This need for integration between systems and end-users' daily operations is critical in establishing any collaborative environment. "Collaboration is not something you start by clicking on something," said Peter de Zoete, real time collaboration lead for Microsoft Greater China. "It should not be a separate activity, but built into the activities and tools you are already using."

Microsoft's integrated communications approach starts with identifying the person through the US-based firm's proprietary Active Directory authentication. From there, "presence" information is built into all the necessary tools and applications to facilitate effective collaboration.

IBM shares the belief that having collaboration built-in is critical. O'Connell said that collaboration enables access to all the tools and information required from a single point. "By not integrating the various tools and information resources of end-users, businesses are missing out on productivity opportunities and better business processes," he declared.

According to his colleague, Chan, the majority of companies are still striving to gain a consolidated view of their data. "Intranets and portals so far have been used ineffectively as mere information repositories," he said. "To deliver effective collaboration they need to be more than that-they should integrate applications, data and processes."

O'Connell noted that all new applications must be considered for their integration and collaborative features. "Firms should look at collaborative tools that best serve them in the future and not just the one need at that [particular] time."