Even before the Covid-19 pandemic swept over the world, the way we work was changing. Markets, customer needs, and behaviors are changing, and Covid-19 has, in many cases, accelerated the pace of change and created an even greater demand for new innovative services.
The pandemic has changed how many companies operate, and the norm for what work looks like is changing. "Digital by default" and "remote-first" have gained momentum in the pandemic, which means that how we work with innovation must also change. Excellent digital collaboration tools can offset the potentially negative effects remote work has on innovation.
Some digital collaboration tools are already being widely used, such as video conferencing tools like Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams and messaging services like Slack or WhatsApp. Most people also already use cloud storage services such as Google Drive and Dropbox for sharing data rather than printouts and USB sticks. We will not devote this field note to these popular tools but instead, recommend digital tools for innovation and collaboration that you may not have tested.
These are the tools we at WilbuFlow have frequently been using in these pandemic and work-from-home times. Check out 90DaysOf if you are curious about what we are working on and how WilburFlow helps teams become better, more innovative, and more engaged.
Use digital whiteboards for idea generation, visualization, and workshop facilitation.
MURAL describes itself as a "digital workspace for visual collaboration." This incredibly useful innovation tool for design thinking can help you, and your team create and collaborate visually. Create charts, brainstorm topics, and ideas, and create more effective meetings and workshops. This is also an excellent tool for running digital design sprints.
Collaborate, create prototypes, test, and collect real-time feedback.
InVision helps you develop high-fidelity prototypes and high-quality graphics that look like finished designs. Build digital prototypes or MVPs that can easily be shared within the team and with external testers.
Figma really stands out as a collaborative tool for creating mockups, wireframes, and prototypes in real-time.
Google Forms is an excellent tool for conducting interviews and gathering feedback. It's also free.
If you regularly perform tests on a large scale, it can be a good idea to invest in the tool you use. With SurveyMonkey, you get more flexibility in designing your digital interviews and quickly getting the reports you want.
Let your attendees Schedule meetings with ease using shared calendars.
If you need help planning meetings and want to avoid the back-and-forth emails to find a time that suits all parties, a scheduling tool like Calendly can be something for you.
Are you working with OKRS?
Weekdone simplifies your team's work with OKRs by making individual and collective goals visible. Transparency is increased through interactive reporting. It reduces your need for weekly stand-up meetings through quick and easy online check-ins. Besides, you can use Weekdone as a planning tool where team members can plan their day and week with the company's vision in mind.
Organize and plan your team's work.
Notion is an online tool for project management and notes. It is designed to help members of a company or organization coordinate deadlines, goals, and assignments for the sake of efficiency and productivity.
With the collaboration tool Trello, you can create "boards" where you gather ideas, share, and save important information in one place. You can organize the team and the team's tasks throughout the innovation cycle.
Asana is another popular tool that helps you, your team, and your organization coordinate and plan workflows and projects more efficiently. This is an appreciated tool by project managers and agile organizations.
Conclusion:
Choose the right digital innovation tools and enjoy better remote collaboration.
Experiment with digital communication and collaboration tools to create more human encounters. Choose the tools that suit your team and your challenges.
Challenge everyone in the team to become better at running, facilitating, and participating in workshops. It will increase efficiency and improve your joint work quality. No matter which tool you choose, you should make sure that everyone on the team masters it.
Yeah, and don´t forget to smile, it looks good on you!
/ Joacim Alm
Founder of WilburFlow
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