Groupware

Collaborative software (also referred to as groupware or workgroup support systems) is software designed to help people involved in a common task achieve their goals. Collaborative software is the basis for computer supported cooperative work.

With the globalization of workforces becoming the new normal, it’s important for businesses to remain in contact with employees and partners. Many businesses do this through solutions such as groupware software.

Groupware software has become one of the most powerful solutions for modern-day enterprises and is often listed as a “go-to” option by successful leaders. Here is more on why groupware is essential and what it can do for a business in the long-run.

What is Groupware Software?

Groupware software acts as a collaborative solution to help connect people. These individuals can be in various parts of the world and this solution acts as a way to bind everyone’s work together. One of the more popular forms of groupware is cited as “synchronous groupware” and is used for real-time collaboration.

The uses for such tools can vary including collective writing, ongoing sharing of calendars, detailed database access, e-mail handling, remote meetings, and more. This software makes it easier to manage and/or display information for everyone to see at the same time.

Some of the world’s largest enterprises make use of collaborative software or “groupware” to help promote team-building and general efficiency.

Common Features of Groupware Software

The software will include a wide array of features to promote collaborative work. These features can vary from solution to solution but will offer improved productivity in the end.

Some of the features include:

* Communication (File Editing, Polls, Shared Task Management)

* Authentication and Logging (Updated Logs)

* Social Engagement (Profile Badges, User Groups)

* Enterprise Knowledge Management (Protected Reference Documents, Internal Wikis)

* Discoverability (Storage of Files, Access to Files)

* Coordinated Workflows (Group Collaborations)

These features are easy to integrate with the rest of the business and its operations. Users are able to gain access to these features and take advantage of them for personal and business-wide gain.

Benefits of Groupware Software

1) Promotes Communication

Communication between users is essential and should be as straightforward as possible. In some cases, traditional methods don’t promote such communication and leave users in a confused state of mind. With the help of groups, profile badges, and more, everyone remains on the same page.

This can help highlight potential flaws in projects and make sure everyone is on top of things from day one. This level of communication can make or break how well the business runs especially once the software is hosted on the business website. Users can quickly log-in, use the platform, and move forward with more information than ever before.

2) Increases Productivity

Projects can take time to develop and teams have to stay as patient as possible. With the help of world-class groupware software, teams can start to increase their daily results without unnecessary delays. Everyone can contribute, learn, and adapt without missing deadlines as listed beforehand.

This can become important with larger projects where multiple people from various fields come together under one umbrella. Groupware software is able to organize information and responsibilities without causing delays in how the project is run.

This level of control is a major advantage with modern-day groupware software as it eliminates underlying inefficiencies.

3) Removes Concerns About Distance

With a business sending its employees to various parts of the world, it’s become important to have the ability to communicate in one spot. Digital developments over the years such as groupware software have made it possible to maintain control over these details.

All concerns about different timelines, time zones, and departments can disappear with the help of these solutions. The software is able to manage the information and enable edits/changes based on when a person logs in. This is essential in building a robust project, optimizing the processes, and making sure everyone is able to contribute.

4) Helps Manage Information

The management of information (i.e. company files, agreements) can become difficult if it’s all paper-based. Instead, groupware software can cut through these hurdles and offer a one-stop solution for all users. Everyone is able to log-in and use the software to gain these files. This can become increasingly important when ongoing changes are made to the files by users. Everything is done in a seamless manner and ensures all users are aware of what’s going on. This level of management is essential.