Working remotely is become the norm rather than just a unique benefit. These days, zoom calls have become huddles around conference room tables. According to our 2023 DigitalOcean Currents study report, 23% of the organizations questioned have a hybrid strategy with mandatory in-office days (23%) or open remote alternatives (25%). 39% of the surveyed enterprises work remotely. Just 14% of businesses are still entirely operational.
Although it’s obvious that flexibility and not having to commute every day are appealing, making the switch to remote work hasn’t been without its difficulties. To facilitate communication across time zones, cooperation across borders, and connectivity across dispersed teams, successful remote work necessitates a mental change and technology technologies. A virtual toolbox is becoming more and more necessary for distributed teams to realize their greatest ideas and stay in touch with one another wherever they may be working.
Whether you oversee a remote team or are a member of a dispersed workforce, having the right tools and platforms at your disposal is crucial for maximizing productivity and upholding corporate culture from a distance. The best remote work tools—the applications, chat services, and hubs for collaboration—that may help your virtual team stay on task are examined in this article.
Things To Consider While Choosing Remote Working Tools
We have hundreds of remote working tools at our disposal right now, but how can you choose the best one for your company? Some essential elements to take into account while looking for an online.
Easy access: Accessibility is the most important factor to take into account when selecting an online team management application. The program needs to be accessible to all staff members from anywhere in the globe. Fortunately, the majority of remote working apps are cloud-based and quickly downloaded owing to SaaS (software as a service) models. The majority of these programs may also be downloaded on mobile devices.
Efficiency: Recognize your need for a remote working tool before investing. Which function will it fulfill, project management, communication, or oversight? Workers will only consider a tool beneficial if it makes their job easier.
User-Friendly Design: Even if not every person in your company is computer savvy, for these online management tools to be used efficiently, each one of them needs to become proficient with them. Thus, you need to pick software that is easy for everyone to use and doesn’t take a lot of training to become acclimated to.
Cost: Naturally, money plays a big role in decisions, especially for start-ups and small business owners. Therefore, while it makes sense to invest in tools that will raise the caliber of your remote job, it’s equally important to be sure that doing so won’t break the bank.
Why Use Remote Management Tools for Work From Home?
It’s not simple to manage staff in a remote work environment, whether you work for a major corporation or a small one. Therefore, you can stay more organized if you have a good system in place for staff communication and a mechanism to monitor the progress of each project. Additionally, there will be increased responsibility and improved openness between you and your staff.
Even in a remote setting, you can ensure increased productivity and a good work environment for yourself and your colleagues by taking the time to study and select the tools that will best suit your needs.
Types of Tools for Remote Work
There are several tool categories to consider when assessing tools for remote work. While some programs facilitate task management across geographically dispersed sites, others encourage cooperation and communication, while still others enhance security over an international network of computers. The following tool categories are worth looking into:
Project management: Effective project management solutions enable remote teams to continue releasing new features, introducing new goods, and accomplishing larger corporate objectives. Seek a solution that provides a user-friendly interface for task delegation, deadline setting, progress monitoring, and keeping track of all of your team’s projects. By doing this, your dispersed team will be able to maintain focus, make sure nothing is missed, and continue working on tasks.
Cloud storage and file sharing: Employees working remotely frequently access files and documents on a variety of devices and locations. An essential tool for remote work is a centralized file-sharing platform hosted on the cloud. Seek solutions with lots of storage, well-organized folders, and fine-grained permission restrictions. This facilitates content collaboration, safe sensitive data storage, and remote workers’ file access.
Interaction and cooperation: A remote team may have productive talks about anything from your yearly business strategy to your next recruit thanks to efficient communication and coordination technologies. Select technologies that offer video conferencing capabilities to your distant colleagues, such as breakout rooms, virtual whiteboards, and screen sharing, so they can feel more connected and coordinated. Encourage your team to maintain a repository of documents by implementing wiki tools and an internal database to foster a documentation culture. It is also essential to have a shared instant messaging or team messaging platform to enable availability, spontaneous conversations, and speedy check-ins.
Task management and time tracking: Simple methods for tracking time are necessary for remote workers. Elements like documenting work hours, maintaining to-do lists, and tracking job status are all elements of the best time-tracking and task-management software. Your virtual workforce will benefit from having visibility into general production levels and be able to keep on top of deadlines. Accountability, progress reporting, and effective workflow management are also supported.
