Survey shows tools boost collaboration, productivity

Collaboration software company Mindjet has revealed that half the Australian businesses it surveyed intend on acquiring more collaboration tools by mid-2013 and that delivering projects on time and on budget ranked first as the most important aspect of collaboration activity.

More than 98% of respondents indicated that their job requires them to regularly collaborate with others and that of those who used collaboration tools, 27% increased productivity. Mindjet found that this could save up to 240 days per person, per year.

“With the majority of respondents finding that it’s of critical importance to collaborate with others in their workplaces, we’re seeing that businesses are increasingly looking for innovative, yet efficient ways to work together regardless of their geographical location, whether they’re a start up working with their developer on a new website, or a mining company managing projects across the globe.” said Cameron Ackbury, senior director of Mindjet for Asia-Pacific and Japan.

More than 56% of respondents identified that collaboration tools are of critical importance for their businesses. The number one reason for using collaboration tools was to develop better products and services, followed by fostering better relationships with suppliers, and bringing products and services to market faster.

Ease of access to tools, low starting costs and ease of deployment were nominated as key considerations when selecting and using collaboration technologies.

The survey received almost 1,800 responses from Australian businesses of varying sizes.