Connect with us

Politics

Top Collaboration Tools for Your Team in 2023

Published

on

Top E-Signature Products for 2023


The best, most effective teams collaborate well and work together to accomplish goals. But team collaboration today is very different than it was before the pandemic. With some teams now entirely remote and others hybrid, fostering collaboration in your workplace has become more challenging but also more essential.

Fortunately, as workplaces evolve, technology also evolves to keep pace. The result is a wide array of collaboration tools that can help keep your business running smoothly and efficiently.

Top Collaboration Tools for Your Team in 2023

If you want to support team collaboration in 2023, these tools should be at the top of your list. They can help with everything from communication to meetings to staying organized and more.

For Communication: Slack

Slack functions as a digital headquarters for your team, and it can foster team communication.  Slack operates through channels. You can create channels for your projects, topics, and teams. These channels help keep all of your communication organized, and they give your whole team the ability to see important information and work in sync.

Since everything is organized by channel, you can quickly bring a new team member up to date. Conversations and files become searchable archives, so you can quickly access the information you need without having to ask others to resend a file.

Your whole team will enjoy several other flexible communication options with Slack. Huddles promote connection and communication, and you can access audio or video calls in a single click, whether you need to reach out with a quick question or have a more in-depth conversation.

With Slack clips, you can create short videos, audio, or screen recordings to swap information. Transcripts of those clips are archived and can be searched, too, so team members can always retrieve those updates.

Slack offers four subscription plans, including a free plan and a Business+ plan for $12.50 per user, per month.

For Video Recordings: Loom

Loom is one of the best collaboration tools to improve your meetings. We all know that they sometimes seem to drag on and interrupt workflow. With Loom, you can record videos and bypass time-consuming meetings entirely. Loom lets you record your screen, and thanks to its desktop and mobile apps, it will work on any device.

Once you’ve recorded a video, you can share it with a link, so recipients don’t have to log in to watch it. Your team members can react to the video with time-stamped comments and emoji reactions to keep the conversation going.

Loom’s Starter plan is available for free and supports videos up to five minutes long. Upgrade to Loom’s Business plan for $8 per creator per month for unlimited videos and unlimited length. Loom also offers an Enterprise option.

For Shared Workspaces: Jotform Teams

With Jotform Teams, you can create shared workspaces for your teams. No matter where your team members are based, they can collaborate on online forms, tables, apps, and more. Functioning as an all-in-one workspace, Jotform Teams allows you to keep all of your data in a single location, so team members have access to the latest information.

Within Jotform Teams, you can use Jotform Tables to organize and manage data and stay on top of project progress and deadlines. You can also assign team members different roles, which gives them different levels of access. Jotform Teams even allows you to monitor activity logs and recent changes made to forms.

Jotform offers five subscription plans, and Jotform Teams is part of the Enterprise plan.

For Project Management: Asana

Asana helps keep your whole company and all of its teams connected in a shared space. The platform offers multiple view options, including list, timeline, and board views. Changing the views gives you a broad look at the overarching project progress, or you can opt for a much more nuanced, detailed view of each element of a project.

With Asana as one of your collaboration tools, you can assign team members tasks and deadlines. You can also easily break down a project into smaller components. Team members can communicate through cards and upload documents directly to cards to save time. The platform’s automation capabilities include project templates and automated work requests. Asana also offers the ability to create custom rules to automate tasks like assigning work and setting due dates.

Asana offers three subscription plans, including a free Basic plan, a Premium plan for $10.99 per user per month, and a Business plan for $24.99 per user, per month.

For Meetings: Zoom

Zoom has emerged as one of the go-to collaboration tools for meetings. Known for its quality webinars and virtual meetings, Zoom is a robust platform that supports workplace collaboration in many ways.

This platform is an ideal choice for teams that include remote members. Zoom’s online whiteboard allows your team to expand on and clarify ideas, even when team members are in different locations.

