TeamLab Review

July 19, 2011

Many businesses and organizations find it difficult to collaborate in a way that is quick and effective. TeamLab offers a unique solution that brings individuals together, no matter how many miles may lie between them. Entire teams can access a TeamLab profile and contribute to an ongoing project. The site incorporates many handy features that make gathering input and feedback much easier. Rather than waiting to arrange a phone meeting or email response, users can send instant messages, create tasks, and share updates on what they are doing and how the project is coming along.

TeamLab is a part of Ascensio System SIA based in Latvia. The application was born out of the concept of combining project management and social networking. Each of these ideas has proven extremely useful in the world of business. However combined, they expand the potential tools that could be even more effective. Ascensio Systems SIA identified this potential and created the many functions and tools found in their TeamLab application. While creating the site, the founders focused on making it easily accessible and usable by both professionals and the regular internet user.

TeamLab stands out in the way it brings together numerous online tools to help streamline project management. Rather than only allowing users to post tasks or write updates, TeamLab includes a full spectrum of functions. Users can create a wiki, build teams, post to blogs and forums, create customized widgets, upload images, assign tasks to individuals, bookmark relevant sites, chat, and take polls.

TeamLab was created to cater to both the everyday user as well as professionals and businesses. The site’s layout and design really shows this by creating an inviting atmosphere that is also well organized and attractive. Individuals are not intimidated while professionals feel comfortable sharing the site with their coworkers and colleagues. Overall, TeamLab’s pleasant blue and white color scheme and cloud design help improve the value of the site. Adding to that is a logical layout and easily accessible registration form, which is found directly on the homepage.

Finding the registration form on TeamLab is extremely easy. As soon as a new visitor arrives at the homepage, they are presented with a fun list of the site’s functionalities as well as the registration form. By filling out the fields, which require only a first and last name, valid email address and portal address, users can click the orange “create portal now” button to begin using TeamLab. The user is advised that their registration information will be sent to the email address they provided for their records. The account page also presents a helpful video and various links so that the user can easily get the hang of TeamLab and begin putting together their collaborative project.

TeamLab offers a free and a paid plan. The paid plan offers more storage space (10 GB) and a larger file size upload limit (100 MB). The premium membership costs $49 per month.

Anyone with a project can get plenty of use out of TeamLab. The best part is that because the application costs nothing to use, just about any type of project can benefit. TeamLab is ideal for small business owners who want to bring a team of employees together as well as independent professionals that want to collaborate with clients in a way that is cost effective and easy to use on both ends. Even schools and non profit organizations can get plenty of use out of TeamLab to work on projects that could expand their exposure.

• Utilize instant messenger programs for real time conversations
• Create customized widgets
• Take polls to help make important project related decisions
• Create and assign tasks
• Post milestones to help monitor project progress and ensure timely completion