How integrated collaboration tools can boost productivity and save your business money

With new technologies emerging every year, businesses that are able to keep up with the pace of modernisation are more likely to succeed than their competitors. The growth of the internet has irrevocably transformed many areas of business, not least in terms of communications - and companies can make the most of these advances when employing online collaboration tools.



While a reliable broadband connection is now a mandatory requirement for businesses of all sizes, there are many online tools and services that companies can make use of to add value to their business - as well as save on unnecessary costs. By implanting VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) throughout your company, you will be in the ideal position to start benefiting from the latest collaboration tools, improving and streamlining communications throughout all areas of your organisation.



VoIP has numerous advantages over traditional communications, not least the ability to make free audio and video calls to other employees and business partners using the same software on their computers or handheld devices. The ability to make video calls should be of particular interest to businesses looking to reduce travel costs and improve their green credentials, as it's now easier to communicate with contacts in all corners of the earth without having to travel in person or pay exorbitant amounts for international calls. VoIP calls also eliminate the lag time associated with traditional international calls, and users can arrange competitive rates for calling mobiles and other phone numbers with their provider.

Video conferencing is another online collaboration tool that many businesses now consider indispensible, allowing multiple users to dial in to a single call and obtain all the necessary information firsthand. Again, this can significantly reduce the need to use company time and money on travel expenses, as everyone who can benefit from the call can dial in from anywhere in the world. The ability to share and view files also means contacts won't have to sort through awkward email attachments or struggle to keep up with the information as it's presented.



The ability to work on documents in real time is another benefit of online collaboration, as multiple users can access and amend documents hosted in a virtual environment, without having to keep track of multiple drafts sent back and forth. Not only does online collaboration improve productivity and save valuable work hours, but these tools have also revolutionised training seminars and company presentations.