Office collaboration software

Office collaboration tools are computer-based instruments that make it real to establish realtime co-operation between people working within the same office. It means sharing a set of vital processes driving the company’s workflow between multiple co-workers, for example they may collaborate in terms of project management and document sharing. Office collaboration software is what makes these interactions faster, cheaper, easier and more effective in context both of manual facilitation and company-wide productivity. There are different technologies used to drive such programs, but usually work-related intercommunications are supported and maintained through the means of shared server which holds a number of software servers (virtual servers) referred to different applications, including shareware for managing business tasks and processes (planning, sharing, controlling and reporting them). Let’s consider these means to drive virtual office collaboration in details:

• Microsoft Office – if your company has a wealthy IT-budget you may consider solutions provided by Microsoft. This arrangement refers to different areas and dimensions of co-operational practice, including documents and business tasks. Everyone knows great application for task and time management called MS Outlook that perfectly works for needs of standalone users. But if you have an idea to use this program in multi-user regime (for sharing tasks, projects and calendars), then you need to consider installing Microsoft Exchange Server that will maintain collaborative mode of this application. Other Microsoft Office is the family of SharePoint products that maintain and extend interactions in terms of MS Office applications.

Online office collaboration – when you have a virtual team of people collaborating through the Internet, without one physical premises where they can co-work, but working from their remote homes which can be allocated all over the world, then you need to consider using different on-line solutions (web-based or able to work through the Internet channels). This kind is widely represented on the Web, so that the only problem you may face while choosing an appropriate one is a wealth of choice. 

While you can find a tool with really rich functionality, you shouldn’t forget that if your data is not stored on your own server, then it is not completely protected. Also, if you have a usual workgroup situated in one office, then you should avoid using on-line solutions, because in a case if Internet connection appears down, your business data will become just unreachable.

• Open source office collaboration – if you have a powerful IT-staff in your company, then you may try using different open source instruments as they provide you with capabilities for development of your own solutions. If you are a person well-skilled in software engineering and programming, then it is a proper variant for you, as you can try to cover your different business needs via integrating collaborative system with other enterprise systems such as financial modules, accounting, industry-oriented solutions, etc. However, if you are not a professional programmer, then you need to select from ready-to-go solutions (not open source), like one represented below. 

VIP Task Manager is an example that perfectly suit needs of SME. This is client-server software which helps you to establish teamwork between multiple users in terms of planning, sharing and controlling projects. It works via database where project managers can save and share some project matters such as tasks and objectives explained in time, costs, budgets, resources, etc. This product features three agile interface modes (Task List, Task Tree and Calendar) to review project data. This tool is a proper alternative to costly Microsoft solutions, unreliable on-line tools (as it also can work through the Internet), and open-source solutions (as it is ready easy-to-use program for user from small and medium business segment).