Must-Have Business Tools for Remote Work Teams

The world is changing every day. As technology evolves and the world gets smaller, more businesses are facing the changing tides by going online. Remote teams and workers are expected to become the norm, disrupting business as we know it today.

If you’ve been looking for ways to improve your remote work capabilities as a business, here are some must-have tools of the trade to make it possible.

File Sharing and Storage Tools

One of the biggest struggles that businesses face when trying to move to a remote or flexible team structure is going paperless. What’s interesting is that new businesses that take this approach from the start have no trouble at all. The difference: having the right tools in place to support the paperless mindset.

For your business to be successful with remote teams, you need to have a robust file sharing and cloud storage system in place. Using applications like DropBox and Google Drive can help you instantly update files with team members in a different time zone.

And what about important documents, like client contracts? Switching to an online faxing system allows you to work with businesses and individuals that have traditional or flexible business tools. Using a service like eFax for online faxing that captures electronic signatures is a lifesaver when working with a remote team, especially across borders. You can even find online fax systems that offer cloud storage for each transmission.

Cloud-Based Project Management Tools

Successful team collaboration comes down to one core component: smart project management tools and practices. Having these tools in place has long been standard practice in traditional business settings. The problem, however, is that many tools used for this purpose were static until the past decade. In other words, they were built for central management in a single office building.

Now, however, cloud-based project management tools are becoming the new norm. These allow for live updates for the whole team to conduct business in real-time. Being able to assign tasks, set due dates, and provide daily summaries is the quintessential approach to successful project management.

Some of the best PM tools include:

• Basecamp
• ClickUp
• Trello
• Zoho
• Asana
• Monday

There are pros and cons to each platform that will indicate which cloud-based project management tool is right for you.

Integrated Communication Channels

An email was once viewed as the be-all-end-all of workplace communications. Now, however, they’re viewed as distracting and, in many cases, counterproductive. While email still has a place in remote work, it’s essential to have more real-time communication capabilities. Furthermore, those channels need to be integrated with other tools for efficiency.

When it comes to instant messaging, Slack is by far the best app on the market. It’s a digital space that has a robust free version for collaboration and communication. You can create various channels specific to projects, ensuring that only the right people are included. It also integrates with various cloud-storage and project management tools.

Productivity and Time Management Apps

Staying productive and managing time well can be a challenge for remote teams. As a business, ensuring that everyone is on task protects your investment. This consideration applies to both your team and yourself.

Tools like Time Doctor and Harvest can help you track the time spent on specific tasks. Using shared productivity tools, like Forest, can help your team block their distracting apps and use the Pomodoro technique to stay on track.

Tools to help your team plan their day can also be useful when working with a remote team. Evernote and Todoist are some popular tools for this purpose.

Final Thoughts 

Having the right systems put in place is essential for success. Include these valuable tools for file sharing, communication, and time management when working with a remote team.

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