The Future of Collaboration Software: Mobility, Social Networking & User Experience

Collaboration software makes it possible now to conduct business as a group even if the members are in different locations. In this set-up, what matters is the capacity to be online and the ability to connect an unspecified number of users from any location on the planet and through whatever medium; email, video conferencing, instant messaging,  smartphone or others. If you’re a non-profit organization, check this quick guide specific to your industry.

Collaboration software offers today’s small business unified solutions that centralize data and enable anybody connected to the Internet to handle large-scale projects. The benefits are numerous, including the reduction of a company’s expenses on office space and travel. Productivity is also encouraged with numerous software features that make web based processes easy and simple. It becomes possible for an executive, for example,  to manage projects because of cloud hosted collaboration suites that connect anyone to team members, partners, or clients.

Knowing their extensive value for a large or medium enterprise, one might ask just what is the future of collaboration software? How do we see it five years from now and what will be the projected improvements? What areas of collaboration will see much growth? Here are what we found out:

The future of collaboration software is about the diversity of the User Experience. By this, we mean the software can adjust to varying preferences and adaptabilities of consumers, perhaps, depending on their personal preferences or background. There will be software interaction features for everyone, regardless one prefers to chat, launch videos, engage in micro-blogging, or post in message boards. Although open source collaboration software is now capable of this flexibility, expect out-of-the-box solutions that can be customized without or with little coding requirements.

Next, the future of collaboration software is about social networking, especially that social networking today go beyond keeping in touch with friends or colleagues; rather, it’s integrated in our daily lives. Aside from Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, there are about 300 other social networks and the list keeps growing by the day. What is noteworthy is how these networks have become necessary to business to gain new clients or interact with present ones. They also have become an indispensable collaboration tool because from the social network, one can join or create groups, exchange ideas, share knowledge, or, otherwise, maintain a web presence to promote your brand. Within the company, the integration of social technologies in traditional business systems and processes employees use is said to encourage cooperation and productivity.

Mobility is yet another future of collaboration software. Experts state that Unified Communications or UC will be the norm in the next few years and it is predicted  that “every smart phone will be equipped with video chat, IM, directory, and other UC features within a few years.” More than ever, new and upcoming handheld devices will encourage mobile collaboration at its best  They will not only be equipped with audio and video but also telestration or onscreen drawing, multi-party conferencing, telepresence  and other up-to-date technologies. Working remotely, without regard for large physical workspaces, will be the norm rather than the exception.

By Jenny Chang

Jenny Chang is a senior writer specializing in SaaS and B2B software solutions. Her decision to focus on these two industries was spurred by their explosive growth in the last decade, much of it she attributes to the emergence of disruptive technologies and the quick adoption by businesses that were quick to recognize their values to their organizations. She has covered all the major developments in SaaS and B2B software solutions, from the introduction of massive ERPs to small business platforms to help startups on their way to success.