Remote working requires reliable communication, time tracking, sharing, and project management tools for better collaboration and business operations.
Remote working or working from home became a buzzword during the Covid-19 pandemic when most companies were forced to adopt a hybrid work approach. However, some companies had embraced this idea long before Covid-19 struck.
Technology has allowed companies to employ across the globe and use tools for working remotely to manage various teams. Employees can collaborate and deliver on a project without being in the same locality.
Which work from kits are best suited for efficient workflow? What are the benefits of communication for remote working? This article answers these questions and provides information on the best remote tools for happy teams.
The value of communication for those working remotely
Remote software development is exponentially growing because of the benefits it accords entrepreneurs and businesses.
Some of the benefits include:
- Reduced office maintenance costs
- Extended access to a pool of new talents
- Access to larger markets
- Motivated employees
- Increased productivity
Most software development teams are concerned about resources and communication accessibility.
Internet access and technology have made it easy for teams to collaborate and successfully work remotely. Nevertheless, remote working still faces challenges such as language barriers, varied time zones, and miscommunication.
Team leaders can ensure the success of remote working by providing necessary team tools for collaboration among members. These tools reduce the risk of miscommunication and enhance productivity.
Let’s consider some of the best tools for working remotely
Best tools for remote tools 2022
Passing information to teams working miles apart to get the job done is more challenging than walking to a co-worker’s cubicle and talking to them.
An organization needs to use remote tools to ensure working teams are on the same page. Let’s talk about some tools that can help you improve communication and workflow:
Trello
Trello is a project management tool ideal for startups. It allows managers to create and customize cards as they wish to guide team members. Managers can delegate assignments using the cards, collect and store information, track progress, and plan and organize work.
Many remote working teams love Trello due to its visual list creation tool, which allows you to visualize a project’s progress. Its straightforward functionality and effective design make it easy for the team to collaborate to accomplish complex tasks.
Pros
- Easy to understand and use
- It is mobile friendly
- It has a less complex pricing system
- Instant notification
Cons
- It depends on the internet
- It has a storage limit
- Challenging to handle big projects
- You cannot edit comments
- It does not allow iteration reviews.
Soapbox
Remote workers do not enjoy the watercooler conversations experienced by onsite workers. Therefore, when you have a scheduled remote meeting, you undoubtedly want to get the most out of it.
Soapbox is your savior in this area. It is one of the work-from-home kits that allows teams to collaborate on taking notes, assigning projects, and sharing agendas and feedback.
Furthermore, Soapbox also provides access to questions that lead to meaningful conversations. You will also have access to AI-powered meetings that give the team additional insight into the topic of discussion.
Pros
- It is creative and flexible
- It allows shared scheduling
- It helps with organizing presentations
- Excellent training tool
Cons
- It lacks robust features
- It does not give surveys
- It does not have a standard video editing capacity
Microsoft teams
This remote working tool is ideal for video calls and chats. It allows team members to chat, meet, and collaborate differently.
Microsoft team provides your team with all video call features, including file and screen sharing, application integration, and virtual backgrounds. One of its features that make this team tool ideal is the “Together mode” that allows your team to work together on a project simultaneously, even if they are miles apart.
Since it is from Microsoft, the tool thrives on compliance and security. You can be sure that your meeting is secure.
Pros
- Enriched communications
- Increased transparency
- Improved focus on your work
- Easy to learn and use
- Easy transition to the digital workspace
Cons
- Difficulty transitioning from Outlook
- File users can confuse users
- Challenging to make permission setting granular
- Limited flexibility.
Zoom video conferencing
We can all agree that this collaboration tool gained popularity during the pandemic, allowing people to meet easily. With Zoom, team members can explain and share screens to tell the other person how to handle a task.
You can also have bigger team meetings or webinars. You can lock meetings so only invites can attend and eliminate interrupting random calls.
The breakout rooms allow team members to further divide into specific groups for further collaboration on aspects of the project that need smaller discussions. Professional teams can use Zoom to share, discuss, and implement ideas seamlessly.
