A digital collaboration tool refers to any technology that enables individuals to connect, communicate, create, organize and collectively work together.
From calendar sharing and document synchronization through to the very best in digital asset management, you’ll find no shortage of collaborative tools out there. Here’s a closer look at the technologies available, and at how BOOM delivers precisely the effortless collaboration you need for super-efficient, high-quality content production.
What are the different types of digital collaboration tools?
Here are the main categories of digital collaboration tools, and how they can be put to work in your business.
Calendar sharing tools
These days especially, it’s not unusual for projects to require input from a mix of on-site and remote workers, branch-office employees, external consultants and freelancers (to name just a few). Whether it’s for an initial brainstorming or an urgent group review, getting participants organized all in one (physical or virtual) space can be a huge challenge.
A calendar sharing tool solves this problem. You select a time slot, check the availability of proposed participants, and send out invitations. Instead of all the logistical to-and-fro, you can set up an in-person or virtual meeting or group work session in just a few clicks.
Video-conferencing
For solving specific problems, gauging team mood or generally ensuring each team member understands their role, it’s hard to beat a face-to-face meeting. A must for scattered teams, video-conferencing gives you all the benefits of face-to-face interaction, except it’s conducted virtually rather than in-the-flesh.
Collaboration-friendly features to look out for in any video-conferencing solution include app integrations that allow you to import presentations, screen sharing, and the ability to record meetings for future reference.
Whiteboards
Often used alongside video-conferencing, a virtual whiteboard provides a shared visual space that all team members can work on at the same time. For example, you might add an existing visual asset to the whiteboard, annotate it to illustrate how you want to adapt it for a specific campaign and invite other participants to make their own additions. It’s a useful way for a team to build on each other’s ideas.
Instant messaging
With email, you can find yourself CC’d into lots of messages that aren’t directly relevant to you. A further frustration is having to scroll through lengthy threads to get the information or attachments you need.
Instant messaging offers a fast, efficient way for team members to communicate with each other in real time. The best instant messaging tools for collaboration organize all discussions linked to a particular project all in one place. They also often have screen sharing and file-sharing capabilities.
Document synchronization
True collaboration can only happen if multiple people can work on the same document or visual asset at the same time. This is where document synchronization comes into play: a way of ensuring that a single digital file that’s opened and altered in different locations by different people is kept up to date.
If someone makes a modification to an image, text file or other asset, that modification is effective everywhere. It ensures that everyone is accessing the correct document version.
File sharing tools
File sharing tools enable you to transfer, distribute and control access to digital assets such as video, images and text documents. It helps ensure team members get access to the items they need, without having to waste time searching for them.
Cloud storage
With cloud storage, instead of residing on your company’s servers, files and documents are stored at a remote location and accessed via the internet.
When it comes to collaboration, one of the biggest benefits of the cloud is that it enables you to use a digital asset management (DAM) platform. Going way beyond basic file sharing capabilities, DAM gives you a single point of access for all your assets in a single library. Team members can instantly get their hands on the files they need from anywhere, while document synchronization ensures there are no versioning errors. Read more about DAM here.
What are the benefits of digital collaboration tools for business?
Workflow tracking
Traditional email-based collaboration involves a lot of back-and-forth file sending and waiting for responses. Collaboration tools make it much easier to keep track of current working versions of files and to track changes. The end result is much less confusion – and greater productivity.
Perfect for distributed teams
Now that scattered teams are commonplace, forward-thinking businesses are looking for ways to recreate the creative buzz of a physical office environment. With the right tools for communication and collaboration, you can break down the barriers between different team members, and recreate – and often surpass – what was possible through traditional in-the-flesh methods of working.
Greater visibility
From instant messaging through to DAM, digital collaboration tools often make it much easier for managers to track changes, and see who did what and when. You can view the latest version of files and documents on-demand, offer quick guidance via instant messaging where necessary, and generally ensure the project stays on track.
Lower costs (and higher profits)
For managers and junior creatives alike, less time wasted on arranging catch-ups, tracking down assets and dealing with routine queries means more time for value-added work. Digital collaboration tools reduce the need for costly revisions. Campaigns can be produced, approved and rolled-out quicker: great news for your bottom line!
How does BOOM simplify digital collaboration for business?
The new BOOM Worksite provides a single central place for team collaboration and for storing, organizing and managing your company’s digital assets.
Here are some of the key ways in which BOOM can supercharge collaboration across your teams:
- All of your brand’s visual assets are organized all in one location.
- The system automatically tags and enriches each visual with metadata. It means that team members are able to locate precisely the asset they need quickly and easily.
- You get a single hub for team collaboration. No matter where they are based, authorized team members can manage, adapt, comment and share all of the company’s visuals, without risk of versioning errors.
- Intelligent creative refinement not only makes it easier for team members to work together, but also helps ensure that project participants are following your brand rules. This includes auto image resizing for different social media channels.
Start streamlining your team’s digital collaboration with BOOM
Providing a single space for asset management and team collaboration, BOOM provides exactly the environment you need for scaling up content production. Discover what’s possible here.
