Key Points
- Google Drive is a reliable and secure cloud storage platform that enables remote workers to store and share various file types, synchronizing files across multiple devices.
- Trello is a digital tool that utilizes the Kanban concept to replace physical whiteboards and Excel spreadsheets, effectively categorizing tasks and allowing for smooth communication and tracking of deliverables.
- Slack recreates the office environment, whether working in real-time or asynchronously, with features like status updates, notification preferences, and rich profiles.
- Zoom is a popular option for video conferencing, with a user-friendly interface, high-quality videos, and many features.
- InVision is a vital tool in UI development, allowing for collaboration, real-time communication, and detailed prototype creation.
During the spring of 2020, many businesses decided to have their employees work from home. Teams across the globe began to explore various collaboration and productivity tools. As remote work became the new normal, companies had to step up and think outside the box. Collaborative tech became a game-changer, shifting from a luxury to a necessity. Innovative companies rolled up their sleeves and came up with smarter ways to work.
Virtual tools provide convenient access to ideas, projects, and colleagues, enhancing productivity, especially when asynchronous or offline work is necessary. Below are some of the best tools for remote work and collaboration.
- The Best File Management Tool for Remote Work and Collab: Google Drive
- The Best Project Management Tool for Remote Work and Collab: Trello
- The Best Team Communication Tool for Remote Work and Collab: Slack
- The Best Video Conferencing Tool for Remote Work and Collab: Zoom
- The Best Design Collaboration and Whiteboard Tool: InVision
- The Best Workflow Automation for Business Tool: Zapier
Best File Management Tool for Remote Work: Google Drive
Effective digital file management is essential for all businesses, particularly for remote-first companies where employees require access to files at various times, and that is when Google Drive works great.
Google Drive is a reliable and secure cloud storage platform that enables remote workers to store and share various file types, such as documents, spreadsheets, and slide presentations. This service provides the convenience of synchronizing files across multiple devices, making them easily accessible and updatable from any location.
Integrating Google Drive with Confluence allows team members to easily access, edit, and collaborate on documents within a single application. Members won’t have to switch tools, which makes collaboration seamless and efficient. The integration improves file organization, categorization, and search within Confluence. This creates a secure and controlled environment for sharing and collaborating on sensitive information.
On the downside, not everyone knows how to integrate their Drive-enabled app with Google Drive. So, additional setup and technical expertise may be necessary. Moreover, the integration is dependent on Google Drive and Docs. In a downtime, team members may be unable to access necessary documents.
Best Project Management Tool for Remote Work: Trello
If you are searching for a great value and easy-to-use project management tool, we recommend Trello, which works amazingly as it employs the Kanban system.
Trello is a digital tool that utilizes the Kanban concept to replace physical whiteboards and Excel spreadsheets. It effectively categorizes tasks into three columns: “To Do,” “Doing,” and “Done.” You can customize each task by adding sub-projects, checklists, and ongoing dialogue. This allows for smooth communication and tracking of deliverables. Trello is versatile and integrates with other apps, making it an excellent choice for managing various projects.
We love its simple design, user-friendly interface, and robust features. The visual list creation tool simplifies project tracking, enabling users to quickly monitor progress and delegate tasks. The software’s drag-and-drop feature lets you create and move lists. You can develop lean processes and collaborate on intricate tasks.
Butler, an automation tool, streamlines workflow by automating repetitive tasks, establishing rules, and creating workflows, ultimately saving time and effort. You can drive collaboration further by integrating Trello with tools such as Slack and Google Drive.
On the downside, some add-ons and third-party apps on Trello are not free. That said, Trello is an excellent option for teams looking for an efficient way to work remotely.
Best Communication Tool for Remote Work and Collab: Slack
Slack is a crucial communication tool for remote teams, offering a user-friendly interface and integration capabilities with various products such as G Suite, Dropbox, and Adobe Creative Cloud.
Slack has mobile and web versions, enabling effortless collaboration and coordination from anywhere. Remote-first companies often use Slack to communicate and collaborate. Some of its cool features, like fun bots and birthday reminders, can boost your team’s morale and engagement.
