The Value of Generic Whiteboards
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Generic whiteboards can be a useful tool for collaboration, but whether they drive efficiency or destroy it largely depends on how they are used and by whom. The context matters.
Most generic whiteboards are relatively simple tools with limited features compared to other more specialized whiteboard applications, such as Stormboard. Their main purpose is to provide an easy way for teams to collaborate during meetings and brainstorming sessions, especially in a physical office environment.
Additionally, because they are not tied to any specific software or platform, generic whiteboards can be very accessible and easy to use for everyone, regardless of technical expertise. However, their limited set of tools and lack of integration with other applications may make them less suitable for more complex tasks or projects.
If generic whiteboards are not used effectively, they can become a distraction and actually hinder productivity. For example, if the whiteboard is used without a clear structure, team members may get bogged down in unproductive discussions, spend too much time on irrelevant topics, or fail to contribute anything at all.
Additionally, if the whiteboard is not kept organized or updated, it can become cluttered and confusing, which can lead to misunderstandings and delays in decision-making.
Overall, the effectiveness of generic whiteboards in driving efficiency largely depends on how they are used in a given context. When used effectively, they can be powerful tools for collaboration and creativity, but when used poorly or as a “good enough” alternative to a purpose-built tool, they can become a distraction and hinder productivity.
Stormboard vs. Generic Whiteboards
Keeping in mind that context matters, the Stormboard Platform offers a wide range of features that set it apart from generic whiteboards. Here are some of the key features that Stormboard offers:
Enhanced Workspace Configurability: Stormboard offers a high level of configurability in terms of organizing and structuring the workspace, which makes it easier to keep the ideas and projects organized. Added features such as Laser Pointer and Section Spotlight make it easy to drive the collaboration to specific sections in a Storm.
Interaction with Content: Stormboard offers the unique ability to interact with content placed into the workspace, allowing users to collaborate and build upon ideas in real time. Content remains in its original context, permitting effective asynchronous communications.
In addition to more fluid content for team members, the content itself actually has a contextual relationship with the workspace and other content as well. Stormboard’s smart sections and templates provide a more dynamic workspace than any alternative on the market. Ideas and data placed into sections of the workspace can be counted, sorted, grouped, and exported within the context of the workspace — meaning that after a working session, a holistic report can be generated that maintains context.
For example: if you’re building a calendar of action items, the sticky notes will export under a heading for each date, rather than producing a static screenshot.
Stormboard provides users with industry-leading reporting and export options to ensure no momentum is lost and working sessions can continue to be productive outside the boardroom or meeting.
Industry-Leading Analytics: Stormboard's analytics options provide users with several innovative ways to organize and present their data, making it easier to share and analyze their insights. Stormboard offers a variety of options, including image, PDF, Excel, and Word, making it easy to share and present ideas in a way that suits your team's needs. By supporting both Microsoft and Google, users can easily integrate their Stormboard data into their existing workflows. A few OOTB analytics features include:
Word Cloud provides a unique way to visualize the most commonly used words in the storm, giving users insight into key themes and ideas.
Tasks summary and Votes summary: provide a high-level view of the tasks and voting activity within the storm, respectively. These reports can help users identify areas where additional attention or resources may be needed.
Storm screenshot and raw data exports provide users with flexibility in how they want to work with their storm content. The Storm screenshot can be easily shared with stakeholders as a visual representation of the storm, while the raw data export allows users to manipulate the data in any way they see fit.
Overall, Stormboard's analytics options provide users with a comprehensive set of tools for presenting and analyzing their storm data, including creating stakeholder-ready presentations without the need to duplicate all the content already in the Storm.
Live Bi-Directional Integrations (that work!): Stormboard offers advanced integrations with a variety of tools, including Microsoft Office 365, Jira, Slack, Rally, ADO, and more. These integrations allow for seamless collaboration and real-time updates across all platforms. These integrations enable automatic updates between the platforms, saving time and reducing the risk of errors caused by manual transcription.
For example, if a change is made in a Jira ticket within Stormboard, that change will automatically be reflected in the corresponding ticket in Jira, and vice versa. Stormboard's integrations also allow users to access their Agile tools directly within the Stormboard platform, providing a seamless and efficient workflow.
Advanced Templates: Stormboard offers a variety of advanced templates, including Agile, Lean Six Sigma, SWOT Analysis, Virtual, Board, Stand-up, and Hybrid Meeting templates and agendas, and more, to help teams jumpstart their brainstorming and collaboration efforts.
Security: Stormboard takes data security seriously and offers customers a variety of security features and certifications. Some of the notable security features offered by Stormboard include strong data encryption, third-party security testing and audits, gold standard hosting with AWS, never storing credit card details, two-factor authentication, data residency and single tenant options, as well as Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 Type II certification.
These security features and certifications help ensure that Stormboard's customers can trust the platform to keep their data safe and secure. By using Stormboard, customers can focus on collaborating and being productive without worrying about the security of their data.
Support: Stormboard offers comprehensive support services to ensure that customers are successful in using their platform. This includes a dedicated success manager assigned to each enterprise team responsible for providing guidance and assistance throughout the implementation process. Stormboard also offers training and customization services to help teams get the most out of their platform and tailor it to their unique needs and workflows.
Purpose-built: Generic whiteboards are often a small part of a larger software solution – filling a gap and providing many users with a ‘good enough’ tool. For businesses that are serious about data-driven decision making and actionable outcomes stemming from meetings and collaboration sessions, these tools can actually create more work in the form of transcribing, distributing, and transferring data into third party calendars and project & time management tools. Stormboard, on the other hand, is built for business, creating a one-stop workspace intended to save time and increase productivity, not just serve as a digital canvas for scribbling down notes or rough sketches to demonstrate a concept.
Overall, Stormboard's approach to digital whiteboarding and data-first collaboration offers a wide range of features and capabilities that set it apart from other solutions on the market, including generic whiteboards.
Summary
In evaluating the value and effectiveness of a software solution, return on investment is an important metric, and cost is not the only factor to consider. While free collaboration tools exist, context matters - as the free alternatives tied to many chat and video conferencing tools will be unlikely to provide the necessary support, scalability, or investments in new features and capabilities.
Stormboard offers industry-leading data security, implementation strategy, Agile integrations, and export options, leading to cost and time savings and better outcomes. As data-first collaboration is our ONLY business, the investment in Stormboard is one that provides value way above licensing costs.
Sign up for a free 30 day trial of our full-featured business plan today, and see for yourself how data-first collaboration via a purpose-built stands above add-on features and generic whiteboards.
