Improve Team Collaboration with the Help of eSignatures

Coordination in the face of sudden challenges such as lockdowns or social distancing can make or break a team.

The word “collaboration” has become a bit of a corporate buzzword, but that doesn’t place it in the bucket of empty clichés. On the contrary, collaboration in the workplace helps companies achieve targets, reach goals, and execute projects successfully. It’s really that simple.

Collaboration is when a group of people come together and contribute their expertise to benefit a shared objective, project, or mission, for example, a photographer working with a designer to create a digital cover or the technology department regularly meeting with the marketing team to accomplish quarterly goals. But it’s also a learned skill. How well you collaborate with others will significantly impact the outcome of a group project.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced teams to work together while being apart. During these testing times, cooperation was challenging, unlike meet-ups at the water cooler or official conference meetings where informal conversation can create bonds. As a result, many organizations suffered the consequences for months before they decided to rely on digital tools to improve their collaboration on projects.

About 75% of employees in the U.S. rate teamwork and collaboration as very important. – Queens University of Charlotte

Why is Team Collaboration Important?

Team collaboration helps teams achieve common goals. According to a Stanford study, the perception of working collectively on a task can improve the performance of employees. In addition, collaboration heightens creativity through frequent brainstorming and the creation of ideas. Groups with diverse disciplines, skills, and backgrounds offer the best perspectives. Finally, it helps in formulating reasonable solutions that can achieve good results.

Since this was not possible physically during lockdowns, most teams switched to digital tools to meet virtually to bond and keep up collaboration. In addition, companies leveraged digital tools to keep decision-makers or department heads on the same page.

Collaboration is stimulating, revitalizing, motivating, and productive for teams. So what happens when it's done virtually?

Challenges of Team Collaboration

The challenges of virtual teams increase as they increase in size, and people tend to focus on their personal rather than organizational goals. Here are the challenges virtual teams face:

• Differences in Communication – Various team members have varying communication styles, some preferring a text message over an email. Teams should manage communication in a manner that fosters collaboration.

• Lack of Structure – A lack of structure within teams leads to internal chaos. A well-defined workflow is pivotal and can drive processes. Companies must review processes and procedures to make collaboration as effective as possible.

• Poor Governance – A lack of governance creates low morale among team members. Members should be given clear direction to help them understand their roles in the team.

• Slow Response Times – Members should understand that their flexible work schedule comes with structure. Delays and setbacks are inevitable if team members do not work with this understanding.

• Distracting Environments – Distracting environments are a byproduct of working remotely. Virtual teams struggle with distractions, each reducing the efficiency rate of a team member. The setup of standard guidelines for the whole team to follow makes it straightforward for work hours to be followed by team members as in traditional workspaces.

• Lack of Office Culture – Creating an office culture while working virtually will help teams bond. Having company and department instant message groups can be helpful.

• Scheduling Meetings – Meetings play a critical role in bringing teams together. Since many team members may work on different time schedules, a virtual meeting at a convenient time can allow the team to plan their day or week.

The Need for Collaboration Tools 

Corporate teams have grown considerably in size over the years. New diverse talent groups have allowed companies to tap into vast knowledge and expertise. As complexities increase, so does the need for tools to share resources and meet deadlines. Companies have to take adequate measures to create a compatible culture.

The future will witness collaboration tools helping teams with insightful data to improve their patterns – tools like online video conferencing and instant messaging platforms, online whiteboards, file-sharing tools, etc. One such crucial tool that has gained immense popularity post-pandemic is electronic signature platforms. Electronic signatures help in managing workflows and keeping processes operational. With transactions becoming electronic, eSignatures will play their role in increasing efficiency and productivity in workspaces. Their features can help employees work efficiently and simplify the signing process.

What are Electronic Signatures?

Electronic signatures, or eSignatures, are a secure way to sign, share, and store documents online. eSignature platforms encourage transparency and cooperation in an era of remote working. Team members or stakeholders critical to signings and document approvals can collaborate in a safe space to better cooperate and accelerate tedious document signing processes. In addition, it can overcome challenges commonly seen in legacy organizations.

Also Read: How Digital Signatures Make Your Hybrid Workforce Efficient

What is DrySign? And how is it effective?

DrySign is an efficient, user-friendly, and cost-effective electronic signature solution that provides a single point for managing, storing, and signing digital documents. Here are some benefits of DrySign that encourage collaboration:

• Verifies User Identities – DrySign uses two-factor authentication to identify signatories. It helps detect actors with harmful intent and provides more robust security against users trying to commit signature fraud

• Compliance with Latest Standards – DrySign follows the guidelines in all electronic signature laws and their latest amendments. As a result, it is an industry-standard solution for enforcing eSignatures on contracts, forms, and other documents.

• Runs Business Efficiently – Team members can send, track, and sign documents on the go in case of a requirement of a majority consensus on projects. The improved user experience can help users approve with a single click.

• Reviews Documents with Ease – Stakeholders can review documents or papers and sign off on them at the right time. Signatories or document owners can track document modifications with timestamps and real-time mail trails.

• Seamless Transactions on the Cloud – DrySign users can save documents on the cloud and save time, effort, and costs. Teams can fetch critical documents from the cloud at any time and use them in collaboration for new projects.

• Automates Workflows – DrySign can easily create and send forms using easy-to-use templates.

• Protection against Document Tampering – DrySign assures the authenticity and integrity of documents. All changes are visible in a transparent mail trail. In addition, the e-signature is legally binding and secures the information within documents.

• Reminders and Notifications – The solution is in-built with a reminder feature capable of sending timely reminders to all team members. It also displays notifications to the DrySign user, informing them of all those who have signed.

• Lowers Expenses – DrySign alleviates the cost of printing documents and sending them to recipients. Once all stakeholders agree to eSignatures, there are no hassles, and the job is completed easily.

Harness the power of virtual and digital collaboration with DrySign!

Source: uctoday.com

DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for general information purposes only and is not intended to serve as legal advice. Laws governing the subject matter may change quickly, and Exela cannot guarantee that all the information on this site is current or correct. Should you have specific legal questions about any of the information on this site, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your area.

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