Group collaboration tools – project software with multiple services

Group collaboration tools include all kinds of software that can be used to interconnect multiple people working at the same project, or engaged into common collaborative activities . If to speak about such systems loosely – they include all software supporting all kinds of communication and co-operation between people. At the beginning, let's give a more precise definition that is immediately related to content of this article. We define those tools as software that is designed to support common work in terms of task planning, scheduling, assigning, along with controlling and tracking progression made on performance. In other words one of the main tasks of systems is efforts coordination – recording and tracking project facts like planned time and cost parameters, actual progression and all other kinds of associated information.

Group collaboration tools are widely represented on the Web, and especially popular are web-based online group collaboration tools provided through special websites . Those websites are preferred by virtual teams where the most of collaborators work in different locations, and by informal or amateur project teams, like students or free-lancing entrepreneurs, because systems usually are low-cost, or even free, and oriented to satisfying mobile users who often access the Web from different places and mobile devices.

However, group collaboration online is not advisable for teams where all collaborators work at the same office, because of dependence on Internet connection with all related issues like slow performance, remote server time-outs etc. To avoid such problems you need software working inside of your office LAN, and one of the best software examples of such type is VIP Task Manager that is not free package , but commercial proven-quality product with free 30 days trial version.

This software is among examples of group collaboration software that supports a rich set of tools, including task sharing, document sharing and real-time textual communicating (through special section of each task). Among software examples of the similar functionality is well-known and popular MS Outlook, but these product is designed rather for single-user, and to establish group collaboration system, based on this product, you need to purchase and configure additional Microsoft software.VIP Task Manager is alternative that has powerful functionality, reasonable price and that is very easy to install and master. Unlike open source software , this product is ready-to-go solution supported by regular updates.