Newsletters

March 2010

Docverse

Connecting with people is about communication. Whether at an event, in a meeting and in today’s ever-networked world, via the Internet.

Well, thanks to a group of former Microsoft employees and, should you have any doubt, the folks at Google, a tremendous new technology has been developed that is on the cusp of changing how we connect with one another in the workplace. It’s called Docverse.

Since the rise of the networked office, teams of professionals working on critical documents, even in the same office, have been e-mailing drafts and corrections back and forth. From RFPs, to leases, addenda and other mission-critical documents, such as the strategic plan for NAWBO Greater Raleigh Chapter, where I serve as a volunteer, we do it all the time.

As is common in this process, versions become confused, debates arise about changes and by the time we have amassed 50 messages, little progress has been made. Sure, there are change tracking tools in MS Word, but sometimes, don’t you just want to talk about it?

Now you can.

Docverse has simplified desktop document interaction. You can literally chat with team members while viewing the same document. You can input changes simultaneously and actually discuss them! (So it even incorporates the element of human connections.)

The company calls it simultaneous group editing. Even when working offline, any saved changes are uploaded to the online copy, so it is up to date every time. Plus, it records every change and keeps previous versions. Docverse downloads really easily and can be turned on whenever you use Word, Excel or Powerpoint on your desktop. Your time to preview the 5-minute demo is well worth it—you’ll be surprised at how easy it looks.

It appears that this tool might finally enable true team collaboration. I believe that tools like Docverse play an important role in making our work environments more productive. But even when working together online, core communication skills must always be practiced. Respect for each other’s input, listening and contributing ideas that are focused on team goals, not individual needs, is what creates a truly connected workplace.

Thanks for reading! Stay connected.