Data Sync Software Trends Enabling Remote Collaboration

It’s a paradox of today’s modern business: teams are scattered all over the globe, yet must collaborate easily and effectively and access content as if they’re seated shoulder-to-shoulder. How do you make it happen?

Answering that question is critical to today’s employees and employers alike. A Gallup poll found decreased collaboration while working remotely to be among the largest challenges cited by both employers and employees alike¹. And an Upwork survey of hiring professionals found that technology issues were the biggest remote work challenge facing their organizations².

Plus, those hurdles are only growing more relevant over time: nearly two of every three hiring managers expect their workforces to be more remote going forward, Upwork added³.

That puts the enablement of orderly and accessible collaboration anywhere – like the ability to share and edit files between local headquarters, regional offices, remote worksites, and the cloud – and in real time is atop priority lists for modern enterprises and small-to-medium sized businesses across many industries.

“Online file sharing resolutions are gaining attraction in industries like healthcare, government, finance, law, engineering, and more,’ according to Data Bridge Market Research. “With the growing need for digital and content, collaboration across endpoints help teams to achieve their goals and enable employees to keep pace with the requirements of their tasks. Organizations are increasingly moving towards collaboration of employees and the data on different levels.”⁴

Data Syncing Software Connects Workspaces

data-syncing-network Increasingly, those challenges are being solved by leveraging file synchronization software, according to a recent analysis of file sync market trends by Verified Market Reports (VMR): “In the era of digital collaboration … (data sync software) has emerged as a pivotal player in facilitating seamless file sharing, synchronization, and collaboration within organizations. As businesses embrace remote work and global connectivity, the demand for secure and efficient file-sharing solutions has skyrocketed.”⁵

But it may not be the file management system you have today, though. To meet modern digital business needs, your solution has to go beyond just backing up and cataloging your shared folders. It’s not simply about disaster recovery.

Indeed, features are “evolving beyond simple file storing and sharing, incorporating advanced collaboration features,” according to VMR. “Real-time editing, version control, and connecting functionalities are becoming standard offerings.⁶

Among the top-trending features of today’s data syncing software highlighted by VMR:

Version Control is a Must-Have Feature

Automated version control, also known as file locking, acts as a content referee by ensuring that only one person can modify a shared folder at a time, preventing conflicts, discrepancies, and potential errors. It maintains project integrity and allows each collaborator to work confidently, knowing they can access content exclusively when necessary.

That’s important because when working on projects across teams, locations, and the cloud – where it isn’t physically apparent who is in a particular file at any given time – random collaboration can cause organized chaos through haphazardly edited files that lead to:

Lower productivity
More errors
Lost revenue
Wasted time

File Synchronization Between Servers and the Cloud

file-syncing-network Hybrid file synchronization solutions “are gaining traction as organizations seek a balance between on-premises and cloud-based storage,” Verified Market Reports says. “These solutions offer the flexibility to store certain files on local servers while utilizing the cloud for scalable and accessible storage.

“Hybrid approaches address concerns related to data residency, compliance, and the need for customized solutions tailored to specific business requirements. This trend allows organizations to leverage the benefits of both on-premises and cloud solutions.”⁷

Features like file replication can turn any shared folder into a local file, even when teams access content across worksites and the cloud. The feature replicates and synchronizes files between multiple machines across multiple locations in real time so that every file at every location is the latest version. Local file replicas can be accessed by users as much as 100x faster than remote file access, enabling faster remote collaboration.

Access for Your Team, Not Hackers

While synced files should be easy for employees to use anywhere and at any time, that ease to access content should only be internal.

“As the volume of shared files increases, so does the importance of robust security features,” says VMR. “Data breaches and cyber threats are growing concerns for businesses, making security a top priority.”⁸

To safeguard sensitive information, that means modern file synchronization systems should incorporate:⁹

Encryption
Multi-factor authentication
And granular access controls

“Additionally, compliance features ensure that organizations meet regulatory requirements, addressing concerns related to data privacy and industry-specific regulations,” VMR adds.¹⁰

Find the Right Data Sync Software Fit for Your Needs

Not just any file synchronization product will do. Having the right features like those listed here can enable productivity gains and ROI that help get projects done fast while drawing on all of your organization’s talent and resources.

Software Pursuits can help ensure you get the features you need from the right solution for optimized collaboration.