Due to Covid -19, a lot of teams started working from home. Even though the coronavirus is still raging, many companies decided to go back to their offices. However, there is still a large percentage of teams that prefer to work remotely, so we have to find the best collaboration tools.
Did you know that remote collaboration can be as effective as in-office collaboration? To make that happen, team leaders and managers started using various tools to achieve maximum productivity. But not all collaboration tools are effective or useful enough for a remote team. Do you want only the best for your employees? If so, check out these collaboration platforms that will boost productivity!
1. Messaging apps
Nowadays, numerous different messaging apps exist. From emails to chat messengers, they all have the same purpose. However, do all of them offer the same quality services to their users? Definitely not! That’s why apps, like Slack, are amongst the best freemium apps that offer quality connectivity for the entire team.
Messaging apps are crucial for team connectivity and their performance. On top of that, they create the team bond that is necessary for the remote workers. As they are sitting physically far apart from each other, messaging is one of the easiest ways of staying connected and conveying different information from one part of the world to the other.
2. Video conferencing app
While messaging is useful and essential, formal meetings generally need to be done face-to-face, at least over a screen. Every informal meeting starts with the famous sentence: “Can you hear me?”, but that only makes you look unprofessional. So, if you want to maintain your authority, holding a business meeting over a reliable and bug-free platform is vital.
One of the best video conferencing apps that can cater up to 100 people for a free version and over 1000, for a professional one, is Zoom. Due to its popularity, many companies decided to use Zoom because of its stable connection and good sound and video quality. On top of that, your team can use it for free!
3. File sharing platforms
Sharing files and documents on the go is an integral part of any remote team. You can’t simply jump over to your colleague’s desk or their office for the document you need. Therefore, you need to think about a bigger picture and consider implementing a tool that will allow document accessibility at all times.
Google Docs and Dropbox are fine examples of file-sharing platforms that will enable your team members to access the necessary documents at all times. You’ll no longer have to ring up a colleague to mail you a document or file. Simply store everything online.
4. Project management
No matter the industry you operate in, you’ll certainly have projects and tasks you need to assign to different team members. Your team needs to complete those tasks efficiently and timely to maximize productivity and reach the defined goals. To achieve the business goals and create a smooth workflow, implement project management tools. Trello and similar apps are ideal for such purposes.
Even though it’s a free tool, it doesn’t mean it’s not an amazing way of collaborating with your team members. Just like there are some quality free marketing tools, this project management tool can help you organize your business and get the job done!
5. Communication and work engagement
The two most important aspects of every business, remote or not, are communication and work engagement. With open and honest communication, teams will reach agreements more quickly, and improve the way they do their business, which will naturally lead to better work engagement. However, these results are not easily reachable if you’re operating a remote team.
Why is engagement so important in remote teams? Work engagement increases brand and company loyalty decreases fluctuation and boosts performance in the long run. Since most employees are not physically close to the company, group coherence and sense of belonging may weaken over time. That’s why platforms like Blink are perfect for frontline workers. This app keeps people informed, engaged, and mentally and emotionally close to your company, which gives long-term results.
6. Time converter app
Even though many remote teams are located within the same country, numerous companies have employees all over the world. Collaboration in such teams can be extremely challenging. The moment when one person is the most productive, the other can be asleep. Luckily, time converter apps, such as World time buddy, exist!
These types of apps allow you to add the locations of your team members. Then it calculates the time for each one of them which makes it easier to schedule a meeting that everyone can attend. On top of that, this is a freemium platform that can help you collaborate and organize your workflow better!
Final thoughts
In the abundance of various apps with similar purposes, these 6 are the best among the best! With little to no investment, you can create a functional team that will collaborate with ease. It’s always the right time for improvement, so improve your practice by implementing these magnificent tools!
