By Phil Maurer. Published 6. June 2016.
Gaining an edge over your competitors is no longer what it used to be. In the pre-social media days, it was all about developing a strong value chain. Simply put, the company with the most resources sat at the top of the food chain. In the modern era, though, the work model has shifted dramatically. Nowadays, the key lies in forging solid relationships and implementing the latest social collaboration tools.
It’s now more feasible than ever to form a team beyond your locale. You can find the most qualified person for each designated role, regardless of geography. Through collaboration software, you have a single tool that opens multiple lines of secure communication. You are no longer constrained by physical distance or time zone. Assembling a remote team also means that individual members can be a voice for your company within their respective local demographic.
If used strategically across all channels, then you have a digital workplace primed for optimizing productivity and engagement.
Furthermore, you can use social collaboration in a B2C capacity for networking with long-distance customers. This forges a stronger connection, paving the way for long-term consumer loyalty. Social media and email are ubiquitous so communicating in this manner can feel somewhat impersonal. By inviting clients to correspond through your collaboration system, it gives them a sense of being included in your inner circle.
While they make long-distance correspondence easier than ever, social collaboration tools are never a replacement for face-to-face interaction, which you should always strive for when feasible. It’s important that you don’t let this basic and irreplaceable form of human contact slip even as remote business operations become more commonplace.
Social collaboration defines the new business paradigm moving forward. It’s not the be-all and end-all, but it certainly cannot be ignored if you want your company to be at the forefront of your industry.
