The benefits of remote working are already appreciated by employees and employers all over the world. This method of organisation allows for flexible time scheduling, saves rental costs, and satisfies both parties: customer and contractor — increases.
As a rule, remote work requires only a laptop and a convenient workplace, and in order not to complicate the work, you need to decide on a set of tools. These are essential if you want to keep communication with colleagues as accessible and organised as possible.
1. Messenger: Telegram
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Slack, Skype, Flock, Discord.
Telegram is one of the most popular messengers in the world. It is actively used for both everyday communication and business communication between employees.
Telegram is fast, convenient, and easy to use. It does not support video conferencing and some other useful features available in corporate messengers such as Slack, but it is absolutely free to use.
2. Office suite: Google Spreadsheets, Docs, and Presentations
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Office 365, Quip, Apple iWork.
Google offers a cross-platform, functional, and free suite of services for working with popular office file formats. You can use it to create and edit text documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, either on your own or with a colleague.
Google has 15GB of storage available per user for storing files on Google's servers. For more space, you can subscribe to a paid G Suite subscription. It also includes 24/7 support, corporate email service, and additional data protection features.
3. Notepad service: OneNote.
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Evernote, Notion.
Google Docs and similar services are not suitable for working with small notes. The latter are better stored in cloud notebooks like OneNote. This Microsoft product has an intuitive interface that resembles a real notebook. The simple and clear structure of the service allows you and your colleagues to quickly find the notes you need among hundreds of others.
In addition, OneNote offers extensive text editing capabilities and support for attachments of all kinds, from audio comments to video. In addition, the service can also be used free of charge. In that case, each user gets 5 GB to store notes in the cloud.
4. Task manager: Todoist
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: TickTick, Notion, Any.do.
To effectively manage a remote team, a manager needs a handy tool for delegating tasks. Todoist is one of the best in this category. The high number of tasks is easy to navigate thanks to labels and filters. And an activity history helps your manager keep a close eye on the progress.
5. Project manager: Asana
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Basecamp, ProofHub, Podio.
Task managers are good for quick errands but not always suitable for managing complex workflows. For a more strategic approach to cases, programs like Asana are used. This service allows you to plan and structure the flow of tasks in a multitude of ways. Every employee has a clear view of their responsibilities and deadlines. And a manager can easily track progress and monitor the overall project picture.
6. Kanban boards: Trello
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: MeisterTask, Blossom.
Kanban is a popular project management methodology. Each task in it passes certain stages: e.g. "In Plans", "In Progress" and "Completed". These are usually shown as dashboards, between which task cards are moved. Perhaps the best implementation of this methodology is in Trello. The developers have made simplicity and clarity an absolute, so the service may not be fully functional for complex projects but run even on your mobile phone. But the flow of tasks in it looks so minimalistic that even a child can understand it.
7. Mind map editor: MindMeister
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Mindomo, MindMup.
A mind map is a schematic representation of processes or ideas that simplifies the perception of information. Anything from a project development strategy to the results of a brainstorming session can be presented in this form. MindMeister is a good choice. It offers a lot of templates and handy tools for data visualization. With it, you can quickly draw mind maps of any complexity.
8. Cloud storage: Google Drive
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Dropbox, OneDrive.
It's hard to imagine remote teamwork without a cloud for storing collaborative data. There are dozens of such services, but Google Drive is one of the best. It offers a generous 15GB of free space, is integrated with other Google products, and is available in an easy-to-use interface.
9. Video conferencing service: Zoom
Platforms: Web, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Skype for Business, Slack, Hangouts Meet.
Video meetings create not only close emotional contact between employees but also an effective communication environment. One of the market leaders is Zoom. Not only does it set up a secure video call, but it also allows you to broadcast the screen, transfer files and save recordings.
10. Screenshot manager: LightShot
Platforms: Windows, macOS.
Alternatives: Gyazo, Nimbus Capture.
When working remotely, one screenshot can replace a thousand words. That's why you need a handy tool for taking screenshots. The cloud-based LightShot service fits this description. It is available free of charge and allows you to take a screenshot of a selected area of your display in two clicks.
11. Time tracker: Timely
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Toggl, RescueTime, Harvest.
Timely trackers help you keep track of how much time your team spends on certain tasks. Timely does this automatically. First, you need to connect it to the services your employees work with. These can be Trello, Asana, or Todoist. After the integration, Timely will start analyzing actions with tasks and show the results of your colleagues on the timeline.
12. Video recorder: Movavi Screen Recorder
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Alternatives: Quicktime
The Movavi Screen Recorder is the answer to making screen captures in minutes. It’s good for making recordings with sound, editing videos, saving and sharing them. In addition I suggest checking these top 11 best free screen recorders with no watermark, which can capture anything on your computer screen as a high-quality video.
13. PDF editor: Acrobat Pro DC
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Soda PDF, PhantomPDF.
If your team frequently deals with PDF, a collaborative editor can save you a lot of effort and time. Acrobat Pro DC is great for this role. This is a cloud-based tool that allows all users who have access to a file to view and comment on PDF documents.
14. Password manager: LastPass
Platforms: Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS.
Alternatives: Dashlane, Hypervault, Keeper, 1Password.
A workforce may use dozens of different services. Ideally, each one needs a strong, unique password. One of the best-known password managers is LastPass. It generates complex passwords, stores them in a secure cloud safe, and automatically enters them when logging into the relevant accounts. By installing the LastPass app on their devices, all team members will have access to shared passwords. The manager can choose which credentials each user sees.
15. Automation service: Zapier
Platforms: Web.
Alternatives: Power Automate, IFTTT.
The Zapier platform helps to automate routine operations. It connects to the services you use for your work and allows you to configure different scenarios for their interaction. For example, you can connect Gmail and Trello so that the system automatically turns incoming emails into new tasks.
What services do you use to transfer employees to work remotely?