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Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Groupware Software

There are plenty of sayings that express the benefits of working together as a team for the common good. There is no I in team, two minds are better than one, and putting heads together are a few that come to mind. While working together can produce excellent results, it also requires organization. Instead of only worrying about one person is doing, it is essential to document and share information from a variety of sources. For your next group project, consider using a high quality groupware software program to make things easier. This kind of software has changed the way teams share information and complete tasks.

There are several functions you can expect from groupware software programs. One of the most useful is the calendar function. This function allows you and the rest of your team to collaborate on scheduling meetings either online or in person. It saves a great deal of time by eliminating constant phone calls from team member to team member in an attempt to nail down a time and location. These software programs also provide email options for every member and offer password protection for important documents.

Consider the reliable resources on the left for more information from Business.com.

Groupware and Collaboration Software and Sites

"Groupware" or collaboration software bring a project team together in the same virtual work space. Whether it's whiteboards, file sharing, or multiple collaboration tools, there's a product out there for you.

Your company might need groupware or collaborative software if:

You often work with contractors located in other regions or countries – particularly in different time zones.
Business is booming, making frequent sit-down meetings increasingly difficult.
Your work is largely project-based, requiring many phases and steps, calling for a central "hub" to track progress.
You frequently give presentations to several sources in various locations.

Install it on your PC

Some well-established programs come as software installed on your computer or laptop or integrated into existing software.
Try: Venerable IBM collaborative offering Lotus Notes is still going strong after many years, with a Lotus Notes 7 (including Lotus Notes for Collaboration) the latest edition. Microsoft Office 2007 features Groove collaboration software.

Run it online

Many companies offer groupware as an online, multi-user interface, sans download or installation. This seems to be the trend in collaboration, due to low cost and ease of setup and modification.
Try: 37 Signals offers innovative, secure, and user-friendly web-based collaborative tools, including the multi-functional Basecamp, for a monthly subscription. Central Desktop offers a similarly comprehensive interface, also for a monthly subscription fee based on the amount of storage space needed. For companies with simpler needs and smaller budgets, 37 Signals offers free, basic Web-based tools like its Writeboard and Ta-Da list.

Share with gadgets

Touch-screens, Webcams…there are more ways to bring groups together than the software experience.
Try: 3M offers its MicroTouchTM ClearTek IITM touch-screen add-on that converts your computer screen into a whiteboard that can be viewed by others outside your office during a phone conference. The white-hot popular Apple iSight Webcam combines user-friendliness with visual quality for online conferences.

Think outside of the software box when contemplating collaboration – Weblogs, commonly known as "blogs" are a great tool for sharing ideas among many users who can either add content or comment on existing entries.
Instant messaging software – often downloadable for free – allows for multi-user conversations from multiple computers.
All reputable web-based groupware firms guarantee the security of their products – be sure to also ask about backup capabilities to prevent loss of data.
Test drive any groupware you're interested in using – nearly all companies offer free trials of their software.