Email has always been the go-to communication tool for companies. It clearly has its benefits, but the modern company may find that it falls short in many ways. If you’re ready to move past email and upgrade your communication to improve collaboration, we have a few suggestions.
The arrival of the cloud is one of the driving forces behind the rise of collaboration tools. The way we work is changing, and email hasn’t managed to keep pace. Workers are no longer chained to their desks and it’s becoming more common to work from home or on-the-go.
Cloud-based collaboration tools allow your team to be based anywhere in the world and still have the same collaborative experience as if they were in the same room. We’re a big fan of collaboration here at Auburn HQ, and these are some of our favourite tools to help make it happen!
Slack
Slack is so much more than a communication app. It can be used to share files, keep track of projects and make sure everyone is on the same page. Create different channels for different arms of your business and then you can make sure everyone is on the same page in real time. You can talk to your whole team or just one person. And the best part is that it works just as well on the desktop as it does on mobile, so you can take your office with you wherever you go.
Google Docs
If you’ve ever got 3 hours into editing a document and then discovered that you’re not working with the latest version, you’ll know just how frustrating this can be. Google Docs includes a cloud-based version of Word, Excel and Powerpoint. All documents are saved in the cloud and can be kept private, shared with individuals, or shared with your entire network. If you’re already using the G Suite to manage your emails then Google Docs is the next logical step.
Trello
Keeping a large distributed team organised is no easy task. Trello is one collaboration tool that can help you to stay on track. Choose between boards or lists to keep everything organised, no matter how many projects you are working on. Boards are perfect for your agile scrums, allowing you to ditch the whiteboard and sticky notes for something that can be carried with you at all times using the handy mobile app.
Hubspot
Failing to follow up on leads is one of the biggest business killers afflicting modern businesses. When your sales team is made up of more than one person, collaboration is key to keeping this process ticking along smoothly. Hubspot Sales can help sales teams to work together to nurture those warm leads and turn them into sales. It also comes with an array of handy email hacks, such as email open tracking.
Asana
If tasks commonly fall between the cracks in your organisation, then you’re not alone. “But I thought you were doing it” has got to be one of the most common phrases heard in end of week meetings across the country. Asana is like a to-do list on caffeine. Assign tasks, keep track of progress on projects, set deadlines and share files within the handy app-style interface. You’ll never let a task slip through the cracks again!