As corporations spend millions on Web-based collaboration applications, Verizon Business is offering what it claims is the first-ever tool that measures how well businesses use these applications to work cooperatively.

The Collaboration Calculator is free of charge to Verizon Business customers who want to see how well they are doing at taking advantage of collaboration applications including video; audio; Web conferencing; e-mail; and instant messaging.

The Collaboration Calculator provides a number ranging from 1 to 100 that measures how well a company allows its employees to work together using networks and applications that support real-time engagement.

This number, called the Collaboration Index, has two components: collaboration capability, including technology culture and organizational structure; and collaboration quality, including the effectiveness of collaboration.

"Collaboration works best when empowerment exists for real-time collaboration and real-time communication – the more real time the better – but it also needs defined workflows and structures," says Mike Marcellin, vice president of product marketing for Verizon Business. "Companies need to make sure to facilitate that interaction."

Verizon Business created the Collaboration Calculator after sponsoring an online study of more than 900 IT executives that measured the effectiveness of their collaboration capabilities. The study, conducted by Frost & Sullivan, found that companies with higher Collaboration Index numbers also had better business performance.

The study cited many benefits of effective collaboration applications and techniques including better support for geographically dispersed and mobile workers and reduced travel costs. These applications also help companies improve continuity of operations should natural disasters or pandemics strike.

Verizon Business’ Collaboration Calculator helps companies measure their overall level of collaboration and assess how collaboration is impacting business performance. Companies can use their Collaboration Index scores to benchmark themselves against other companies in their industry or region.

One company that has used the Collaboration Calculator is Siemens Medical Solutions, which received a score of 77. This compares to a mean score of 68 for North American participants in Verizon Business’ collaboration study. Siemens Medical Solutions is using web and audio conferencing technology from Verizon Business for training and client support.