Safety: By putting the appropriate security measures in place, you can guard sensitive data held by your business and stop illegal access. Seek solutions with features like safe file sharing, encryption, and multi-factor authentication. Additionally, these solutions have to be simple to use and smoothly operate with the workflow you already have. You can provide your remote staff with peace of mind and enable them to concentrate on their job without worrying about any security breaches by placing a high priority on security.
Best Tools for Remote Work
These are some of the top tools for remote work that can help your staff stay connected and productive.
The most effective project management tool
Some teams may attempt to manage everything over email, which is very risky. The issue of virtual teams is resolved by project management systems, which facilitate task and document organization for the teams.
Hubspot
HubSpot’s free help desk and ticketing software are ideal for remote customer and sales teams. It offers a centralized platform for organizing, prioritizing, and responding to customer inquiries. The software also streamlines ticketing workflows, ensuring no customer is overlooked. HubSpot’s automation capabilities allow teams to focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences, rather than manual processes.
The software provides real-time reporting and analytics, allowing teams to identify trends, monitor performance, and make data-driven decisions to improve their support processes. This free software equips remote customer and sales teams with the tools they need to deliver top-notch support and drive customer satisfaction, regardless of their location.
ProofHub
ProofHub is a powerful remote work tool that combines project management and team collaboration. It simplifies task management with an intuitive interface, allowing efficient assignment, setting due dates, and monitoring progress. The Board view provides a dynamic visual representation of the project’s journey, while the platform’s adaptability allows for customization of workflows.
Task prioritization is made easy with drag-and-drop simplicity, and Gantt charts provide a comprehensive overview of project schedules. ProofHub’s shared calendar ensures everyone is on the same page, and communication is centralized through discussions, chats, and announcements. It also facilitates seamless collaboration with file sharing, proofing, and feedback features. The user-friendly interface and mobile accessibility make ProofHub a versatile tool for remote work, empowering teams to manage tasks, communicate, and collaborate effectively.
Basecamp
Basecamp is a popular remote work tool for managers, teams, freelancers, and agencies due to its simple functionality, clean design, and elegant usability. It is a project management and team collaboration software solution that helps manage projects and communicate with clients effectively. Basecamp offers features for sharing ideas, organizing conversations, and keeping everyone on the same page.
However, it has limitations like no time tracking, archived topics, subtasks, professional team hierarchy, and only external integrations. As a result, organizations and growing teams are seeking alternatives to Basecamp. It’s important to consider your specific needs when choosing a tool, so if Basecamp seems like a fair choice, give it a try.
Slack
Everyone is enamored with the chat platform Slack for remote work. A digital platform that facilitates team collaboration by enabling real-time idea and comment sharing, enabling coworkers to work together quickly. With a remote collaboration solution, you may have all of your team communications in one location, no matter where you are.
Teams that operate remotely may communicate and collaborate via Slack channels. It will centralize all team communications, which will make managing distant workers much simpler. For iOS and Android, this collaboration solution delivers entirely native applications, giving you full capability.
Best productivity tool
One essential component of remote workers is remote productivity. Ensuring maximum productivity from all members of a remote team is a major responsibility of remote worker management.
Todoist
If you want to get geeky about managing the tasks for your remote teams, Todoist is the app for you. All of the essential functions are available, such as the ability to create projects, add notes and files, set reminders, flag tasks, and generate a productivity chart.
Blink
Blink is a mobile-responsive app that enhances communication and productivity for remote teams. It offers features like calendar management, discussion boards, employee directories, and news feeds, creating a work-friendly digital environment.
Blink also provides tools to create micro-applications within the platform, allowing businesses to create their own communication and collaboration solutions without technical knowledge. These micro-apps support absence management, automated timesheets, payment cards, and network searches. Blink is ideal for organizations that want to support their mobile teams and keep them informed while on the move. Overall, Blink is a comprehensive solution for remote teams.
Krisp
Krisp is an app that reduces background noise and boosts productivity for teams and remote workers. Background noise is eliminated on both ends of the call, allowing you and the other callers to take crucial calls from any location.
Best quick feedback tool
Remote feedback is just as crucial to working with remote teams as cooperation. Receiving feedback helps teams become experts.
Chimp/Champ
An effective manager needs to prioritize the well-being of their team members. The easiest and most effective method for managers to engage with their staff is through Chimp or Champ. An anonymous weekly employee satisfaction survey is used to assess the group. Boost productivity and enhance worker well-being. To gain feedback, you can purposefully be direct.
