Microsoft’s cloud-based version of Office, Office 365, is a great tool to utilize in the workplace. With Office 365, individuals and groups are able to collaborate together in the following ways:
- Multiple Users: Several people can edit the same document at the same time. You can share your document with the rest of your team by clicking on the button on the far right of the top toolbar. Utilizing this allows everyone to participate in real-time. You may be familiar with Google Documents; however, utilizing Office’s version allows formatting to stay consistent.
- Streaming: Unlike previous Office releases, you can run Office 365 on more than one computer. Just enter your Office ID wherever you happen to be. Whether your at your office, in a hotel room on your laptop, or in the car on your phone, collaboration is possible.
- Comments: Sometimes, teams need to collaborate, but they do not have the same schedule. In order to maintain understanding and communication, individuals can write and respond through comments. To leave a comment on a document your team has been working on, highlight the text in question, right-click, and select New Comment.
- Video Chat: Another tool that can be used is video chat. Powered by Skype, you can collaborate and work as a team from all locations. On the right side of the bottom toolbar, there’s a call out icon. If you click on that, it opens a video chat window, so you can talk to your co-workers face to face.
These simple, four ways to collaborate on Office 365 can increase productivity, while being remotely located.