Workstream Collaboration

Workstream collaboration gives you a coordinated way to get work done in the digital age. With the explosion of on-demand software delivery, also known as software as a service (SaaS), businesses have been able to choose from hundreds of applications and services to facilitate their work. Unfortunately, this sometimes inadvertently leads to disparate communication methods, siloed customer information and lost productivity as employees switch from one app to another depending on their tasks.

Workstream collaboration addresses this problem by creating a cohesive environment across all of a company’s many business applications. It enables employees to chat, collaborate and share content quickly, securely and seamlessly, whether they’re in the same office, on the go or working in different countries. 

Workstream collaboration describes the technology designed to improve team communication, collaboration and performance by coordinating the messaging and document-sharing tools a business uses.

While unified communications (UC) solutions provide a single system to connect employees, workstream collaboration expands those capabilities. Workstream collaboration provides visibility across multiple applications by connecting applications such as a contact directory, document sharing, detailed search and archiving—in addition to asynchronous and real-time communications through email, messaging, alerts and notifications, telephony  and video conferencing often found in UC solutions. Additionally, with workstream collaboration, businesses can control who has access to specific information to help protect conversations, data and documents.

Workstream collaboration acts as a unified portal that brings all the tools from other business and consumer applications, extensions and bots into a centralized space where employees can communicate, collaborate and search for content. The solution is designed to be accessible from desktops and mobile devices, and can connect to applications, devices and cloud storage where data is archived. A shared workspace, it uses open application programming interfaces (APIs) to facilitate conversation and initiate, organize and complete work.

For example, workstream collaboration tools can help developers and operations work in sync with front-line employees, as well as help everyone feel more connected. Workstream collaboration also can help facilitate teamwork among employees who need to share information or expertise quickly. 

As companies expand, internal collaboration is more important than ever to work across teams, departments and locations. Workstream collaboration tools allow enterprises to:

• Coordinate apps. Integrating apps you already use and providing access to all team members helps keep work flowing smoothly.
• Facilitate conversations. Connecting employees through a single tool that has chat, email, phone, video and data transformation capabilities leads to more seamless interactions.
• Organize content. Providing access to a central repository where team members can upload files allows employees to share information and can reduce their need to search for individual pieces of content.
• Eliminate redundant notifications. Using coordination capabilities to deliver alerts only once and in the right sequence helps employees avoid being bombarded by repetitive information.
• Reduce complexity. Creating and modifying workflows easily across business apps frees up developers to focus on strategic projects rather than writing workflow code.
• Maintain security. Protecting data, files and conversations, as well as providing access privileges to only those who need it, helps reduce the likelihood of a data breach.

Workstream collaboration tools such as Cisco Webex are helping companies share knowledge and improve teamwork. Cisco Webex Teams is a cloud-based service that works with existing business tools to integrate telephony, messaging and video conferencing expertise with telepresence solutions. 

Pella, a window manufacturer wanted to improve team collaboration because having isolated teams across the country limited productivity. When Pella layered Webex Teams on top of its existing network, the solution made it easier for  employees to interact and share thoughts. Having simple online meetings with easy-to-join Webex sessions helped control transport costs and gave employees direct connections to collaboration tools in the cloud. Ultimately, this streamlined communications among the dispersed teams and increased productivity.

When selecting a workplace solution, it’s important that users will be able to:

• Chat, meet, whiteboard and schedule meetings
• Share, search for and access files at their convenience
• Feel confident that information is secure

Employees should be able to connect face to face from virtually anywhere they are located and from the device of their choice. Providing employees with a way to collaborate using a variety of devices—as well as through instant, secure one-to-one or group messaging—leads to more natural and seamless conversations before, during and after meetings.

The ability to track conversations and files, and connect them to conversations also helps to facilitate productivity. When teams can save files in an organized fashion alongside communications, that makes it easy to find relevant information to keep projects progressing.

Security is crucial when talking about company information that you want to keep out of the hands of hackers. That’s why Webex Teams encrypts messages, documents and whiteboard drawings. Additionally, moderators can give access privileges to certain users until they are ready to unlock the information for a broader audience.

Workspace collaboration tools should make it simple for colleagues around the world connect and share knowledge with each other—ultimately redefining the way employees collaborate and work.