Digital technologies are constantly changing how we work and live. As a result, this technological wave has made it necessary for companies and enterprises to create a  digital workspace for their employees. The fact that the digital workspace is purely online has left many wondering what collaboration in the digital workspace looks like. Luckily the answer is simple.  By focusing on improving people’s experiences and using collaboration tools, employers and employees can adequately collaborate on the digital workspace platform.

Collaboration in The Digital Workspace

The collaboration aims to create communication channels that enable multiple parties to work together towards a similar objective. In this digital era, collaboration is achieved in many ways, including networks, applications, and telecommunication. Some of the common methods used to enhance collaboration in a digital workspace include:

• Email
• Meetings (e.g., In-person, Calls, and Video-conferences)
• Instant Messaging (e.g., Microsoft Teams, AIM (RIP),
• Document Sharing solutions (e.g., File-shares, OneDrive, Box, etc.)
• Enterprise Social Networking (e.g., Yammer, Chatter, etc.)
• Team Workspaces (e.g., SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Slack, etc.)

Collaboration Tools

Implementing collaboration tools within your digital workspace allows employees to collaborate. Below are some of the frequently used collaboration tools in a digital workspace:

1. Enterprise Social Networking

Typically, the primary function of an intranet is to assist with daily business tasks. Modern business uses modern intranets that include social features; this collaboration tool is referred to as the Enterprise Social Network. It focuses on the social components that drive businesses.

Enterprise Social Networking tools move internal communication and employee collaboration online through your company intranet by including interactive intranet features. Through social networks and relations, they connect your employees and create a sense of belonging, which inadvertently gives rise to interactivity and easy exchange of information.

Some of its features include:

• Message Boards
• Live Chats
• Discussion Forums

2. Project and Department Sites

For organizations with numerous teams and multiple departments, this cross-departmental collaboration tool helps create synergy within the business whilst boosting communication between departments. Project and Department Sites provide a dedicated platform and site on your intranet for employees to communicate and collaborate.

On top of this, you can add a document library to provide departments and teams with relevant resources and a management tool (Track Manager) to help keep track of completed duties and tasks across departments.

3. Document Management System (DMS)

The Document Management System is a powerful collaboration tool used to keep track of and store documents. With this at your disposal, you will be able to use your intranet to centralize documents into common storehouses on a secure digital workspace.

Other collaboration features include sharing documents, notification alerts for any edits made on a document, and the ability to discuss documents with others on an activity stream.

The digital workplace is simply a naturally evolved version of the traditional office. On it, you get the sum of all technologies used to get the job done within your organization. Therefore, with the incorporation of some collaboration tools, you will maintain the vital element of collaboration among your employees.