Most businesses recognize that employee collaboration is a must for a productive and efficient workplace.

But many companies aren’t set up properly to take the greatest advantage of one of their best tools for promoting that collaboration – technology.

What I’ve found is businesses often have their data segmented. One department has client information stored in a particular location, but other departments either don’t have access to it or can’t easily find it. That deters rather than promotes collaboration.

While there can be reasons to limit access to some data, business leaders need to understand they’re missing out on effective ways to let technology encourage teamwork in the workplace.

Employees become frustrated if there’s a file they need, but they have to spend too much time searching through a disorganized system to locate it.

When used the right way, though, technology helps strengthen existing communication channels and identify new collaboration opportunities.

He says there numerous ways tech can help businesses improve teamwork among employees. A few are:

• Email and Videoconferencing: These are a couple of the most basic ways technology can be used. They are especially helpful when employees who need to work together are scattered at remote locations. Videoconferencing, such as Skype, is especially helpful when there’s visual information that needs to be shared, such as demonstration of a new product.

• Centralized Work Groups: Even email and Skype have limitations, especially when different departments within a business are involved. Developing centralized groups to make sharing client information easier can greatly improve both communication and collaboration. The right tech can enable teams to brainstorm, share ideas, create and manage projects, and divide tasks and activities.

• Online Training Courses: Teamwork requires that everyone understands their role and the goals of the company, which means employee training is essential. But handing employees an imposingly large training manual may not be the best way to accomplish that goal. A more effective way is to use online training courses that are interactive, requiring the employees be engaged. A quiz at the end can help ensure employees learned the key lessons.

When technology is used to improve teamwork, you’re very likely to see a boost in productivity, performance and profitability.”