Remote Work Software That Can Ease Your Business In Lockdown

After previously talking about how lockdown is affecting some businesses while helping others increase revenue we also discussed how business can establish remote work. This time perhaps the opportunity demands to discuss how businesses can plan for remote work and keep generating revenue without the need to shut in pandemic lockdown, or for any other temporary reason.

Remote work used to be something that only the best companies could afford, largely because of expensive WiFi, better display & video hardware and related tools. Technological advancements have given us such an opportunity that almost everyone can now enjoy such features and even go beyond to create more productive methods of staying connected. Let’s look at some useful work applications for businesses:

Messaging Apps For Remote Work

Some people might think that Slack is the best method for online team chats. While work from home is a great option for businesses these days, Slack is not the only option solution available.

Twist:

Twist separates channels in searchable, conversational threads. They claim that unlike Slack, they resolved the stressful nature of that application by prioritizing clarity.

Microsoft Teams:

MS Teams is especially useful for workplaces that depend on collaborative work done through documents and meetings. This remote work application is a great help for corporate setups.

Discord:

This application might have plenty of use in gaming, but it has also proved its worth for teams who are looking for quick audio/video solutions.

Video Conferencing Applications For Understanding

Zoom:

With Zoom, there is so much possible than simply an audio/video call. Teams can hold webinars with hundreds of participants. They can even record them for other viewers to watch later. Hundred of organizations around the world are currently using it and it is one of the prominently used applications in the education sector as well.

Google Hangouts:

Hangouts integrate with your Google Calendar so that you don’t miss any important event when you add it to your there. This is especially great for teams holding business accounts.

Screenflow:

Screenflow is for teams who want to enjoy recorded video meetings, like in Zoom, but do not want to pay for it.

Cloud Storage Apps Are Essential

Document sharing is one of the most essential parts of an organization’s work in a normal work routine. Cloud storage can save the day for businesses looking for remote work solutions. If a cheap solution is needed, then perhaps Google Drive is the best choice. The application creates documents online that people can read and edit, or share with others in folders. The “G-Drive” is also compatible with Slack, which makes it even more convenient to use. However, businesses may also choose from Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive. Then again, in comparison, Google gives bigger drive storage on the free version than any other cloud storage platform.

Remote Work Tools For Project Managers

Project management should not take a hit when even when a pandemic forces businesses to stop. While some formats of this department may not have any other solution than to close, others can continue through online remote work tools that are available.

Trello:

Trello is a simple Kanban-style tool that visualizes workflow. Team leaders and managers can move projects around depending on if they are in the backlog, in process, or completed.

Asana:

Asana is a great tracker if you want to know the progress of any task, big or small. It not only allows progress tracking of collaborative work but also daily recurring tasks as well.

Monday:

The Monday application sorts out your tasks in such a way that the most relevant data is always most prominent. There are a few other features in the app that can let you collaborate with colleagues easily.

Time Management Is The Key In Remote Work

In a remote work situation, probably what is most challenging is time management for teams. It is a lot more difficult to focus on the task at hand when someone is working from home or during travel.

Tahometer:

Tahometer tracks your progress consistently and gives you a report of how much activity you have done every hour and how much idleness you showed. It sends an alert to the user if there is no activity, which basically resembles procrastination.

Toggl:

This is another great platform to track your progress. For managers, it can also generate reports of team members to see how each employee is spending their time.

Timecamp:

Timecamp application not only tracks your progress by monitoring activity, but it can also estimate how long a task can take to give you a clear picture and better organizing skills.

Learning how to stay connected during remote work is very important if businesses want to continue running smoothly. What we all need to establish is a balance between staying connected with the team, while also having enough space to do work. We, at InvoZone, have already spoken about how managers and employees must maintain a bond of trust, which both must uphold from their ends. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new ideas, that is what flexible schedule is about.

Originally published at https://invozone.com on April 14, 2020.