5 team collaboration tools for your tiny startup or big business

Starting a business is difficult enough – but making sure that everyone on the team is on the same page and constantly communicating is an entire challenge on its own.

The increasing trend of remote work is making this even more apparent. Luckily, there are a variety of solutions for businesses that are both convenient and free.

Here are five of the best collaborative apps and platforms that will help keep your team coordinated…

Trello

Trello is a productivity platform and collaboration tool that allows users to keep track of tasks, project progress and stages within a process.

The site’s boards are very versatile — you can create to-do lists, assign tasks to team members and lay out an entire workflow with Trello.

The platform is accessible both through a browser and through an app, meaning that team members can access it as long as they have an internet connection. Your boards will also always be in sync with your team members’ accounts, meaning that they will literally be on the same page.

It has also been used across industries – everything from software development projects, to editorial calendars and even advertising.

Slack

Different messaging apps which promise to keep teams coordinated have risen and waned over the years. However, Slack is definitely one which combines communication with productivity.

Because the app is specifically geared towards people who work together, it comes with specialised functionality that makes it all-the-more useful.

You are able to create a team though Slack, which gives you a unique URL which members can access. Some of the great features of these teams include the ability to create unique channels for different departments or smaller teams, third-party app integration and customised settings that allow users to choose which discussions to follow.

This kind of customisation not only makes it possible to integrate your workflow and calendar into your team’s communication, but it also means that members won’t become frustrated with dozens of notifications which aren’t relevant to them.

Slack can also be accessed via browser, making it a convenient tool as well. While the platform has paid plans, small companies can set up a team on the basic plan for free.

Zoho’s Collaborative Suite

Zoho is a platform which offers all the basic resources for starting a business – from online accounting software to site development tools.

However the collaborative software suite of the platform is particularly useful for teams. The site offers free and paid versions of its tools, meaning it can suit businesses with limited starting budgets.

Among its collaborate suite apps and services are tools like web conferencing, team document editing, a project management platform and even a wiki.

It even has some relatively unique tools, like a team password manager which will remove the hassle of multiple members having to log into different accounts.

Quip

Quip is one of the lesser-known online document collaboration tools, initially released as an iOS app. However, thanks to the launch of a desktop client, it is now much easier for more people to access the platform.

The document editing tool within the platform allows for live updates and contextual comments. The platform also goes past simple Word-type documents, allowing you to create spreadsheets.

The sleek and modern appearance of the platform also makes it easy on the eye. While businesses can get a free trial, the platform does attract a subscription fee of around R350 per month for a team of five people.

Because it started off as a solo app, it is also incredibly mobile friendly.

Confluence

This online platform and collaboration tool is from the same company that owns Trello, with useful tools such as team calendars, resource sharing and other great features.

Confluence allows you to create spaces for different team – where they can collaborate and share the necessary information and files.

While Trello is great for tracking workflow, Confluence focuses more on feedback, document collaboration and cloud storage.

Like Quip, it is also a paid-for service with a free trial.

Have you tried any of these online tools? Have any of them caught your eye? Let us know in the comments below.