Introduction
Due to modern computer programs, electronic systems, applications, and equipment, the productivity of any company is not connected with a physical desk anymore. An Internet connection and collaborative technologies provide interaction between people from all over the world in real-time. This essay examines collaborative technologies, their role in the companies’ workflow, and their benefits and potential challenges for organizations.
Definition of Collaborative Technologies
Collaborative technologies may be defined as a combination of software and hardware equipment that is used to provide real-time communication and facilitate information sharing and coordination between people regardless of their location. These computer-based systems allow group participants to interact efficiently in the virtual environment and include discussion forums, messaging, video, and audio conferencing, business directories, and knowledge portals (Camilleri & Hernández, 2016). Technologies encourage communication and collaboration between individuals or teams across space and time via electronic discussions, telephone calls, online chats, and application sharing as well. Collaborative software may be divided into two dimensions according to time, place, and the number of participants – synchronous and asynchronous. Synchronous programs for collaboration are characterized by real-time interaction between all members on the same platform, while asynchronous tools are designed for non-instantaneous tasks under the conditions of mismatched time zones and working schedules. They provide more time for the participants of the conversation to reflect before an answer.
Use of Collaborative Technologies by Companies
At the present day, the successful business of any reliable company is impossible without the use of collaborative technologies between its teams or departments. As the majority of organizations require their critical workforces to provide results quickly and efficiently and perform smarter, the achievement of the companies’ goals implicates the implementation of collaborative technologies into the working process (Bayrak, 2015). The platforms for interaction between employees should not only encourage their communication but create new ways of operation as well. The embedding of collaborative technologies into performance and their subsequent use become a commonly accepted part of the employees’ working routine. Moreover, technologies are highly beneficial for the quick setting of objectives and evaluation of results as well. In addition, collaborative technologies allow managers to provide guidance and optimize the working process to increase productivity. In turn, optimized workflow with well-defined and standardized goals, work plans, templates, roles, and tasks encourages people to evaluate and improve the quality of their performance.
It goes without saying that a prevalent number of companies, especially international corporations, currently integrate collaborative technologies to provide the connection with their employees all over the world. For instance, in 2018, Mondelēz International, a US-based international food corporation with multiple branch offices worldwide, opened its new global technical center in Singapore (“Mondelēz opens new technical centre in Singapore,” 2018). According to Rob Hargrove, the company’s innovation executive-vice-president, “as consumers’ preferences and lifestyles continue to evolve, innovation is core to achieving that mission” (“Mondelēz opens new technical centre in Singapore,” 2018, para. 9). The new technical center subsequently joined other research facilities of Mondelēz International located in Brazil, the United States, Poland, and the United Kingdom, and it goes without saying that collaborative technologies provide constant cooperation between them.
Benefits of Collaborative Technologies
The successful implementation of an effective collaboration strategy on the basis of technologies affords various advantages for companies both for internal and external users. First of all, collaborative systems substantively save time and decrease unwanted expenses for any project. Proper planning and teamwork is a long-lasting process that may be facilitated and boosted by quick decision-making, the distribution of tasks, and the evaluation of all risks through real-time communication and coordination provided by technologies.
Effective teamwork and the employees’ collaboration require their cooperation to complete essential tasks and projects. Collaborative technologies are immeasurably beneficial for the strengthening of team relationships not only within one group but between multiple departments all over the world as they are concentrated on the same objectives. In addition, collaborative technologies substantively reduce the company’s costs of the employees’ transportation as all urgent questions may be discussed by the groups in real-time regardless of their location.
The implementation of collaborative technologies in any business is highly advantageous for supervisors as well. The maintenance of control over group members and working progress is frequently challenging for a substantial number of project managers. Collaborative technologies provide supervisors the ability to coordinate the employees’ activities, encourage synergy between them, and monitor all tasks that had been done and should be done in the future. With the help of collaborative technologies, executives may provide guidance concerning the optimal performance of particular working processes, increase the productivity of workers, and improve the quality of work.
Moreover, corporate collaboration software and remote products encourage creativity, increase the chances to develop new innovative ways of performance, and help all participants of cooperation to evaluate their actions for potential improvement of their quality in the future. In addition, real-time cooperation provides an efficient and quick division of labor as every worker is aware of his or her working responsibilities, even if executives are located on another continent. Collaborative technologies are beneficial not only for employees but customers as well as the ability of a company to coordinate all team members’ activities quickly and efficiently increase the quality and speed of service.
Challenges and Potential Problems of Collaborative Technologies
Unfortunately, the use of collaborative technologies may implement certain potential risks and challenges that may negatively influence the company’s efficient performance. The prevalent number of such risks and challenges are connected with personal peculiarities that may occur during the work in a team. For instance, under the conditions of collaborative structures, some employees may incorrectly take a leadership position working on the same project. The situation when a large number of people prioritize their ideas instead of providing support may be highly disturbing and affect the successful completion of a project in a negative way. Moreover, effective collaboration between team members may be impaired by the difference between the workers’ opinions. Nevertheless, the benefits of collaborative technologies overweight these concerns as competent management may minimize all risks.
Conclusion
Collaborative technologies are a combination of software and hardware equipment that is used to provide real-time communication and facilitate information sharing and coordination between people regardless of their location. It goes without saying that a prevalent number of companies, especially international corporations, currently integrate collaborative technologies to provide a connection with their employees all over the world. The successful implementation of an effective collaboration strategy on the basis of technologies saves time, strengthens working relationships between employees, encourages creativity, provides the supervisor’s control, and enhances the company’s productivity and quality of service. Potential challenges of collaborative technologies may be connected with personal peculiarities that may occur during the work in a team, however, competent management may minimize all risks.
References
Bayrak, T. (2015). Identifying collaborative technology impact areas. Technology in Society, 42, 93-103. Web.
Camilleri, G., & Hernández, J. E. (2016). Negotiation and collaborative technologies in organizations and supply chains: Introduction to the special issue. Group Decision and Negotiation, 25(6), 1091-1096. Web.
Mondelēz opens new technical centre in Singapore. (2018). Food Processing Technology. Web.