According to a study, over 60% of employees expect their employers to let them work from home after COVID-19. A study by Gartner stated that 4 in 5 employees claim they would recommend working remotely to a friend, and almost one-third of workers are employed by exclusively remote companies. Recently, remote work has become increasingly prevalent as technological advancements enable seamless communication regardless of geographical barriers.
In 2020, when the entire world came to a halt, organizations realized that many of the jobs that are normally done in the office could be done as efficiently from the comfort of our homes. However, remote work means dealing with a dispersed workforce and navigating hurdles beyond the reach of geographical barriers can be hectic. This is when the best time-tracking apps can come to the rescue.
To ensure optimal productivity in a remote work environment, having the right tools is indispensable, and today we are going to talk about these!
1 Scheduling Platforms
Often when businesses have multiple employees working in different departments, balancing workloads and assigning tasks can be hectic. However, with scheduling software like eResource Scheduler, businesses can visualize schedules with Gantt charts and quickly view existing schedules by resources and projects along with availability.
Besides, the software also has comprehensive filters that can aid in easily using custom details gathered from resource forms and aid in identifying qualified resources swiftly. From tracking real-time resource availability to effortlessly expanding, shortening, and reassigning bookings across resources with drag-and-drop scheduling, the software can do it all.
2 Project Management Tools
If you want your remote teams to stay organized and focused, effective project management is the key. Platforms like Trello, Asana, and Monday.com offer features such as progress tracking, task assignment, and deadline management that can facilitate transparency and accountability, allowing team members to collaborate efficiently irrespective of their locations.
3 Video Conferencing Solutions
Disparities and disputes arise in remote and hybrid work environments due to siloed communication channels. However, organizations can leverage video conferencing solutions to overcome this challenge and facilitate face-to-face interactions.
Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet offer high-quality video and audio capabilities, screen sharing, and chat functionalities. Besides, there are also features like virtual backgrounds and breakout rooms to enhance the overall meeting experience and provide a life-like simulated experience for remote team members.
4 Time Tracking Software
When you have employees working in-house, tracking their progress can be daunting. Now imagine the same workforce working remotely. Maintaining productivity and managing time effectively can be challenging in a remote setup, but businesses can always use the best time-tracking apps to avoid this issue.
They can deploy software solutions like eResource Scheduler, Harvest, Toggl, and RescueTime to monitor employee work hours, track utilization, and analyze productivity patterns. These tools can provide insights into time usage and enable project managers to identify areas for improvement while optimizing workflow accordingly.
5 Cloud Storage and File Sharing
If you want a common platform to facilitate seamless interaction among team members, there’s nothing better than cloud environments. Cloud storage platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive can offer secure storage, version control, and real-time collaboration features.
You can always go for scheduling tools with a centralized platform, so project managers and individuals in executive or administrative roles can get a quick glance into workload distribution and resource allocation anywhere and at any point in time.
How can this help? Having a cloud storage and file-sharing platform can ensure team members can access vital files from anywhere while eliminating the constraints of conventional file-sharing methods.
6 Messaging Tools
Imagine having a digital workspace where team members can interact seamlessly, share files effortlessly, and brainstorm ideas creatively. That’s where collaboration and communication tools come into play!
Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Discord are like your virtual office, offering instant messaging, file sharing, and channel-based communication. Say goodbye to endless email threads and hello to real-time collaboration!
7 Virtual Whiteboarding
Miro, MURAL, and Lucidspark bring your brainstorming sessions to life in a digital environment. Imagine brainstorming on a traditional whiteboard, but with endless possibilities and real-time collaboration from anywhere in the world. Yes, that’s what virtual whiteboarding tools do for you!
Conclusion
When it comes to remote work, productivity hinges on the effective usage of tools and technologies designed to facilitate effortless communication, collaboration, and task management. If you want to ensure that your organization stays on top of all the tasks without any communication gaps and doesn’t lose revenue in the long term due to geological barriers, keeping everyone on the same page with the best time-tracking app can be effective. You can go for resource management software that can make scheduling, timesheets, and financials easy for you, and your organization will thrive effortlessly in the dynamic landscape of remote work or hybrid work models.