Microsoft Teams had 44 million users as of March 18, more than double the 20 million daily active users that it had reported in November. In only a week, Teams users grew from 32 million to 44 million in the period between March 11 and March 18. Other collaboration platform Slack, shared that it had added 7,000 new paid customers from February 1 to March 18. This indicates a roughly 40 percent increase over each of its previous two fiscal quarters, when it had added about 5,000 new paid customers per quarter.

The rise in the demand of collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams and Slack are not surprising as many companies across the world have asked employees to work from home given the risks of traveling to office amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

To ensure business continuity during this crisis, most companies have realized the need to have robust, easy-to-use communication tools that enable remote work and learning. Technology in the form of video conferencing and group chat are coming to the rescue. Not only businesses but educational institutions are also now making use of these tools to ensure that the learning continues. 

The COVID-19 crisis has in fact created new opportunities for companies offering collaboration platforms. This is the time when they should focus on improving their products and services, identifying the needs of a diverse consumer base and introducing new features if need be. For instance, Microsoft also rolled out several features designed to help with telemedicine and working from home, such as a bookings application for Teams to help hospitals manage virtual appointments. 

It is true that the outbreak of coronavirus has truly disrupted businesses and brought with its many challenges. But it has also urged both companies and talent to become more flexible and adaptive. Among the many things to adapt is the new way of working remotely. Here’s an article to help you manage a remote workforce better: 4 ways you can give your remote workforce a sense of togetherness