Zoom Rooms are virtual conference rooms that support collaboration. These rooms allow both in-person and remote team members to collaborate in real-time, creating a valuable experience for your entire team. Zoom Rooms help foster a sense of connectivity among your team members, even if you can’t be physically present in the same space.

The platform offers a broad selection of plans. That includes specific options for products like Zoom One, Zoom Whiteboard, and Zoom Rooms. Zoom One plans include the free Basic plan, the Pro plan at $149.90 per user, per year, and the Business plan at $199.90 per user, per year.

Choosing the Right Collaboration Tools for Your Team

Whether you need a better way to stay organized, want to facilitate online project collaboration, or need to improve your video chat capabilities, these collaboration tools can help. As you explore the different tools, consider not only what your current needs are — but what your collaboration needs will be as your business grows. To get the best value, choose a tool that can grow with your business and provide the support it needs to expand and evolve.

Featured Image Credit: Provided by the Author; Pexels; Thank you!

John Boitnott

CEO, Boitnott Consulting LLC

A journalist and digital consultant, John Boitnott has worked at TV, print, radio and Internet companies for 25 years. He’s an advisor at StartupGrind and has written for BusinessInsider, Fortune, NBC, Fast Company, Inc., Entrepreneur and Venturebeat. You can see his latest work on his blog,
jboitnott.com

Politics

Fintech Kennek raises $12.5M seed round to digitize lending

Published

on

Google eyed for $2 billion Anthropic deal after major Amazon play


London-based fintech startup Kennek has raised $12.5 million in seed funding to expand its lending operating system.

According to an Oct. 10 tech.eu report, the round was led by HV Capital and included participation from Dutch Founders Fund, AlbionVC, FFVC, Plug & Play Ventures, and Syndicate One. Kennek offers software-as-a-service tools to help non-bank lenders streamline their operations using open banking, open finance, and payments.

The platform aims to automate time-consuming manual tasks and consolidate fragmented data to simplify lending. Xavier De Pauw, founder of Kennek said:

“Until kennek, lenders had to devote countless hours to menial operational tasks and deal with jumbled and hard-coded data – which makes every other part of lending a headache. As former lenders ourselves, we lived and breathed these frustrations, and built kennek to make them a thing of the past.”

The company said the latest funding round was oversubscribed and closed quickly despite the challenging fundraising environment. The new capital will be used to expand Kennek’s engineering team and strengthen its market position in the UK while exploring expansion into other European markets. Barbod Namini, Partner at lead investor HV Capital, commented on the investment:

“Kennek has developed an ambitious and genuinely unique proposition which we think can be the foundation of the entire alternative lending space. […] It is a complicated market and a solution that brings together all information and stakeholders onto a single platform is highly compelling for both lenders & the ecosystem as a whole.”

The fintech lending space has grown rapidly in recent years, but many lenders still rely on legacy systems and manual processes that limit efficiency and scalability. Kennek aims to leverage open banking and data integration to provide lenders with a more streamlined, automated lending experience.

The seed funding will allow the London-based startup to continue developing its platform and expanding its team to meet demand from non-bank lenders looking to digitize operations. Kennek’s focus on the UK and Europe also comes amid rising adoption of open banking and open finance in the regions.

Featured Image Credit: Photo from Kennek.io; Thank you!

Radek Zielinski

Radek Zielinski is an experienced technology and financial journalist with a passion for cybersecurity and futurology.

Continue Reading

Politics

Fortune 500’s race for generative AI breakthroughs

Published

on

Deanna Ritchie


As excitement around generative AI grows, Fortune 500 companies, including Goldman Sachs, are carefully examining the possible applications of this technology. A recent survey of U.S. executives indicated that 60% believe generative AI will substantially impact their businesses in the long term. However, they anticipate a one to two-year timeframe before implementing their initial solutions. This optimism stems from the potential of generative AI to revolutionize various aspects of businesses, from enhancing customer experiences to optimizing internal processes. In the short term, companies will likely focus on pilot projects and experimentation, gradually integrating generative AI into their operations as they witness its positive influence on efficiency and profitability.

