Do you think remote work is here to stay?
Let’s take a look at some statistics:
- According to FlexJobs’ annual survey, 58% of respondents want to be full-time remote employees post-pandemic, while 39% want a hybrid work environment. In total, 97% of employees desire some form of remote work.
- Upwork’s 2020 Future Workforce Pulse Report estimates that 36.2 million Americans will be fully remote by 2025, which is an increase of 16.8 million people compared to pre-pandemic rates.
- After COVID-19 92% of people surveyed expect to work from home at least 1 day per week and 80% expected to work at least 3 days from home per week, according to a survey by Owl Labs.
These statistics are more than enough to answer the above question. Let’s now ask you a more vital question.
Are you ready for this change?
If not, then here is a complete list of top remote work tools and software that will help you ease through this transformation and allow you to stay productive.
Here it goes!
Communication and collaboration tools
Being in constant touch with team members is very essential for making remote work a success. Some of the best communication and collaboration tools that you should try in 2022 are:
Slack:
Slack is one of the most popular communication tools used by remote workers. This messaging app comes with a wide range of management features that helps in managing projects, assigning tasks, tracking documents, and sharing confidential information.
Skype for business:
Skype is another widely used communication tool among remote and hybrid workers. It’s an instant messaging software that allows employees to stay connected and collaborate through messages, voice, and video calls. It also allows its users to share their screens during calls and being a versatile tool, it can be downloaded and used on all devices.
Workplace by Facebook:
If you are a Facebook user then chances are high that you might have come across this remote tool. It’s an instant messaging tool that allows remote employees to exchange information and make teams, using the group feature. Furthermore, its resemblance to Facebook messenger makes it easy for new joiners to use.
Few other communication and collaboration tools that you can try:
- Google Meet,
- Google Hangouts,
- Microsoft Teams,
- Zoom.
Project management tools
Managing projects is not as easy as it seems for remote teams. But with the right tools, things can turn around, pretty quickly.
Try these project management tools to make the best out of remote working:
Base Camp
Basecamp is a popular project management tool that allows its users to keep track of ongoing projects, create dedicated message boards, manage files, prepare to-do lists, and set reminders. The convenience of having all of the above features in one location helps remote teams to reduce chaos & increase productivity.
Calendly
Calendly is scheduling software that allows remote workers to schedule and manage meetings. Its automated workflows and use of custom SMS and email notifications make working remotely more efficient.
Few other project management tools that you can try:
- Ashore,
- Asana,
- Trello,
- Blinq.
Cloud storage tools
When choosing a cloud storage platform, it’s best to choose a tool that is affordable, highly secure, and reliable. Some of the best cloud storage tools that you can try:
Google Drive
Google Drive is one of the most commonly used cloud-based storage systems. Its close integration with other Google platforms and ability to sync online and offline documents automatically is what makes it so popular among users. This platform also supports collaborative editing and is a great tool for team file sharing & storage.
Dropbox
Dropbox is one of the oldest cloud-based storage tools available in the market. It allows users to create, edit, store, and share files with their team while having control of the access. It consists of various distinguishing features such as the paper app which allows users to edit Word files directly in the tool without having to download anything.
Few other cloud storage tools that you can try:
- Onedrive,
- Box,
- pCloud,
- Egnyte.
Time management tools
Time management is a crucial element of remote work. It affects both our productivity and effectiveness. Moreover, it also plays an important role in managing our work-life balance.
KonarkPro
KonarkPro is a new-age time management tool that makes it easier to manage remote teams. It helps in managing workload balance and brings transparency and accountability among remote team members. Unlike traditional time management tools, KonarkPro also provides in-depth insights on ways to increase productivity and improve problem areas.
Time Doctor
Time Doctor is another widely used time tracking tool among remote workers around the world. It provides various management features such as screen monitoring, chat monitoring, and payroll modulation.
Few other time management tools that you can try:
- Clockify,
- Toggl,
- Harvest,
- Hubstaff.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. These are our top picks for the best remote-working tools which made it easier for remote workers to shift into a new work culture & stay connected.
We hope you’ll find the right tool here to stay productive and make the best out of remote work.