4 Tips for Picking the Best Team Collaboration Tool
If you have a team involved in your business, the right collaboration tool can make all the difference to your success. They’re an integral piece of software that offers you a substantial return on your investment, both in terms of efficiency and economics.
Choosing the one that works well for your business involves strategic planning. With these 4 tips, you’ll be able to pick the best team collaboration tool and get started reaping the benefits.
1. Pick Your Key Focus Areas
There are dozens (or more) of categories involved in running a business. Some of these are more important than others. Make a list of the pain points you have, and then prioritize these. Look for collaboration tools that are designed to tackle these areas in particular, and then narrow them down by looking at the less vital characteristics that would still be helpful.
2. Get Team Buy-In
When you’re the one “in charge,” it’s tempting to make the decisions yourself. But if you’re going to have your team using the software, getting their buy-in is crucial. Otherwise, they’re likely to do the bare minimum rather than get excited about the features and utilize it to their fullest. Ask for product demos from the software solutions you’re considering, then let your team try each one out. You probably won’t get a unanimous agreement, so ask for their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd top choices, then go from there.
3. Narrow Down the Options
Instead of looking at every collaboration tool, look at the top software systems that your team thought worked well for their needs. Then, narrow them down based on the functions you know are integral. For instance, someone in Brisbane would need a solution that offered IT support in Brisbane. You also know which software systems are already in place. Will the new tool be compatible with those? Considering these factors makes the integration process easier.
4. Monitor the Roll-Out
How will you know if the new tool is working? Come up with milestones that track the progress and success of the software. This is a strategic business practice for anything you implement, not just collaborative tools. However, since the software is going to be an essential part of daily life for your team, you want to catch any bugs early and get them fixed. If it’s absolutely not working out, there should be a return policy. When your team doesn’t want to use the software because it’s making things harder, talk to tech support. There may be an easy solution, or it may be time to return the tool and look for something better.
With these 4 tips in mind as you’re choosing a collaborative tool for your team, everyone can get excited about an innovative solution. The goal is to make their jobs easier and more streamlined. What’s not to be on board with about that?
And if they’re involved in the process, they’re even more likely to use the tools to their optimal level and be honest with you when something isn’t working so you can get it fixed.