Do you need help to stay connected and creative while working remotely? The transition to virtual work can be challenging, especially regarding collaboration and maintaining a sense of community.
Remote work has become significantly more popular over the past few years, but 2020 has accelerated its adoption to unprecedented levels. The right tools and strategies must be in place to ensure that remote teams can continue to thrive and produce high-quality work.
Whether you're a freelancer, small business owner, or part of a remote team, having the right tools can make all the difference. This article will explore the top tools and strategies for staying connected and innovative in the virtual world.
What Are Remote Work Tools?
Remote work tools are software and applications that enable seamless collaboration, communication, and productivity for virtual teams. These tools include:
- Project management: Software and services like Trello and Asana help teams organize tasks, set deadlines, and track progress.
- Video conferencing: Platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet allow remote teams to hold virtual meetings and conferences. Use your video conferencing tool to schedule regular team check-ins, brainstorming sessions, and virtual happy hours.
- Communication: Apps like Slack and Microsoft Teams provide instant messaging and file-sharing capabilities for efficient communication within remote teams. Use these tools to stay connected with your team throughout the workday.
- Productivity suites: Create, collaborate, and share documents in real-time with productivity suites like Truly Office and Microsoft Office. Use word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation tools to create high-quality work with your team.
- Cloud storage: Services like Truly Cloud, Google Drive, and OneDrive allow teams to store and share documents, files, and other resources in a centralized location accessible to all team members.
- Online whiteboards: Brainstorm virtually and collaborate with your team using online whiteboard tools. Use a digital space to map out ideas, organize thoughts, and foster creativity.
These tools bridge the physical distance between remote team members and facilitate effective communication and collaboration.
Why Are Remote Work Tools Essential?
Remote work tools are vital in maintaining productivity, collaboration, and communication in a virtual work environment. They facilitate the seamless sharing of information, project management, and real-time interaction, ensuring that teams can function efficiently even when working from different locations.
These tools promote creativity and innovation by providing brainstorming, ideation, and problem-solving platforms, creating a dynamic and interactive virtual workspace.
According to a Buffer survey on the state of remote work in 2023, over 95% of remote workers express a desire to continue working remotely, at least some of the time, for the remainder of their careers. This number highlights the importance of remote work tools in creating a successful virtual work experience.
Best Communication Tools for Remote Work
Stay connected with your team and maintain a sense of community with these top communication tools for remote work. Whether you require instant messaging, video conferencing, or project management capabilities, these tools have got you covered.
1. Slack
- Instant messaging, voice and video calls
- File sharing with integrations
- Free and paid plans available
Slack is a virtual workspace that functions like an online hub for teams to communicate and collaborate. It's become popular for remote work as it brings everyone together, even if they're not in the same physical space. You can chat with your organization in real-time, share files, and even sort conversations into different channels based on topics or projects. This helps keep things organized and makes finding what you're looking for easy without getting lost in a sea of emails.
What's great about Slack is its simplicity and intuitive use. You don't need to be a tech whiz to figure it out, which is a big plus for teams with different experience levels. It integrates with many other tools like Google Drive and Trello, so you can keep all your work in one place.
Overall, Slack makes remote teamwork much easier by providing a central space for communication and collaboration, no matter where you are.
2. Zoom
- Video meetings and conferences
- Screen sharing and recording features
- Free and paid plans available
Zoom is the primary tool for online meetings and video calls, particularly for remote teams. It facilitates virtual gatherings, enabling seamless communication and collaboration. With Zoom, you can have face-to-face conversations with your colleagues, no matter where they are in the world.
Zoom is highly convenient due to its user-friendly interface. Simply clicking a link grants access to meetings. Features like screen sharing, chat functions, and meeting recording enhance usability. Renowned for its reliability, Zoom performs effectively even with many participants. Whether it's a simple team meeting or a conference with hundreds of attendees, