What are the best tools and practices for document collaboration?

Personally, I prefer Google Docs due to it's compatibility with my Apple devices, and it's simple and clean design that helps me focus on what matters. Additionally, the ability to tag colleagues, see revision history, and turn on offline access for long flights makes Google Docs my first choice.

Google Docs is the best for collaboration internally and externally. Docs makes it quick and easy to create and edit documents from your computer or mobile device. Their pageless feature also makes formatting more esthetically pleasing for lengthy documents.

I have had the pleasure of learning the intricacies via back-end administration of a number of SaaS platforms across a number of industries and I always end up favoring Office 365. I will acknowledge that different service plans make a difference in capabilities offered, but if you stay up to date with Office 365 products you can accomplish so much more not only collaborating internally and externally with clients, contributors, and partners, but across different sub-apps for broader extension of created content.

To optimize document collaboration, I recommend using tools like Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, Slack or Microsoft Teams for communication, and Trello or Asana for task organization. In terms of document creation and knowledge management, Confluence or Notion are relevant options. Additionally, it's crucial to designate responsibilities, encourage constructive feedback, keep documents organized, and use tools that support real-time updates. Effective training on the use of these tools, ensuring security and access control, and regularly performing backups are fundamental practices.

Google does a lot with their software and apps, their tools are easy to use and navigate, easy to learn as well. Microsoft also have very great software to choose from

Make sure everyone is clear on what is expected of them and the level + duration of authority(permission) they possess. Simple!

It is always worthwhile to put the effort in at the start. Setting yourself and your collaborative project up for success is key. You can always adjust the individual contributor settings as you go, but having a solid idea of the scope and life cycle of your deliverable before you begin can make things so easy as you go. You can even save those permission "principles" as the standard so that you are always a step ahead on any project. I also like to give a general overview or "how we work" to contributors so that they aren't doing excess work over editing one another. Our overview emphasizes communication - highlight and comment-ask questions-discuss, etc. so that we always end up with our most well thought-out and thorough deliverable.

Effective communication is necessary for the success of a project, have a clear method of communication like the channel to use, the format to give feedback if there is one in your organization. Receive feedback with grace whether negative or positive

Organize files into folders and label properly, for accessibility. Backing up files is great to avoid loss in case of stolen or damaged devices, you can always retrieve from cloud storage.

Proofread any documents before saving, sending, sharing, use software or invite someone else to help you check errors or inconsistency