Did you know that nearly eight in 10 workers were using collaboration tools for work last year? That’s up considerably from 2019, when just over half of workers used collaboration tools.  

According to the Gartner “Digial Worker Experience Survey,” demand for collaboration tools skyrocketed during the pandemic. Lockdowns and stay-at-home orders meant that many people started working from home. While restrictions have largely been lifted and many people are returning to the workplace, collaboration tools are no less important.

For one thing, some workers are still working remotely. And collaboration tools are a good idea whether companies have employees spread out over vast geographies, have in-office and remote staff, or want their team to be able to more seamlessly complete projects.

If you’re looking for collaboration software for your business, what features are important? Keep reading to see 5 benefits collaboration software offers. You can’t afford to pass them up.

  1. Higher Productivity

A while back, research firm IDC estimated that a company employing 1,000 knowledge workers wasted no less than $2.5 million annually searching for non-existent data, failing to track down existing information, or recreating data they can’t find. 

If your workers can’t find what they need to do their jobs, you’re frustrating them and shortchanging your company since time is money. But the right collaboration software keeps various streams of information together. Rather than having to sort through multiple repositories of information, workers will be able to find what they need in one place.

  1. Track Projects More Easily

Managing projects is much easier with the right collaboration software. Depending on the size of your company, you may have employees working in different parts of the country, in various nations around the world, or on other continents. Even if all your workers are in the same city, some of them might work at home full-time or part-time. How do you keep everything together and everyone on the same page? You use collaboration software that everyone can access. The tool will facilitate real-time collaboration, whether that involves sharing documents, assigning tasks, setting deadlines, or anything else.

  1. Security

Security can’t be an afterthought when looking for collaboration software. It’s great to be able to share documents, but you also need to be able to safeguard your sensitive files and customer information. Whatever collaboration application you use, ensure it offers advanced security controls, thorough information governance, and intelligent threat detection. It’s also important to find a solution that includes, among other things, industry compliance.

  1. Streamlined Workflow

With the right collaboration software, you’ll be able to streamline workflows. Let the software you choose automate your company’s repeatable workflows to avoid inefficiencies and wasted time. When you eliminate bottlenecks, workflows will proceed more quickly and consistently. You can then assign your workers to other essential tasks that can’t be automated.

  1. App Integrations

When looking for collaboration software, choose a tool that offers app integration. If the software you choose is designed to help your employees work well together, shouldn’t the software itself work well with other applications? 

Collaboration software that supports seamless integrations with other useful apps will help your workers. They’ll be able to use other software they like and are accustomed to without jeopardizing security.

These are 5 benefits you’ll want to look for in any collaboration software you buy. There was a time when such a tool might have been more of a value-added feature than a mission-critical tool. But those days are over. You need collaboration software for all of the above reasons and more. It makes sense to consider it if you haven’t already done so.