Collaboration applications aid business teamwork by helping users to easily work together. Using collaboration applications and software creates a cooperative work environment irrespective of geographical location. In the past, however, this happened through mobile devices, but now Gartner (News - Alert) says we can expect to see these applications available across all kinds of devices by 2016.

"Today, smartphones and tablets have larger screens, touch-based user interfaces (UIs), location support, broad network connectivity, enhanced cameras and video support, voice over IP (VoIP), and so on. Such features enable a range of applications — both traditional and new — for employees to better communicate, collaborate, socialize, create and consume content,” said Monica Basso, research vice president at Gartner, in a statement.

The proliferation of mobile devices have pushed collaboration ahead, and with trends like BYOD, computing is evolving how we work and interact with coworkers and customers.

Bring your own device is known to increase productivity and is also a money saver for organizations that have employed a BYOD program. The bottom line of BYOD is to promote a better user experience. Professionals tend to be more productive when they can choose what devices to use, and Gartner expects that employees will use apps beyond corporate e-mail and calendars on their own devices to get the job done.

Collaboration enables better logistical responses and facilitates interactions for creative problem-solving, optimal resource management, effective future proofing and improved scheduling, to name a few.

Moreover, increased mobility means that productivity enhancements can extend to every level of an organization. Of note is cloud file synchronization, which Gartner says will help keep at least six different types of devices on the same page – literally. This sharing capability is essential, particularly with tablet users.

All of this mobility has pushed us from a Web-centric Internet to an app-centric one. Mobile apps have taken over for how we access and use information and how we work together.

"Empowering workers with mobile collaboration capabilities through smart devices, personal cloud sharing and mobile apps is a smart move for organizations to innovate in the workplace and stay competitive," said Basso. "Nevertheless, a number of challenges can arise from piecemeal, poorly-architected implementations. Successful deployments of mobile collaboration will need an analysis of business requirements — understanding the potential risks and restrictions while assessing existing investments and obsolescence trends."