Studies demonstrate rising focus on document collaboration tools

Mobility has become a top priority for enterprises looking to drive productivity and agility while lowering costs. As a result, many firms are deploying electronic document management software to allow employees quicker, easier access to data. These technologies enable companies to support any remote working initiatives by ensuring staff can collaborate at anytime, from anywhere and on any device.

A recent Rackspace survey found that more than three-quarters of businesses believe mobile apps will soon be the standard way in which employees access IT systems for job-related purposes. In keeping with this trend, 59 percent of firms are investing more in new applications over the next year to provide staff with the ability to conduct work from mobile devices. The top areas of focus for these apps included document management (67 percent) and expenses management (52 percent).

Another major factor driving investments in document management technologies, according to a Clinked report, is that people have become accustomed to relying on social platforms to share information, making business collaboration a natural next step. In fact, Clinked research found that three-quarters of businesses say collaboration tools will be important to their business this year, and 86 percent say they will be crucial within three years. One of the primary reasons that these solutions have become a top priority is that companies are finally realizing old working styles are inadequate and inefficient. In fact, 96 percent of business executives cited a "lack of collaboration" or "ineffective communication" as the main reasons for workplace failures. In fact, Clinked found that employees spend an average of nine hours a week searching computers for information, which wastes time and leads to misunderstandings.

Supporting mobility
These demands will be even more complicated as the workforce becomes increasingly distributed. Clinked found that by 2015, nearly 40 percent of business' employees will work remotely. Therefore, it is crucial that enterprises equip staff with the right solutions for completing tasks outside of the office. The report concluded that these tools are successful in those initiatives. An overwhelming 97 percent of firms using document collaboration software have reported they can better service clients. Additionally, enterprises using a document management tool have been able draft files 33 percent faster and boost team efficiency by between 15 and 20 percent. Most importantly, 74 percent of companies that have deployed these solutions reported faster access to knowledge, which is what drives quality decision-making.

Document management tools can empower both enterprises and employees alike by enhancing the accuracy and availability of information, fueling higher performance and a competitive edge.

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