Communication is key to collaboration, and collaboration is essential to long term success. But flexible work arrangements and online-only partnerships can put a strain on the all-important lines of communication. That’s where online collaboration tools come in.
These powerful platforms are incredibly easy to use and customize, and have the power to dramatically increase productivity, improve communication, boost team morale, and simplify remote collaboration. Online collaboration tools help managers track progress on projects of all sizes too.
Today, we’re going to take a look at a few of the top names in online collaboration, what makes them unique, and how much they cost.
Rawpixel.com/ShutterstockAsana
Asana improves collaboration and productivity by improving workflows and enhancing visibility. It’s a work management tool that’s ideal for project-based work. The platform creates a visual representation of large and small scale projects that can be segmented by task and assigned to the appropriate team members. It creates a system to manage deadlines, track progress, and spot risks right away.1
The basic version of Asana is available to individuals or teams new to project management for free. The free service is remarkably in depth too, and includes features like unlimited tasks, unlimited messages, and over one hundred free integrations. The premium tier costs $10.99 a month and adds milestones and private teams. While the business tier costs $24.99 per month includes advanced integrations, approvals, portfolios, and goals.
Teamwork
There’s a lot to like about the teamwork productivity platform. Like a lot of the programs already discussed, Teamwork creates a visual representation of ongoing projects to help manage deadlines and track progress. It’s heralded as one of the easiest online collaboration tools on the market, and works especially well for businesses expected to perform for clients.2 The inclusion of billing and invoicing tools is an example of how helpful Teamwork can be for client-facing teams.3
Teamwork’s free tier can be used indefinitely, by up to 5 users per plan. Which is great for those just looking to give the platform a try. In addition to the customized, enterprise business focused “Scale” tier, Teamwork offers a “Deliver” package for $9.99 a month and a “Grow” package for $17.99 a month. Though subscribers can save up to 29 percent for signing up to a yearly plan.4
Microsoft 365
Microsoft saw the need for integrated software solutions and leveraged their existing and familiar tools to build an online collaboration platform that covers a lot of ground. Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based office suite that leans on a variety of web and mobile apps to bring teams together.5
The software options are comprehensive, which is what makes Microsoft 365 such a powerful option. Your subscription can include Outlook for email, Word for word processing, PowerPoint for presentations, and Teams for real-time remote collaboration.
The basic business suite costs $6 per user, per month, and includes web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Teams, Exchange, OneDrive, and more. Microsoft 365 offers Business Standard and Business Premium tiers for $12.50 per user and $22 per user, per month respectively.6 For more information on what those tiers include, head on over to their website.
Slack
You don’t need a large team to be able to benefit from Slack. The user-friendly online collaboration platform creates what they call a “digital HQ” that acts as a conduit for both discourse between individuals and the business as a whole. Slack integrates with most popular work apps, enhancing efficiency even more.
Anyone can sign up online and begin using Slack for free. Free users can capitalize on as many as 10 integrations, audio and video meetings, and a 90-day message history. Those with more advanced needs can opt for a Pro or Business membership. Those tiers include expanded tools like around-the-clock customer support, large meetings of up to 50-people, and advanced identity management.7
Increase Productivity Today!
We all want to save time, increase productivity, and grow. Choosing the right tools for your business is a big part of that. Searching online for the right tools isn’t a one-off task either. It should be an ongoing process with the goal of evolving your operations to save time, money, and energy.
Taking your time to explore the various online collaboration tools available to you is an investment that usually reaps great returns. The more you read and test out new solutions, the more you increase your likelihood of finding the perfect collaboration solution for your business. Before you know it, you and your team will be on the path to improved communication, efficiency, and productivity.