Real-time collaboration software enables people to work together remotely, today. It captures all your conversations, files, and activities in one central space, so you can easily find information and collaborate with others on task or project teams.
There are too many software and not enough time to test and choose the best one. We did the job and we found this excellent and user friendly application that is quite simple to use and can do all you need from a real-time collaboration software.
GoToMeeting
GoToMeeting is a robust online meeting and video conferencing tool designed to enable businesses to collaborate with their teams, clients, customers, and other businesses in real time via the Internet.
It is particularly great for international teams and can greatly reduce the learning curve as it also supports screen sharing.
The other handy features of the platform include messaging, group chat, recording, integration with other tools, and a one-click meeting feature that instantly schedules meetings in Google Calendar or Outlook.
Pros
- Intuitive user interface
- Can host large meetings
- Allows users to record meetings so you don’t have to attend in real time
Cons
- Subscription is fairly expensive
- Requires a stable internet connection
Facebook Workplace
The world’s biggest social media network, Facebook, has a team collaboration service – Facebook Workplace – that can serve as a corporate intranet portal.
The platform has a very user-friendly interface where teams can collaborate through their own portals, as well as through the Facebook Pages, Notes and Docs. On Facebook Workplace, team members can collaborate on tasks via voice/video call and instant messaging. The platform also has machine learning bots built-in to automate certain tasks.
Pros
- Supports polls to measure employee opinions
- Integrates with other systems
- Unlimited photo and video uploads
Cons
- All data is stored on Facebook servers in the cloud, which may be prone to privacy issues.
Google Docs
This is likely nothing new to you. It is perhaps the most famous documentation tool out there. Google Docs allows multiple people to edit the same file at same time, leave comments, and see changes made by every participant (revision history).
All you have to do is invite team members to work on a file in Google docs. With that, all participants have a central place to store and share information, take notes, and just seamlessly collaborate and have access to the information they need to get work done.
Pros
- Cloud based, no installations required
- All changes made on documents are automatically saved to Google Drive so you won’t lose them
- Multiple collaborators on a document can see changes in real time
Cons
- Limited features compared to Microsoft Word
GitHub
Consider GitHub if you are into programming. This development platform owned by Microsoft Corporation allows programmers to seamlessly collaborate and work on the same projects simultaneously.
On the platform, each collaborator gets a working copy of the code displayed on their computer through the GitHub web-based graphical interface. Any changes made on a project can be reviewed and easily rolled back if need be.
Pros
- Unlimited private repositories on the tool’s free tier
- Easy to use and track changes with the Gists feature
Cons
- Can easily be affected by a security breach
- Some great features are locked away behind a SaaS paywall
Slack
Slack is the foundation of teamwork and shared understanding across your team. It helps you communicate and collaborate without emails by setting a standard for online team communication. Millions of people are using Slack to bring their teams together and drive their business forward.
What’s unique about slack?
- Find answers you need: Slack builds a platform to have team conversation, make decisions and putting knowledge in everyone’s hands.
- Streamlines your workflow: Slack has an open API to keep your team coordinated and working faster within the context of your conversations. Slack apps go where you like to work: in a web browser, synced to your desktop, and portable on a smartphone or tablet.
- Search: You can search for all Slack content from one search box including conversations, files, links, and even content that’s integrated with Google Drive or tweets.
- Integrate Slack with other services: Connection with other services like Google Drive, Google Hangouts, Twitter, Asana, Trello, and others can be pulled into conversations.
Canva
Canva is a simple graphic design tool to make visual content look decent. You can make unique designs in just a few minutes and share it with your team. Collaborating with teams is much easier with canva. Designers can share their designs with anyone and other team members can leave their comments. Pick from thousands of layouts for your designs and also create your custom template.
What is unique about Canva:
- Crop your photos for great framing and masterful composition
- Access to over 8000 templates
- Team administrative controls
- Create stunning designs with best graphics, photos, and fonts
InVision
InVision is a comprehensive prototyping software and very useful collaboration software for designing user interfaces for mobile applications and digital interactive products. The tool allows users to collaborate, upload wireframes, designs, gather feedback seamlessly and test much more effectively and efficiently. With InVision, you can manage your projects from a single dashboard and seamlessly navigate the entire design process in one place. The clients can provide instant feedback in the form of comments.
What is unique about InVision:
- Create rich interactive prototypes
- Seamlessly communication, gather feedback, and move projects forward
- Intuitive vector-based drawing and flexible layers
- Navigate the entire design process in one place keeping everyone notified of changes
Google Hangouts
There are times when you’re going to need to gather your team for a meeting. If you’re running your business on a budget, Google’s Hangouts might be the tool for you.
If you want to record your Hangout to view later on, you can use Hangouts on Air. This feature will reduce the amount to time you and your employees spend taking notes and make sure that you don’t miss anything. (Note: There is a privacy setting where you can choose not to display your Hangout publicly.)
Mailbird
Mailbird is an email client for Windows.
With Mailbird, you experience a seamless experience managing your online communication. Mailbird’s third party integrations allow you manage messenger platforms like Facebook right from the email client.
One of the biggest assets to Mailbird is it’s learning curve… or lack thereof. Unlike more complicated client’s like Outlook where you may never learn the entire application, Mailbird alleges that a user can learn the app within 5 minutes. It is designed for folks of any age and technology literacy to be able to learn it fast.
Flock
Flock is an all-in-one messaging and collaboration tool built especially for small businesses. Our goal is to help businesses communicate better so they can build a culture of transparency and speed within teams.
With Flock, teams can exchange messages, share files, video-conference, manage tasks, and centralize access to a variety of business tools and services.
It brings people together and provides an easy and secure place for them to get work done, from anywhere.
Mural
Mural is like a digital white board. It allows designers to post sticky notes, images, and videos on a wall in order to gather quick feedback about a specific idea, design, or prototype.
It allows you to seamlessly work within the same space, an analogue to having the entire team in the same room with access to the same whiteboard.
Keep your collaborators in the loop with comments and live conversations no matter where you may be.
Cage
Designed for smaller businesses, Cage allows freelancers and small teams the ability to share projects with clients and other collaborators.
Like the other tools, Cage will allow users to leave visual comments on the design. Cage also has a powerful project management tool that will enable you to assign and manage tasks with both clients and colleagues.
Red Pen
Red Pen is a fast feedback tool for visual teams. As a designer, you can get feedback from your colleagues as well as point and click to explain your thinking.
You can give access to your clients via a private link so that they too can give feedback. And each team member on a particular project will be kept up to date on the version, as well as the comments and feedback that was left by both colleagues and clients.
Fluid UI
Just like its name, building prototypes with Fluid UI is simple, smooth and fast. It has an impressive array of features including, over 2,000 built-in high and low fidelity widgets in component libraries, clickthrough presentations, video calling and live team collaboration. Build and share prototypes or ideas in just a few minutes, whether you are a designer or not.
Office Online
This is Microsoft’s free version of its original Office suite of tools. You get the core of Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Onenote. When you combine it with Outlook.com, you essentially get the Office Home and Student suite.
There are certain limitations on the features that you get for free, however. For instance, if you wish to add a references section such as a table of contents and add citations, you will need to upgrade to the paid version.
There are also some font and formatting limitations as well. But, if you’re looking for basic documentation and editing tools, the free version will suit your needs just fine.
Conclusion
Cloud-based Collaboration Software that enables you to securely share your files, records, databases, research materials, events management, task lists, communications – all in real-time.