What Are the Advantages of Online Collaboration?

1. It’s easier to organize meetings

It's easy to organize meetings using online collaboration tools. You can invite many attendees using free video conferencing software without worrying about where they'd sit or park. The location does not determine who gets invited, increasing inclusion in teams. What's more, you have the additional benefit of being able to record, share, and archive meeting links with those who aren't present.

2. You can complete projects faster

Online collaboration connects cross-functional teams and encourages employees to exchange ideas and knowledge and support each other. Whether internally within companies or in open communities, online collaboration fosters creativity and innovative solutions as each person brings a different perspective and experience.

3. You can save overhead costs

Online collaboration saves time spent commuting and traveling. Workers can roll out of bed and into work without wasting hours. It's cheaper to plan and manage meetings with stakeholders across the globe. Resources, like office and meeting spaces, are leased when needed, enabling team members to make specific decisions about allocation, deciding whether it's most impactful to splurge on a meeting or event or meet online.

4. It’s easier to manage projects

Online collaboration makes it easy to manage projects and synchronize project-related conversations. Collaboration software automates the generation and distribution of reports to involved stakeholders and team members. Moving your project management needs online improves visibility into projects, which guides team members to do their jobs within set timelines. Online collaboration can also significantly increase project completion rate since stakeholders, and team members can meet and update each other without time and location constraints.

5. Enhanced team and individual productivity

Online collaboration enables employee flexibility and productivity in ways that were never thought possible. Workers can allocate their time optimally to cater to work and personal responsibilities. With online collaboration allowing work from any location, employees can work at their most productive hours and schedule check-ins with colleagues who are away.

Admittedly, online collaboration is not all sunshine. There are drawbacks and disadvantages, but these do not take away from the benefits. Your teams will likely embrace online collaboration when you have the right collaborative work management tools to facilitate and encourage online collaboration.