Moreover, you can record the meeting for reference purposes. It also integrates with 10to8, thus making online appointment scheduling easy.
Pros
- It supports large audiences
- You can stream your meeting on your Facebook page
- It has Google calendar support
- Zoom has a free version
Cons
- It has many Add-ons and subscription
- Unwanted individuals can crash in the call-
- It does not allow you to delete an inappropriate comment
- Inconsistent cloud file size
Slack
Slack is an excellent communication tool for remote workers that need explanations and clarification on a matter in a one-on-one or group conversation.
It acts like Facebook messenger but with additional features such as integration with Trello, Google docs, and other collaborative tools.
However, slack will not solve all your collaboration problems. It may even present new issues for the team, hence the need to exercise caution when using it.
Pros
- You can create channels for each co-worker and client
- You can collaborate and share with others in real-time
- Data is adequately protected
- Desktop and mobile-friendly
Cons
- Your conversation will be deleted after two weeks
- It can cause distraction
- Minimal file storage
TeamViewer
TeamViewer allows you to share sessions with your co-workers regardless of how their machines are set up. This tool allows you to remotely access fellow employees’ computers if they have the TeamViewer application and login details.
The IT teams can provide technical support to any employee no matter where they are in the world. You can easily access a document from an office device from home.
Pros
- It allows for file transfer between machines
- It is free and secure
- You can conduct online training via audio and video
- It supports remote printing and chats
Cons
- It is not compatible with proxy servers
- The business version is costly
- Co-workers must download TeamViewer for it to work
- It does not have a free commercial version
Time doctor
Project managers can use time doctor to track the time spent by each team member on a project. It is especially useful for software teams, digital agencies, and businesses with remote support agents.
You can know which team is lagging and need encouragement to put more effort into the project. You will know if your team is effectively managing their time and decern areas they can work on to improve workflow and profitability.
Pros
- You can track your employee’s work hours in real-time
- You can track time at the task level
- It is mobile-friendly
- It gives you time tracking reminders and uses alerts
- It has a strong payroll dashboard
Cons
- It has an outdated user interface
- Challenging to reach customer support
- Idle time alerts are distracting
Google Drive
Google Drive is ideal for data storage and document sharing with others easily. You can collaborate with your co-workers in real-time regardless of where they are. You can share spreadsheets or presentations whenever you choose.
With Google Drive, you have file management powers because of:
- Cloud-based file management
- Powerful control features
- Free access to your account anywhere
Pros
- It is compatible with most devices
- Quick file search
- Easy file sharing
- Better user interface
- Solid data backup
- Access to edit files
- Better file management.
Cons
- It requires data connectivity
- Limited file size
- Slower downloading and uploading speed with large files
- Security risks
Asana
Asana is a remote working tool that helps with task and project management for teams that want to deliver projects on time.
It unifies teams, enabling them to track work progress, communicate, share files, and view project milestones. With Asana, you can keep all important project files in one location.
It also enables you to customize project views according to your working style. Furthermore, it offers over 200 integrations with all your software.
Pros
- Expansive integration
- Easy to use
- Ideal for task and project management
- It is a collaboration-focused tool
Cons
- It does not have time tracking features
- It has too many features
- It needs experience
- Limited assignments
Assembly
Employees often thrive with recognition for a job well done, but this is challenging to do for a remote team. However, Assembly can help you with team connection and employee recognition.
You can celebrate employees’ performances, identify top performers, and offer motivating incentives through public shout-outs.
Pros
- Management can see what is happening to the team members on a peer-to-peer level.
- The team can customize rewards for top performers
- Access to various gift cards and charities
Cons
- The rewards expire monthly, which could limit some teams.
- It does not give priority to individuals who have not been rewarded.
Final words
As technology advances, companies will continue to adopt remote working to reap its benefits. Remotely working is the new normal, and organizations should embrace it. The remote tools we discussed can help you collaborate and improve communication between your teams regardless of location.
