In this post-pandemic world, physical and face-to-face interactions might not be an option for many people. Whether you are an employee of a company or a freelancing individual, it is apparent that you should have a system in-place to allow you to work and collaborate online. The idea of “returning to normal” should be put aside and be replaced with “embracing the new normal”. In the world of technology, change is inevitable and rather than ignoring the advancements, we should embrace it.
An online platform is basically your virtual office filled with tools and resources to help you work and communicate effectively with your team. Some companies would have different criteria when it comes to their online platform, but the basic requirements would be security, portability, affordability, non-performance heavy, and low data usage.
On top of that, for project teams to function properly and seamlessly, the online platform must have three basic features;
- Communication tools
- File-sharing system
- Team project calendar
- Communication tools
A key to good collaboration is be effortless communication. A team would need to have a comprehensive communication tool to do this. Your online platform should be equipped with not just a video-conferencing tool for important and urgent discussions, but also a messaging tool or group forum for a less disruptive and convenient communication.
It is also worth noting that, with the development of smartphones, more people are likely to engage in text-based communication rather than calls. - File-sharing system
Working remotely does not necessarily mean working independently. Similarly in an office environment, you should not be expected to work alone. Employees would still need to be able to share their work with team members to collaborate and complete the project.
Sending files as email attachments is possible but still inefficient in most cases, especially if your work involves large working files. It is smart to invest to a cloud storage service to allow fast and secured file-sharing between employees in the office and in remote locations. - Team project calendar / tracker
As a team leader, when your team is working in different locations, it would be increasingly difficult to keep up with their individual updates. Having a collaborative calendar in place can help with project management as you will be able to monitor your team’s progress against their deadlines and intervene necessarily when there are unexpected events.
For companies adopting a hybrid work schedule, having a collaborative calendar can help with tracking everyone’s attendance, when they would or would not be in the office.