Goldman Sachs’ Cautious Approach to Implementing Generative AI

In a recent interview, Goldman Sachs CIO Marco Argenti revealed that the firm has not yet implemented any generative AI use cases. Instead, the company focuses on experimentation and setting high standards before adopting the technology. Argenti recognized the desire for outcomes in areas like developer and operational efficiency but emphasized ensuring precision before putting experimental AI use cases into production.

According to Argenti, striking the right balance between driving innovation and maintaining accuracy is crucial for successfully integrating generative AI within the firm. Goldman Sachs intends to continue exploring this emerging technology’s potential benefits and applications while diligently assessing risks to ensure it meets the company’s stringent quality standards.

One possible application for Goldman Sachs is in software development, where the company has observed a 20-40% productivity increase during its trials. The goal is for 1,000 developers to utilize generative AI tools by year’s end. However, Argenti emphasized that a well-defined expectation of return on investment is necessary before fully integrating generative AI into production.

To achieve this, the company plans to implement a systematic and strategic approach to adopting generative AI, ensuring that it complements and enhances the skills of its developers. Additionally, Goldman Sachs intends to evaluate the long-term impact of generative AI on their software development processes and the overall quality of the applications being developed.

Goldman Sachs’ approach to AI implementation goes beyond merely executing models. The firm has created a platform encompassing technical, legal, and compliance assessments to filter out improper content and keep track of all interactions. This comprehensive system ensures seamless integration of artificial intelligence in operations while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining client confidentiality. Moreover, the platform continuously improves and adapts its algorithms, allowing Goldman Sachs to stay at the forefront of technology and offer its clients the most efficient and secure services.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Google DeepMind; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

Continue Reading

Politics

UK seizes web3 opportunity simplifying crypto regulations

Published

on

Deanna Ritchie


As Web3 companies increasingly consider leaving the United States due to regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom must simplify its cryptocurrency regulations to attract these businesses. The conservative think tank Policy Exchange recently released a report detailing ten suggestions for improving Web3 regulation in the country. Among the recommendations are reducing liability for token holders in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) and encouraging the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to adopt alternative Know Your Customer (KYC) methodologies, such as digital identities and blockchain analytics tools. These suggestions aim to position the UK as a hub for Web3 innovation and attract blockchain-based businesses looking for a more conducive regulatory environment.

Streamlining Cryptocurrency Regulations for Innovation

To make it easier for emerging Web3 companies to navigate existing legal frameworks and contribute to the UK’s digital economy growth, the government must streamline cryptocurrency regulations and adopt forward-looking approaches. By making the regulatory landscape clear and straightforward, the UK can create an environment that fosters innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the global fintech industry.

The Policy Exchange report also recommends not weakening self-hosted wallets or treating proof-of-stake (PoS) services as financial services. This approach aims to protect the fundamental principles of decentralization and user autonomy while strongly emphasizing security and regulatory compliance. By doing so, the UK can nurture an environment that encourages innovation and the continued growth of blockchain technology.

Despite recent strict measures by UK authorities, such as His Majesty’s Treasury and the FCA, toward the digital assets sector, the proposed changes in the Policy Exchange report strive to make the UK a more attractive location for Web3 enterprises. By adopting these suggestions, the UK can demonstrate its commitment to fostering innovation in the rapidly evolving blockchain and cryptocurrency industries while ensuring a robust and transparent regulatory environment.

The ongoing uncertainty surrounding cryptocurrency regulations in various countries has prompted Web3 companies to explore alternative jurisdictions with more precise legal frameworks. As the United States grapples with regulatory ambiguity, the United Kingdom can position itself as a hub for Web3 innovation by simplifying and streamlining its cryptocurrency regulations.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Jonathan Borba; Pexels; Thank you!

Deanna Ritchie

Managing Editor at ReadWrite

Deanna is the Managing Editor at ReadWrite. Previously she worked as the Editor in Chief for Startup Grind and has over 20+ years of experience in content management and content development.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2021 Seminole Press.