Best time management tool
Particularly when it comes to time management, working in teams may be difficult. Tools for managing time remotely improve the way remote teams are managed.
Kickidler
The next generation of employee monitoring software is called Kickidler. It includes an effective toolkit that boosts team members’ commitment. Kickidler features include an infinite number of real-time displays, the ability to record the history of operations on the computers, efficiency dynamics, staff productivity analysis, and time monitoring.
A software upgrade dubbed Autokick was launched in 2020 by the creators, to promote greater democracy in worker monitoring. The upgrade comes with a self-monitoring interface and automated alerts. Now, when an employee reads the news for an extended period, for example, the application will alert them automatically. They will be able to view their productivity data as well.
Hubstaff
Hubstaff will optimize your time and increase your productivity. It’s possible to monitor where staff members spend their time and what projects they are working on at any given moment.
Online timesheets, employee scheduling, screen recording, employee monitoring, payroll software, GPS tracking, online invoicing, project budgeting, and many more features are among its captivating features.
The best tool for screen sharing and video calls
When working remotely and not in the same room, you need a solution that allows you to visibly discuss issues with your teammates.
Zoom
Zoom is an app for group calls with incredible video quality. It features clear pricing, is the most economical, and is simple to use. You may record any call with a full-length video during web conferencing, video chat, and remote meetings. You may collaborate on group conversations by sharing your screen with teams. Zoom also offers audio sharing, meetings, Zoom rooms, video webinars, and corporate instant messaging.
Appear.in
Appear.in allows remote teams to collaborate easily through video sharing. They create a room link, share it via email or chat, and can join from any device. Other features include no registration or downloads, group video conversations, simple screen sharing, and easy joining from any device.
The best tool for work-life balance
Maintaining a work-life balance is essential to the productivity of the remote workforce. Maintaining equilibrium in these areas is critical for relationships, one’s well-being, and enhancing productivity at work.
10to8
Software for arranging meetings called 10to8 is designed for remote teams. Teams may schedule online client appointments and virtual staff meetings using 10to8.
Furthermore, you can initiate video conversations directly from your calendar thanks to the integrated Zoom connection. Teams dispersed over several time zones may work with 10to8, and its two-way calendar sync with the majority of calendar applications prevents double reservations.
Your staff will save time and confusion by being organized and punctual thanks to the automatic reminders.
Embracing Remote Work
Making the switch to remote work may seem intimidating at first. If the organization and its workers have clear goals and are led effectively, it will be possible to successfully navigate this new territory and facilitate the adoption of remote work. The following brief advice will assist your staff in accepting remote work:
- Communication is Key: Maintain regular check-ins, video calls, and instant messaging to stay in touch. Maintain open channels of communication and promote candid and open dialogue.
- Clarify Your Expectations: Establish work schedules, due dates, and deliverables. This preserves a positive work-life balance and guarantees that everyone is aware of expectations. For instance, “The marketing campaign should focus on our new customer segment and we need it ready by Friday.”
- Establish a Specialized Workspace: Set aside a peaceful, comfortable area for work. Having a distinct space reduces distractions and improves concentration.
- Promote boundaries and breaks: Encourage your group to establish clear boundaries between work and leisure time and to take frequent breaks. To prevent burnout, encourage self-care.
- Accept Adaptability: Acknowledge that every person has different obligations and timetables. Be receptive to altering your job schedule as long as the task is completed effectively. For example, a person may choose to work from 7 AM to 3 PM to attend an afternoon school function for their child.
- Give the Appropriate Instruments: Provide dependable hardware and software to your team to enable smooth cooperation and increased output. For instance, Zoom or Microsoft Teams can facilitate remote collaboration among staff members.
- Celebrate Achievements: Celebrate and acknowledge all of your successes, no matter how minor. Motivation and morale are raised by positive reinforcement.
The way that professionals handle their everyday activities has changed significantly as a result of the transition to remote work. Remote workers may remain productive, organized, and successfully interact with team members with the correct tools and software. This thorough guide outlines the critical tools and software that may enable remote workers to succeed in their professions, from communication and project management to cybersecurity and well-being.
Keeping up with the most recent technologies and best practices is essential for success as remote work continues to change. These crucial resources may help remote workers overcome obstacles, increase productivity, and maintain a positive work-life balance. These resources will assist you in navigating your path and achieving your professional objectives, regardless of your level of experience with remote work.
