Before COVID-19, employees spent 43% of their time collaboratingOpens a new window , but that number dropped to 27% in 2020. It may be surprising to see the rate drop so low during the beginning of the shift to virtual work and hybrid environments, but we must factor in the widespread unpreparedness. Many companies didn’t have the tools and infrastructure in place to quickly facilitate such a momentous swing in how teams functioned from afar.Â
Nearly two years later, the working landscape has settled into a hybrid life for the foreseeable future, and that has led to some powerful developments in how people collaborate. We’ve seen a spike in the adoption of video-sharing software, presentation platforms, and project management tools that help facilitate teamwork regardless of an employee’s location.Â
See More: 3 Trends to Know About in 2022 to Structure Your Organization to Scale
Four Upcoming Content Collaborations TrendsÂ
Content development will continue to grow and evolve in 2022 and put an even bigger focus on collaboration. Working closely with a team can boost morale, raise retention rates, and increase revenue. Here are four trends to watch out for.
1. Design tech will improve the team-created content
Whether it’s website marketing materials, pamphlets or pitch decks, consistency in branding across the board is necessary for success. Additionally, buyers’ attention spans continue to plummet, so imagery and visual assets have become vital for drawing eyes on products and services. In a team setting, you can’t always assume that a creative director or other similar person is available to work on or update every piece of content, so we’ll see a spike in design tech that can help non-designers choose the right assets and make appropriate visual decisions. More importantly, smart design tech will help teams ensure that no matter how many people collaborate on the project, no one can break a preferred template and branded look while they input their contribution.
2. Changes in video presentation standards will be a boonÂ
Admit it – at some point over the past couple of years, you’ve participated in a video presentation in pajama pants or gym shorts. Once upon a time, being on video meant having a highly manicured and curated experience, but the daily use of video software has, well, softened views on how casual presentations can be.Â
Since presentations no longer require being present in person, more team members can be part of the experience. Just as the number of people involved in the buying decision grows, we are likely to see a rise in the number of people participating in the presentation process. Ease of access will permit more expert voices into the creative process for a presentation while allowing more expert voices to be in the digital room while presenting. A convergence of mediums and voices will continue to be used more casually in 2022 to translate seamlessly into presentation, design, visual content and more.
3. Teams are expanding, so must tech stacks
By shifting to hybrid working environments, organizations are expanding their hiring pool. If there are fewer requirements for being in person, then there’s no issue in addressing the Great Resignation by adding members to your team from several states away. To aid in onboarding, workflow and content creation, teams will have to add to their tech stack to ensure collaboration is possible. Having a Zoom account and a shared chat tool won’t be enough. More companies will expand to adopt specialized tools that focus on specific opportunities for collaboration such as content, presentations and the like. These specialized tools that integrate with other common platforms already prevalent in business settings will see the most significant spike.Â
4. Centralized content will be vital for collaborative success
Ever had something sitting on your to-do list all week that you’ve been desperately wanting to scratch off, but you can’t because you’re stuck waiting for someone else to finish making their changes and send it your way? The ability for multiple people to access the same piece of content is vital as hybrid work often comes with less stringent schedules. Every team member needs access to a project whenever they have time to work on it, so having a centralized location for all content is now mandatory. But organizations need to take that one step further and ensure that the same centralized location can offer collaborative tools that permit multiple people to edit and update that content simultaneously. Nothing breaks down collaboration faster than having to wait to hear back from someone in an email. Built-in messaging, editing, change-tracking and similar tools will continue to appear on more and more platforms.
See More: 3 Ways Businesses Can Improve Productivity for the Hybrid Workforce
Being Content Together
The lone-wolf marketer or salesperson rarely survives in the modern age, so every business will need to continue finding new ways to encourage collaboration while making it easier to do. The year ahead is sure to see increased use of design tools for non-design professionals, centralized content management programs with built-in collaboration tools, the onboarding of more specialized tech stacks to support growing teams, and expanded collaboration opportunities in video presentations.Â
What content collaboration tools have you upgraded to this year? Tell us all about it on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We’d love to hear about your learnings!