Slack allows users to install apps and utilize bots to report business activity and keep employees engaged. Users can share screens, take polls and send requests, which improves collaboration and productivity. In a way, Slack recreates the office environment, whether working in real-time or asynchronously. Features like status updates, notification preferences, and rich profiles help drive efficiency. You won’t waste time chasing down people and answers.
Slack is compatible with various remote team apps and can act as a central hub for discussions and decision-making. It is an excellent choice for remote teams and other distributed work environments. If you are looking for an affordable tool with practical features and seamless communication capabilities, Slack is the way to go.
Best Video Conferencing Tool for Remote Work: Zoom
If you need a video conferencing tool that is easy to use and integrates smoothly with Google Calendar, look no further than Zoom!
Zoom has exceptional video-calling features and addresses problems such as frozen video and audio problems, which were common with video conferencing tools in the past. The tool can record video conferences. You can use it to create educational content or document procedures. The inclusion of this feature expands the range of possibilities for using Zoom. Moreover, the company provides a complimentary plan with up to 40 minutes of conference time. The professional plan offers additional features, such as the ability to host webinars.
While Zoom has undoubtedly worked on improving overall quality, its inconsistent performance continues to be an issue for some. You need a reliable Internet connection to avoid sluggish audio/video, distorted video quality, and unexpected disconnections.
Despite the concern, Zoom remains a popular option for video conferencing. It has a user-friendly interface, delivers high-quality videos, and boasts many features. As virtual meetings and remote work arrangements become the norm, organizations and individuals use Zoom to communicate and cooperate remotely.
Best Design Collaboration and Whiteboard Tool: InVision
InVision is an exceptional tool for creating user interfaces and promoting teamwork among team members.
Thanks to its real-time communication features, InVision allows for smooth interactions with clients and coworkers. A notable feature is the ability to assess app prototypes directly on a mobile device, enabling an authentic user experience assessment.
InVision can achieve an impressive level of detail. It is so easy to use InVision to update the user interface during website modernization projects—team members – whether designers, testers, or developers – will find this tool valuable.
Expect minor glitches when creating links within the prototyping functionality. Once the prototype is ready for testing, ensure you thoroughly review and verify link placement. Anyway, this does not significantly diminish the overall positive experience and benefits provided by InVision.
In general, InVision is a vital tool in UI development. You can collaborate, communicate in real-time, and create detailed prototypes with your team.
The Best Workflow Automation for Business Tool: Zapier
Zapier ensures effective communication and up-to-date project documentation, which are essential for the success of modern businesses.
Workflow automation tools are crucial for companies with remote teams that rely heavily on technology. Zapier enables businesses to automate tasks across numerous web applications without requiring any coding skills. This tool eliminates repetitive tasks and boosts team productivity.
One of Zapier’s main strengths is integrating and automating workflows across various applications. The platform boasts a user-friendly interface, a vast app library, and adjustable triggers and actions. You can use it to automate tasks and streamline processes, saving time.
What you should bear in mind is that Zapier has limitations as well. Specific app integrations may have restricted functionality or necessitate advanced technical expertise for customization. Furthermore, the pricing structure may become costly as the number and complexity of integrations increase. This could make it less affordable for smaller-scale users or those with limited budgets.
Although Zapier has some limitations, it is still a robust tool for automating workflows. It offers efficient integration capabilities and enables teams to automate tasks and improve their workflows. This tool is handy for remote teams who want to use automation to enhance their collaboration, communication, and productivity.
The Best Call Center Tool for Remote Work and Collab: Dialpad
Dialpad is a platform designed with intuitive features to provide modern communication solutions at competitive prices.
A leading voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) service, Dialpad provides businesses with a simple and efficient communication tool. You can use it to make high-quality audio calls and video conferences, provided you have a reliable, high-speed Internet connection.
Dialpad is renowned for its Voice Intelligence function but also has features such as Call Flip that can make a difference, enabling smooth call transfers between devices. This tool offers AI-powered contact center capabilities that can improve communication efficiency. Its voice intelligence feature supports call transcription and automated note-taking. It integrates seamlessly with G Suite, Salesforce, and Zendesk.
Dialpad Contact Center facilitates the establishment of a productive call center by implementing intelligent call routing and minimizing customer wait times. Using its cloud-based system, remote teams can make and receive calls without the limitations of traditional desk phones.
