Streamline your business collaboration with these cloud-based tools
The state of the traditional office has changed significantly since the 2020 pandemic. Teams are now scattered, not only across cities, but across countries – and building a remote team has never been easier.
While hiring abroad seems easy enough, effective collaboration is key to driving success in businesses of all sizes. Whether you’re a small startup or a large corporation, harnessing the power of online, cloud-based collaboration tools can help you work smarter, not harder.
Let’s explore some of the best collaboration tools available that are revolutionising the way teams work together.
Slack
Slack is not just a communication tool, it’s a cloud-based hub for collaboration. Here you get everything from customisable channels, built-in document libraries, and real-time chat features that make teamwork seamless. Whether you’re coordinating with internal teams or external clients, Slack Connect allows you to easily share your workspace and ideas, ensuring everyone stays connected.
Pros: Automations can help streamline workflows, reducing the need for manual notifications and status updates. Additionally, Slack integrates with over 2,400 other apps, which allows teams to enhance productivity with their go-to tools.
Cons: Managing notifications can be cumbersome, especially in larger teams where message overload is common. Additionally, some advanced features such as single sign-on (SSO) and HIPAA compliance require higher-tier plans.
Pricing: Slack offers a free plan for individual use, with team plans starting at $7.25 per user per month. For larger enterprises with specific security and compliance needs, Slack offers enterprise-level plans with advanced features.
Asana
We’ll discuss a few of these on this list, but they’re all designed for different organisation sizes. Asana is built for Kanban boards and features customisable project management features that help teams collaborate effectively. With personalised views and granular task management, everyone stays on the same page. Whether you’re managing marketing campaigns, product launches, or client projects, Asana provides flexibility and scalability.
Pros: Customisable workflows and integrations with Google Workspace enhance productivity, and allow teams to seamlessly collaborate on tasks and projects. Additionally, Asana’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for teams to onboard quickly and start collaborating from the start.
Cons: Advanced features such as custom workflow automations may require you to upgrade to higher-tier plans. Additionally, different workflows and project management processes may be confusing for some users, especially those new to the platform.
Pricing: Asana’s Basic plan is free forever, with Premium plans starting at $10.99 per user per month. For larger enterprises with complex project management needs, Asana offers enterprise-level plans with advanced features and dedicated support.
Trello
Trello’s intuitive interface and customisable workflows make it a favourite among small teams. With no-code automation tools and hundreds of integrations, collaboration becomes pretty easy to set up and monitor. Whether you’re managing editorial calendars, sprint planning, or design projects, Trello provides ample flexibility and simplicity.
Pros: It features easy setup with templates and seamless integrations with other tools to enhance productivity, which in turn allows teams to focus on delivering results. Additionally, Trello’s no-code automation tools enable teams to automate repetitive tasks, saving time and reducing errors.
Cons: File storage limitations and advanced views may require upgrading to paid plans, which may be a concern for budget-conscious teams. Additionally, while Trello’s simplicity is a strength, it may lack some of the advanced features required by larger enterprises.
Pricing: Trello offers a free plan with limited features, with paid plans starting at $5 per user per month. For larger teams with specific collaboration needs, Trello offers enterprise-level plans with advanced features and priority support.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams combines video conferencing with impressive collaboration features, making it a go-to for many corporate teams. Integration with Microsoft apps such as Word, Excel, and SharePoint enhances productivity, allowing teams to collaborate seamlessly on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets.
Pros: Full Microsoft toolkit access and meeting scheduling tools help with collaboration, ensuring teams stay connected and busy. Additionally, Microsoft Teams’ collaborative annotation tools enable teams to provide feedback and make edits in real time, reducing the need for back-and-forth emails.
Cons: Limited customisation options and better suited for users already invested in Microsoft’s ecosystem, which may be a concern for teams using other productivity tools. Additionally, while Microsoft Teams offers a free version, certain advanced features such as single sign-on (SSO) and compliance features may require upgrading to paid plans.
Pricing: Microsoft Teams offers a free version with limited features, with paid plans starting at $4 per user per month. For larger enterprises with specific security and compliance needs, Microsoft Teams offers enterprise-level plans with advanced features and dedicated support.
Monday.com
Monday.com offers a versatile platform for project and task management, workflows, and processes. It also features customisable workflows and task statuses, so teams can tailor the platform to match their unique collaboration needs. Direct messages and group chats help facilitate communication, ensuring everyone stays connected.
Pros: Here you get a user-friendly dashboard that makes it easy to customise workflows and track progress. Monday.com frequently updates its platform with improvements and new features, enhancing the overall user experience. Additionally, automations remove the need for repetitive tasks, streamlining workflows and saving time.
Cons: The customisable interface may be overwhelming for some users, especially those new to project management tools. Additionally, Monday.com suffered a data breach in January 2021, raising security concerns for some users. Pricing may also be a concern for smaller teams, as plans can be relatively expensive.
Pricing: Monday.com offers a free plan with limited features, with paid plans starting at $8 per user per month. For larger teams with specific collaboration needs, Monday.com offers enterprise-level plans with advanced features and dedicated support.
Canva
Canva is a powerful design tool that allows teams to collaborate on graphics, documents, presentations, and whiteboards. With real-time comments, streamlined production, and seamless integrations with other collaboration tools, Canva is one of the best real-time design tools teams use to create visually stunning content together.
Pros: Real-time comments enable teams to gather feedback and sign-offs without the need for lengthy email chains. Additionally, Canva’s integration with other tools such as Slack, Mailchimp, and HubSpot enhances workflow efficiency, allowing teams to deliver results faster.
Cons: Canva’s pricing may be a concern for smaller businesses, as plans can be relatively expensive. Additionally, while Canva offers a free plan with limited access to illustrations and photos, certain features such as exporting images as .svg may require upgrading to paid plans.
Pricing: Canva offers a free plan with limited features, with paid plans starting at $12.99 per person per month ($119.99 per year per person). For larger teams with specific design and collaboration needs, Canva offers enterprise-level plans with advanced features and dedicated support.
These top collaboration tools are revolutionising the way businesses collaborate, helping teams work more efficiently and effectively towards common goals. Whether you’re managing content production, coordinating projects, or facilitating remote teamwork, there’s a tool out there to suit your needs. Embrace the power of online collaboration and take your business to new heights.
