Key Takeaways
1. Supporting a distributed workforce means having the best software for working remotely.
2. Choosing the right video-conferencing software ensures that your remote team can connect with each other virtually, as seamlessly as possible.
3. With the right messaging apps, you have everything in place to ensure that your business can thrive, whether synchronously or asynchronously.
4. Good project management practice means software that can keep track of workflows, and ensure that any timing issues are dealt with promptly.
5. Keeping necessary records and insuring against data loss means having the right document storage software in place for your specific business needs.
As remote work becomes the norm, teams are increasingly dispersed across various geographical locations.
This article explores the essential technological tools, software, and applications critical for effectively managing a team that spans cities, countries, or continents. Our emphasis is particularly on sophisticated technologies that significantly improve collaboration in a remote work environment.
Selecting the right combination of remote workforce management software and other tools is vital for addressing remote management challenges and promoting a cohesive and collaborative team culture, even from a distance.
What are the most popular tools for remote teams?
1. Meeting tools
Video calls are a pivotal aspect of remote work, making video conferencing tools essential. Zoom and Skype are two popular options.
Zoom has gained popularity for its ease of use, capacity for large meetings (up to 1,000 participants), and reliability with minimal lag and disconnections. However, its free version has a 40-minute time limit and participant restrictions, and it has faced criticism over privacy and security which it’s been addressing.
Skype, similar in features to Zoom, also offers robust integration with Microsoft products through its paid business version, now part of Microsoft Teams, facilitating collaboration within the Microsoft ecosystem.
Voicenotes is a game-changing AI notes app that effortlessly transcribes voice memos into searchable text, making it a must-have tool for remote teams to capture and organize ideas on the go.
2. Project Management Tools
Project management tools are popular for systematically tracking the progress of business projects. Asana is popular, allowing task assignment, deadline setting, and detailed task insights, including sub-tasks. Its interface organizes tasks by due date.
Monday.com is user-friendly and offers extensive customization and various chart views for project tracking, though it lacks sub-task creation and has limited storage compared to Asana. It’s also known for robust third-party app integration.
Trello, known for its intuitive interface, allows easy movement of tasks across different lists based on their status, enhancing task management efficiency.
3. Messaging Apps
For efficient team communication, messaging often trumps calls. Slack is a leading remote work tool, organizing communication in project or client-specific ‘channels,’ known for ease of use and extensive app integration. However, tracking messages across multiple channels can be challenging, and the free version has limitations.
Microsoft Teams, a part of the Office 365 suite, competes with Slack, offering cost benefits for existing Office users and supporting up to 250 people in video calls, compared to Slack’s. Microsoft Teams SMS integration further enhances its communication capabilities, allowing users to send and receive text messages directly within the platform. However, it’s generally considered less user-friendly and more complex to set up. Opting for Microsoft 365 Services can simplify this setup process and integrate seamlessly with tools like Teams, enhancing both the user experience and collaborative efficiency.
Google Chat offers full integration with G-Suite, making it a solid option for teams embedded in Google’s ecosystem.
Video and audio messaging platforms like Loom and Yac are becoming popular for asynchronous work, particularly in global teams.
Ultimately, the best messaging platform varies per business needs, and experimenting with different options can help identify the ideal fit.
4. Video and Photo Presentation Tools
Use video editing software such as Adobe Premiere Pro, VEED, or Final Cut Pro to create professional-quality video presentations. These tools offer advanced editing features, including AI Avatar, and eye tracking software.
Clear and crisp audio is also essential for remote presentations. Audio editor tools like Audacity or Adobe Audition allow you to edit and refine audio recordings, ensuring high-quality presentation sound. Online converters, e.g., M4A to MP3 converters, can also help you make your audio files compatible with various platforms.
Embracing AI technology can also enhance presentational tools significantly. For example, utilizing the benefits of AI-generated voices aids in accessibility by making content reachable to a visually impaired audience and supports multilingual communication, ultimately broadening audience reach globally. Furthermore, it’s a cost-effective option compared to hiring professional voice actors and streamlines content production processes with consistently high-quality audio creation.
Specific editing tools like background removers are also indispensable, offering a simple yet powerful way to maintain professionalism and visual clarity in video calls and presentations. For still images, background photo services like Depositphotos can be useful for achieving that polished look.
5. Storage Tools
Dropbox and Google Drive are popular cloud-based document storage platforms known for user-friendliness and security. They allow smooth uploads and easy team collaboration and offer free storage, with Google Drive providing more.
For businesses embedded in the Office 365 ecosystem, Microsoft OneDrive offers seamless integration with Microsoft tools but lacks third-party app compatibility. For businesses looking to create custom collaboration solutions within the Microsoft ecosystem, sharepoint development services can provide tailored document management and team sites.
Google Drive facilitates comprehensive file sharing and collaboration, accessible from anywhere, and its Business version caters to large-scale data management with robust privacy settings and integration capabilities.
Get the best tech tools for your remote team
Selecting the right tools for your remote team depends on your business needs, especially when expanding internationally or establishing a new remote team. To find the best fit, consider experimenting with various video conferencing, messaging, project management, and document storage tools. Key factors include:
Ease-of-use: Ensure the tools are user-friendly for an international team.
Integration: Check if the tools integrate well with your existing systems.
Cost: Understand the cost implications, especially if you use related products from providers like Microsoft or Google.
As international hiring specialists, Horizons supports businesses in global expansion, ensuring compliant and cost-effective operations. We provide expertise in selecting optimal remote work tech tools and offer advanced HR and payroll software solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
All remote workers will need a stable and fast home internet connection, preferably with backup (e.g., mobile) connectivity.
Hardware specs will depend on the job in question: Work with high processing needs (such as software development or video editing) will need more powerful equipment. In some cases, it may be appropriate for the employer to provide equipment or a remote work allowance to pay for it.
Every business will need to have some version of the following remote work tech tools in place: Video, messaging, project management and document storage tools.
The precise software or app depends on the needs of the specific business and their budget.
Every business with a remote workforce should consider having a remote work policy in place, setting out how remote work is to occur.
Studies have shown that remote working is effective and can increase employee productivity and boost engagement.
Yes, various tools help employees work from anywhere without hindering their work.
