, do they respond promptly? It is worth considering that if someone in your team has an issue to fix, how long will it take to resolve this issue? If customer service is not super responsive, then it will ultimately affect the productivity of your team.

Ease of use

Can the platform be used easily on all operating systems? It is important to find one that works seamlessly well on your team members’ systems, without the need for upgrades or new installations.

Taking the time to research the available and best options for you and your team now will ultimately save you stress and hassle. Getting all of your team on board and collaborating remotely can help strengthen your team, leading to an all-round more productive team and working environment.