Hybrid working–a flexible approach where employees split their time between office and remote environments–is part of the evolving workplace. But, despite the benefits, it has generated several challenges.
One of the biggest challenges an organisation will face with a hybrid workplace model is how to encourage collaboration and communication. Without being physically present, it may be more difficult for your teams to share ideas and communicate. Therefore, it is vital to implement a collaborative work management tool.
Collaborative work management (CWM) enables efficient communication, fast and easy access to resources, and seamless collaboration – all while your teams work from any location. Let's take a closer look at CWM and find out why this solution is proving to be a vital tool for businesses.
What is collaborative work management?
Collaborative work management manifests as a platform which enables employees to conduct work-related discussions, access and share business documents and data, and share information freely. Collaborative work management acts as a digital hub that can be accessed outside of the office from anywhere. This solution enables clear communication and efficient collaboration regardless of team member location or the device used.
How is a collaborative work management solution different from others?
Collaborative work management is closely linked with project and work management, so what is different about this solution? While there are similarities between the three, collaborative work management tools differ because they take a bottom-up approach. They involve everyone in the decision-making process and provide a team-centric approach that incorporates self-management and independent working. This is the opposite of project management software which is based on the traditional top-down approach. With this approach, a project manager creates a plan that employees follow.
As the name suggests, project management is generally restricted to managing projects. Work management builds upon project management, incorporating individual and team projects while covering broader organisational activities. Collaborative work management can be considered a further extension of project management and work management or an evolution of work management.
Collaborative work management assists with task automation, project management, task management and workflows while aiding with team member communications and collaboration, reporting, analytics and dashboards.
Top features of collaborative work management tools
A recent report from Wellingtone found that 75% of working professionals believe that usage of team collaboration tools will increase.
With workforces recognising the importance of collaborative software, now might be a good time to leverage collaborative work management tools. But what features should you prioritise when considering work management tools? Comprehensive tools should provide the following:
- Enhanced communication features for projects, content and tasks, and the ability to collaborate without interruption.
- Task planning and task management flexibility, particularly when working on different projects simultaneously.
- Real-time data accessibility and interactive reports and dashboards. Plus, the ability to view this information across different projects.
- Workflow automation to minimise unnecessary labour through customisation and automation of repetitive tasks – for example, when updating calendar items or searching for information.
- Integration with other software tools for a unified system of combined technologies.
Why is collaborative work management important?
To achieve success, workforces must be able to collaborate efficiently. However, a big challenge associated with remote and hybrid working is that workforces are no longer in the same physical environments at the same time. Collaborative work management answers this problem by providing a platform aimed at fostering clear communication and collaboration.
When leveraged successfully, it will assist an organisation in transitioning from personal productivity to collective performance. Its accessible, bottom-up approach builds a team-centric environment that is also friendly to non-technical business users.
A recent survey by Project Management Institute found that 54% of people say that collaborative leadership will become more important for talent development. Therefore, not only should employees embrace this way of working, but the organisation as a whole.
Aside from assisting your teams with communication and collaboration, CWM increases productivity. Task automation for menial tasks such as calendar updates saves time and enables your teams to focus on their workload. Collaborative work management increases efficiency by providing a single place for data and documents. Moreover, clear communication saves time and money and prevents having to rectify any mistakes that arise.
Workforces in different geographical locations or based in the same office must collaborate efficiently to achieve success, which is only possible by utilising some of the best collaborative work management tools. Collaborative work management is the enabler for successfully implementing a hybrid workplace model.
If you're ready to discuss what options might be right for your organisation, we can help. Get in touch with Adaptavist’s expert team to find out more about our solutions today.
