Small Business Edge Newsletter

1) Zoho Updates Collaboration Tools to Make SMBs More Productive

2) Which AI is Best to Use for Creative Pursuits?

3) Podcast Wisdom

Hi Friends and Fellow Business Owners,

My word for this week is Collaboration.

Collaboration in business involves pooling diverse skills, ideas, and resources. together to achieve goals that might be out of reach individually. Successful collaboration can lead to innovation, growth, and increased efficiency, but you must approach collaborative opportunities wisely to reap these benefits.

Effective collaboration starts with clear communication. All partners must understand the project's goals, their roles, and the expected outcomes. Regular updates and open channels of communication can prevent misunderstandings and keep everyone on the same page. Remember, successful collaboration requires trust and mutual respect. Choose partners who share your values and vision and are as committed to the project's success as you are.

Setting boundaries and clearly defining responsibilities from the start is also critical. This prevents overlaps and confusion. Don't hesitate to address any issues promptly and constructively. This helps resolve conflicts before they escalate.

Unfortunately, not all collaborations are fruitful. Be wary of partners who lack accountability or don't contribute equally. A good rule of thumb is to start small—test the waters with minor projects before diving into larger commitments. This allows you to gauge compatibility and work ethic.

Collaboration can be a great option for achieving your business goals and can lead to long-term, mutually beneficial relationships. Be open to partnerships and strategic alliances, but pick your partners carefully.

In the meantime, make the most of today!

Peace,

Brian

1. Zoho Updates Collaboration Tools to Make SMBs More Productive

One issue for many small businesses today is that they use so many disparate tech solutions that often don’t “talk” to one another that the solutions don’t solve anything. Consulting giant Frost & Sullivan says its research shows that over 62% of businesses ?are “challenged to manage and integrate multi-vendor solutions, and 66% struggle to align IT, communications, and collaboration investments with business strategies.”

Zoho Corporation, a leading global technology company, just released updates to its collaboration portfolio to accelerate momentum in this age of flexible work.

To make work more seamless, Zoho’s Chief Evangelist Raju Vegesna says, “We’ve developed a tightly integrated set of collaboration tools powered by platform-layer services like AI, unified search, and process automation underneath—all in an effort to help businesses be more productive.”

The new capabilities involve four core collaboration tools: Zoho Projects, Zoho Notebook, Zoho WorkDrive, and Zoho Sign. These developments drive better outcomes for businesses by addressing three critical engines of seamless collaboration and productivity: AI, automation, and industry customization.

ComputerWorld explains more.

More on Collaboration

• How partnerships catalyze growth
• Why you should build a culture of collaboration
• Collaboration ideas that boost sales

2. Which AI is Best to Use for Creative Pursuits?

MUO (MakeUseOf) tested three popular chatbots, ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot, to see which would excel at creating creative content.

Judging criteria included originality, flow of writing, and imaginative flair, and response time.

MUO’s key takeaways:

• Microsoft Copilot excels in creating songs and social media bios; the results are both fun and balanced.
• ChatGPT stands out for its elegant poetry and short story writing abilities.
• Google Gemini’s results for play scripts are impressive, producing funny and interesting scenes.

Read more about which chatbot will work best for your creative projects.

3. Podcast Wisdom

Click?HERE?to listen to the podcast