The search for the best collaboration tool begins anew

When the Covid-19 pandemic forced businesses to work remotely, we used the existing technology as it seemed like the obvious choice. But to make it work, we had to adapt our work processes to fit the current technology, as videoconferencing tools were the only option at that time.

As hybrid and remote work models transitioned from a necessity to a desire, we also had to ask ourselves what is the best collaboration software that we can use?

The first attempt with existing technology

Videoconferencing apps like Zoom and Co are rigid and lack many benefits that we used to have in the physical office. Businesses quickly found that videoconferencing software is no substitute for many features of the physical office because they lack:

• Immersive features. Peripheral perception, spatial orientation, and seeing coworkers spending productive time was an integral part of the traditional office and it created an environment for work.
• Community feeling. Working on Zoom, Teams & Co make workers feel disconnected from their team, which increases depression rate and decreases performance. People need to see their coworkers and feel like part of a team to stay motivated. The proverbial “watercooler moments'' need to be part of the virtual office as well, but that is not possible with videoconferencing apps.
• Corporate identity. The physical office was more than a place to work. It was a part of the company’s identity and it created a certain culture with the way it was designed. The corporate identity is very important for the brand, because people need to be aligned with the company’s vision. They also need to feel like they’re part of a community, and that community needs to have something distinctive. This identity was lost with the introduction of 3rd party software such as Zoom, Webex, or Microsoft Teams, and employers felt interchangeable, which eventually led to the “great resignation”.
• Permanent presence. Working with videoconferencing apps involves the use of scheduled meetings. Permanent presence in the office allows for benefits we know from the physical office. Quickly getting back to a colleague for a short question, or a manager who “walks around” from one employee to another to see how they’re doing, are examples of spontaneous events that made the physical office a productive experience. Being there makes workers feel connected, and that’s why working on Zoom is not productive in the long run.
• Spontaneous interactions. The most creative work takes place when people are spontaneous. Knocking on the door of a colleague when a new idea comes or changing ideas in the coffee room are the microinteractions that make work fun and productive. Due to the scheduled nature of the videoconferencing software, spontaneous interactions can no longer take place, and that diminishes motivation and creativity.

Online videoconferencing is only a small part of what is needed to do great remote work. This is why we had to look for an alternative to Zoom and Microsoft Teams if we wanted to find the best collaboration tool.

Identifying our needs

We used to work at the physical office without even questioning why, and it worked well while it lasted. However, the forced shift to remote working only revealed how much better it would be for workers if they wouldn't have to worry about commuting and the benefits of a better work-life balance. It is no wonder that in present times, work-life balance is one of the most important elements when choosing a new job.

Remote work is also excellent for companies, because there’s less office space that needs to be rented and maintained, and the talent pool becomes borderless as one can hire people from all over the country, or all over the world. And with the increase of natural gas price, the on-going economic instability, and the concern regarding climate change, remote and hybrid work models sound even more like the future.

Even if the present is different, humans are the same. We still need to collaborate and feel part of a community as we did in the physical office. We still need microinteractions with our coworkers because not everything can be sparked and created on scheduled meetings. We still need the freedom to work independently and easily collaborate when required.

And this is why there was a necessity to create technology that enables us to collaborate remotely but still feel like in an office.

Creating technology that meets our needs

Businesses need to find a solution for hybrid work scenarios, where people have the liberty to work from where they want and when they want, but still benefit from all the advantages the traditional offices bring. We need to combine the traditional office with the virtual one.

Simply put, the technology we use for remote work has to evolve. Videoconferencing isn’t enough to collaborate with one another and produce amazing work results. We need easy-to-use technology that allows the immersion of remote work and blends it in a traditional office environment, where anyone can join and be part of the team.

ivCAMPUS is an alternative for videoconferencing software such as Webex because it’s a platform that combines the benefits of the physical office and the virtual one. Team members socialize and collaborate in a virtual office with permanent presence.

Using a virtual office software for hybrid work allows you to create an immersive and easy-to-use environment for your employees, no matter where they are from. There’s also no special software that needs to be installed for it, users only need to open their browser.

Here are 7 reasons why ivCAMPUS is, in our opinion, one of the best collaboration apps.

1. With ivCAMPUS it’s easy to create and join a meeting
2. ivCAMPUS is spontaneous
3. ivCAMPUS is spatial
4. ivCAMPUS nurtures communication
5. ivCAMPUS doesn’t require users to install a software
6. ivCAMPUS maintains company culture
7. ivCAMPUS is fully customizable to Corporate Design and organizational structures

We digitalized office interactions to allow people to intuitively work together, socialize, and be part of the company culture just as they would in a real office.

Try it for free or visit us in our virtual offices to see what ivCAMPUS can do for your remote or hybrid team.