Technology is continuously transforming and shaping daily business operations. It has shaped different business aspects from production to customer service, and communication among co-workers is no exception. Communication is the key to the success of any business. The presence of proper communication skills and tools promotes order in the work environment. Currently, workers utilize advanced communication tools and platforms as they engage in their roles.
Unlike in the past, today’s business environment has limited physical communication and collaboration among co-workers. According to Forbes, modern business communication utilizes video conferencing, email communication, and social media platforms. These communication tools improve on speed, simplicity, and viability of communication among co-workers collaborating on projects from different locations.
Here are a few ways technology is shaping co-workers’ communication and collaboration.
Cloud Computing
Cloud computing technology is transforming and shaping workers’ collaboration and communication. Since files and resources can be stored in the cloud, co-workers with access rights can use them anytime from any location. Besides, cloud computing services provide real-time collaboration between co-workers working on a project regardless of their geographic location. The technology eliminates any existing obstacles among co-workers or technical challenges resulting from computers situated in different places. Therefore, cloud computing makes communication among co-workers and other stakeholders in the business, more convenient, and simplified.
Video Conferencing
Video conferencing technology offers fast and convenient co-worker communication for distributed teams. Video calls assist in improving connections and confidence by providing face-to-face communication among co-workers working remotely.
Today, phone calls aren’t as popular as they were several years ago in making calls between co-workers. Video calls have taken over and are integrated with other platforms to offer a better experience when co-workers communicate. Besides, video conferencing is convenient to use as workers can connect through their desktops or smartphones.
Due to the ease of use and accessibility via cloud computing, video conferencing is becoming the best solution for distributed teams. With a single click, co-workers collaborating on a project can share their screens, rendering it convenient to communicate instantly. Ultimately, video conferencing technology positively shapes the way co-workers communicate.
Dynamic Corporate Intranets
Over the years, intranets have evolved from static pages full of content into dynamic digital resources that facilitate co-worker communication. Some of the intranet connections enable workers to share business information with others via newsfeed and customized notifications. Thus, through a dynamic intranet, workers can access important information when collaborating on a project.
Additionally, dynamic intranets can integrate other sharing tools, including Google Drive, electronic mail, and Dropbox. Such integrations allow better resource sharing between co-workers for smooth and faster implementation of collaborative projects.
Employee Management Software
The emergence of employee management software enables workers to communicate with others in real-time. Therefore, workers can instantly alter their work schedule to accommodate co-workers when collaborating on a project. Besides, this software displays other workers’ achievements hence cultivating a culture of co-worker competition. Healthy competition between the workers can improve individual performance and ultimately lead to improved organizational performance. Also, employee management software allows experienced and skilled workers to share their knowledge and skills with the newly recruited ones.
Use of Smartphone Apps
Currently, most businesses develop customized mobile apps that facilitate communication among co-workers. Besides facilitating communication, smartphone apps allow employees to work from home. Companies also use these apps in making room reservations for various meetings and functions. Room scheduling apps can be installed on smartphones to make the process faster and convenient. Therefore, smartphone apps allow workers and businesses to access information readily from the comfort of their offices.
Final Thoughts
The adoption of technology in business has revolutionized business processes such as communication. The way co-workers communicate has changed, and new tools have emerged that make the sharing of information happen in real-time. With cloud computing, video conferencing, dynamic intranets, employee management software, and smartphone apps, communication among co-workers has been streamlined. Using these tools and platforms, employees collaborating on a project can share important project details in real-time regardless of their geographical location. Therefore, the use of modern technology in communication makes employee collaboration and communication seamless and instantaneous. Ultimately, this leads to the effective and timely completion of collaborative projects.