Remote Collaboration with Cloud-based Tools

Discover some of the best cloud collaboration tools on the market to help your teams collaborate remotely.

There’s nothing quite like a brainstorming session to spark creativity, sketch out ideas, and map a project. But remote working has left our meeting rooms gathering dust and dried out our whiteboard pens.

The good news is that collaboration software tools can do all the face-to-face stuff – and more. It's all about finding the right match. Whether you're in it for a quick sprint or long-term journey, have money to spend or are on a tight budget, there’s a cloud collaboration tool for you.

What are the applications of cloud collaboration?

 

• Project and task management solutions

Team collaboration platforms are designed to help you and your team allocate tasks, manage projects, and stay organised – all in one place. They’re also ideal for keeping tabs on every detail, so everyone knows who's doing what, and when.

Set deadlines, mark start dates, and watch your project take shape on visual timelines, charts, or other formats. They also sync smoothly with popular workplace collaboration software tools and apps like Slack, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Office365, so you get all the enhanced teamwork without the IT hassle.
 

• Virtual whiteboards

If your team's all about brainstorming, consider diving into the world of virtual whiteboards.

These platforms give your team the freedom to fill up blank canvases or templates using virtual sticky notes or sketches. They're perfect for ensuring every team member gets heard, breaking down barriers that can sometimes hold back your quieter voices.

A 'live' version lets you see real-time changes and contributions for smooth collaboration. Features like video conferencing and instant chat can also bring that meeting room vibe and enhance teamwork. Remember to choose a virtual whiteboard that lets you easily share your creations on your collaboration platform, or save them as files like PowerPoint , so you can build on your ideas later.

What are the benefits of cloud collaboration?

Choosing the right tool for collaboration can be a bit of a process. Our handy table below gives you a brief, at-a-glance look at what you can expect from a few popular options.

For full details on each, click on the link.

Project and task management

Asana

Free Version Features - Up to 15 people, unlimited tasks and projects, file storage up to 100MB per file), list, board and calendar views, time tracking etc.

Paid-For Cost - £9.49-£20.99 per user, per month if billed annually ($12-$26 approx)

Paid-For Features - Advanced reporting, unlimited free guests, task templates, advanced integrations like Salesforce etc.


ClickUp

Free Version Features - Unlimited free plan members,  unlimited tasks, calendar view, 100MB storage etc.

Paid-For Cost - $7-$12+ per member, per month.

Paid-For Features - Unlimited teams, unlimited dashboards, unlimited storage, advanced time tracking, custom exporting etc.


Monday.com

Free Version Features - Up to 2 people, up to 3 boards, unlimited docs, 200+ templates, 500 MB storage

Paid-For Cost - £7-£17+ per person, per month if billed annually ($9 to $22+ approx)

Paid-For Features - Unlimited free viewers, unlimited items, up to 1000 GB file storage, guest access, calendar and chart view, advanced reporting & analytics


Trello

Free Version Features - Up to 10 boards, unlimited storage up to 10MB per file, assignee and due dates.

Paid-For Cost - $5-$17.50 per user, per month, if billed annually

Paid-For Features - Unlimited boards, multiple guests, calendar, table and map views, up to 250MB per file.
 

Virtual Whiteboards

Figma

Free Version Features - Unlimited people, unlimited personal files, 3 FigJam files, plug-ins and templates etc.

Paid-For Cost - £3-£5 per person, per month billed annually ($4-$6 approx)

Paid-For Features - Unlimited FigJam files, team libraries, advanced design, custom templates etc.


Lucidspark

Free Version Features - 3 Lucidspark boards. Freehand drawing, presentation mode etc.

Paid-For Cost - £8-£9+ per person, per month billed annually ($10 to $12+ approx)

Paid-For Features - Unlimited editable boards, up to 1GB file storage, team folders, customisable document status etc.


Miro

Free Version Features - 3 editable Miro boards, unlimited members, 2,500 templates etc.

Paid-For Cost - $8-$16+ per person, per month billed annually

Paid-For Features - Unlimited boards, unlimited visitors, custom templates, breakout and voting facilities etc.


Stormboard

Free Version Features - 5 Storm boards, 5 users per board, 260 custom templates etc.

Paid-For Cost -$8.33+ per user, per month billed annually

Paid-For Features - Unlimited boards, unlimited users, 10+ guests, training tools etc


Start by exploring the free options, see how they perform and if they meet your needs. Do your research into the right kind of tool before investing in one, as your team might also need to adjust. Once you've got a feel for the basics, take a look at what the paid plans bring to the table. If the extra features match your goals, it might be time to invest.

Cloud-based collaboration tools are your go-to companions for effective remote teamwork. Whether it's streamlining project management or fostering creativity through virtual brainstorming, let your remote teams’ productivity soar.

For more support about the best collaboration tools, speak to one of our V-Hub Digital Advisers today.