Definition: Collaborative editing
What is collaborative editing?
Collaborative editing is when more than one person edits a document at the same time. It can also refer to the process where one editor works on a document, before then passing it on to the next person in the content workflow for their input.
However you choose to approach it, collaborative editing — using the right tool — can provide a shared space where your team can communicate with each other and with other stakeholders to streamline approvals and production.
How does collaborative editing work?
Generally, collaborative editing relies on software that uses cloud-based tools to allow multiple people to access, edit, and share documents at the same time.
This means that teammates can make updates to a document in real-time and those updates are synced across all devices that have the same document open.
Any updates are also saved to the cloud, so anyone who opens the document at a later time sees the most up-to-date version.
In a nutshell, collaborative editing tools ensure everyone is working on the same version of the document — and keeping everyone on the same page removes the need for a manual method of version control.
Advantages of collaborative editing
Collaborative editing tools can provide many benefits, including:
- Improved efficiency: Content creation is a more streamlined process as it allows everyone to work on the same version of a document.
- Better collaboration: Real-time collaborative editing tools provide a shared space for communication, feedback, and the sharing of ideas.
- Better quality control: Collaborative editing ensures that everyone is working on the most updated version, reducing potential errors.
- Increased flexibility: Because collaborative editing tools tend to use the cloud, they’re available anywhere.
