8 Team Collaboration Statistics to Know in 2023
This article is part of a larger series on Unified Communications.
Team collaboration has become ever-present, thanks to digital technology. Employees work together regardless of location as technology allows more opportunities for remote work. With an increased reliance on online tools, a growing team collaboration software market, and new workplace technology investments, small businesses should keep up with the latest team collaboration statistics. Consider the data in this article to help you navigate your collaboration strategies effectively.
General Team Collaboration Statistics
1. 60% of executives expect to spend more on virtual collaboration
(Source: PwC)
Unified communications (UC) and collaboration tools are at the top of many companies’ lists when it comes to solving remote work challenges and improving worker productivity. For example, employees who report lower productivity are more likely to cite difficulties in collaborating with colleagues or accessing information. Adopting a UC strategy will help employees access various communication tools and collaborate wherever they are.
More U.S. executives plan to increase technology investments to support their hybrid workplace strategy. (Source: PwC)
Key Takeaways:
- Companies managing a remote workforce should consider investing in UC tools to streamline employee communications.
- Preparing for a hybrid workplace requires technology investments to support virtual collaboration in the workplace.
2. Collaborative work is consuming 85% of people’s workweeks
(Source: HBR)
The move to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a sharp increase in collaborative work, including the time spent on email, video calls, phone, and instant messaging. Instant messaging traffic has increased by 65%, and voice and video call times have doubled.
Employees struggle to break free from the expectation that they should be responsive to collaboration demands, causing burnout and individual career derailment.
Key Takeaways:
- Employers must ensure they’re implementing collaboration tools correctly to avoid fatigue and overwhelmed employees.
- The best team chat apps support asynchronous messaging, enabling team members to get their work done without constantly interrupting each other.
3. 85% of employees have issues with virtual meetings
(Source: Cisco)
Background noises, screen-sharing issues, and problems joining a conference room are some of the common challenges in virtual meetings. Although virtual meetings have a lot to offer to remote and hybrid teams, only one-third (36%) of employers have upgraded their video meeting technology since the start of the pandemic. This gap leads employees to seek better meeting experiences with advanced collaboration capabilities.
Technical issues are one of the common challenges in virtual meetings. (Source: Cisco)
Key Takeaways:
- Go for a video conferencing software that provides a user-friendly platform to reduce the learning curve for teams.
- Invest in reliable digital collaboration solutions with additional features and capabilities. Get started by checking out our guide on the best team communication apps.
Employees’ Perspective on Team Collaboration
4. 9 out of 10 knowledge workers believe digital collaboration is here to stay
(Source: Lucid Software)
According to recent team collaboration statistics, knowledge workers are generally satisfied with existing collaboration technologies as they find them useful for getting work done. Digital collaboration tools enable teams to come together and discuss ideas, eliminating the distinction between in-office, remote, and hybrid models.
For instance, productivity platforms like Google Workspace mimic and replace physical interactions, allowing team members to collaborate even better than in person. Virtual meeting platforms like GoTo Meeting enable users to meet face-to-face without needing to be in the same room together.
Key Takeaways:
- Digital collaboration tools, such as unified communications, play an essential role in increasing team productivity by helping employees communicate effectively despite geographic distance.
- Employers should invest in optimizing team collaboration technologies to ensure employees thrive in remote and hybrid environments.
5. 49% of workers say collaboration is easier in the office
(Source: Gensler)
Most U.S. workers say their jobs continue to rely on in-person collaboration, despite the convenience of remote working. They want to return to their physical workplace to collaborate and socialize, believing it has a long-term positive impact on their careers and organizational relationships.
Many workers believe that collaborating and staying updated with office happenings are easier when working full-time in the office. (Source: Gensler)
Key Takeaways:
- In picking the ideal setting for in-person meetings, companies should consider the people involved, the content, and the intended outcomes.
- Provide your onsite teams with a more productive work environment. Learn how to set up an office in five easy steps.
6. 52% of remote employees feel less connected to their teams than they did before a shift to remote work
(Source: Buffer)
One of the biggest changes confronting employees on the shift to remote work is how they collaborate and communicate. Most companies only covered transactional basics like technology to support remote collaboration. However, they failed to put into place systems that would help build connections at work, such as team-building activities.
Employees feel less connected to their teams after the shift to remote work.
(Source: Buffer)
Key Takeaways:
- Teamwork statistics in the workplace show that interactions during virtual meetings don’t lead to a feeling of connection among remote team members.
- Employers need to create opportunities for teammate engagement to help employees build a sense of connection with their peers and ensure effective collaboration in the workplace.
Team Collaboration Projections
7. The global team collaboration software market size is projected to reach $40.79 billion by 2028
(Source: Fortune Business Insights)
The rising demand for remote working solutions since the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the market growth of team collaboration software. Organizations are proactively investing in enterprise collaboration technology like video conferencing solutions to enable their employees to meet face-to-face for team meetings.
Key players are entering strategic partnerships to gain optimal market shares. In October 2022, Cisco and Microsoft announced a partnership to enable the Teams platform to run natively on Cisco Meeting Devices. This allows Microsoft Teams users to enjoy the digital workplace, combined with Cisco’s high-quality video technology with camera intelligence and noise removal capabilities.
The team collaboration market is predicted to reach a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2% between 2021 and 2028.
(Source: Fortune Business Insights)
Key Takeaways:
- The adoption of collaboration tools to support remote work environments is contributing to the market growth of team collaboration software.
- Providers of team collaboration tools are taking advantage of the market growth by focusing on mergers to cope with the rising demand.
8. It is estimated that in-person meetings will account for only 25% of team conversations by 2024
(Source: Gartner)
While employees reported they spent an average of 63% on in-person meetings in 2019, that number dropped to 33% in 2021 as more meetings took place over audio and video meeting solutions. Gartner predicts that in-person meetings will drop from 60% to 25% due to remote work and changes in workforce demographics.
The use of digital workplace technology tools for collaboration, storage, and mobile messaging has increased from 2019 to 2021. (Source: Gartner)
Key Takeaways:
- Based on team collaboration statistics we have gathered, the shift from in-person to virtual meetings is expected to continue as more companies embrace the remote work model.
- It will be critical for companies to ensure access to cloud-based meeting solutions for all employees, regardless of location.
Bottom Line
These workplace collaboration statistics were carefully selected to give you real-life insights into managing your teams. After all, robust communication and collaboration in the workplace require more than just weekly team meetings. It takes intentional thought and effort to create a work environment where everyone feels connected and empowered to accomplish both individual and team goals.