While Dialpad has many good things, it also has some limitations. The service is not accessible worldwide. A standard plan does not offer round-the-clock customer support. Its basic plan limits video conferencing to only ten participants.
Dialpad is a fantastic unified communications platform with advanced features and a user-friendly interface. It can enhance communication efficiency, improve customer experience, and increase productivity.
Best Time Management Tool for Remote Work and Collab: Kickidler
If you are looking for a sophisticated tool with employee monitoring and user activity tracking, we recommend Kickidler.
Kickidler provides robust features to ensure effective personnel control, information security, and business efficiency. You can monitor computers, record and playback employees’ activity history, track time, and implement information security measures. The monitoring screens simultaneously display resources, including dates and execution times. You can notify workers if they spend too much time on non-work-related activities. Additionally, workers can access their productivity statistics through this interface.
Overall, Kickidler provides a complete solution for employee monitoring and activity tracking, which enables businesses to improve productivity, maintain information security, and optimize internal operations. You can enjoy new features such as automatic notifications and a self-monitoring interface with new updates.
How to Pick the Best Tools for Remote Work and Collaboration?
With so many tools available, finding the perfect remote working tool can be tricky. Our circumstances and needs are also different. So, you want to be clear about what you want to achieve by automating remote work. Keep these things in mind:
Communication
When shopping for a work or collaboration tool, look for one that offers. A good tool should be dependable and support effective communication. The features encompassed in this are video conferencing, instant messaging, and voice calls. When evaluating a tool, it is essential to consider factors such as audio and video quality, how user-friendly it is, and how well it integrates with other platforms.
Collab Features
When searching for a suitable collaboration tool, it is recommended to consider features such as sharing documents, editing in real-time, managing versions, and adding comments. For remote teams, it is crucial to have the ability to work together seamlessly on projects.
File Sharing and Storage
If you are looking for a good file-sharing or storage tool, pick solutions that offer sufficient storage capacity, effortless file management, and reliable sharing alternatives. You can benefit greatly from cloud storage services such as Google Drive or Dropbox when focused on file management and sharing.
Project Management
If you are required to manage projects remotely, you’ll want a tool with the best project management features. The right tool will ideally ensure organization and consistency. Look for features such as task assignment, progress tracking, milestone setting, and deadline management.
If yo
What to Know Before Using the Best Tools for Remote Work and Collaboration?
No matter what tool you pick, you should always check it for certain features. Here is what you should know before using a tool to support your remote work and business.
Security and Privacy
Your safety or privacy matters a lot. Remote work frequently entails the sharing of confidential information. When searching for a communication or collaboration tool, consider features such as encryption, user access controls, and two-factor authentication. Compliance with relevant data protection regulations is essential too.
Scalability and Integration
Any collaboration tool you pick should grow with your organization and integrate with other tools or systems. So, determine whether your tools can scale as your team grows. A good ensures smooth workflow and minimizes the need to switch to other platforms.
Cost and Budget
No matter how impressive a remote work and collab tool is, you wouldn’t want to blow your budget. So, assess the tools’ pricing structure and determine which is cost-effective. Some tools provide free plans with limited features. To unlock more features, you will need to upgrade. Be sure to evaluate whether a tool fits your budget.
Customer Support
No one wants to buy a tool and get stuck trying to find help. So, ensure the remote work tool has helpful and accessible support to resolve encounter technical issues and answer pressing questions. That way, you’ll save time and have a great head-start.
Using the Best Tools for Remote Work and Collaboration: What It is Like?
Remote work and collaboration have transformed how teams function, allowing members to communicate and work productively from any work. These tools make virtual meetings more immersive and facilitate real-time document sharing and editing while streamlining project management. Collaborative platforms promote a sense of unity by bridging physical distances and creating a cohesive work environment. Overall, remote tools make work and collaboration seamless, enabling teams to stay connected, work efficiently, and achieve positive outcomes.
Summary Table
| Tool | Category |
|---|---|
| Google Drive | File Management |
| Trello | Project Management |
| Slack | Communication |
| Zoom | Video Conferencing |
| InVision | Design Collaboration and Whiteboard |
| Zapier | Workflow Automation |
| Dialpad | Call Center |
| Kickidler | Time Management |
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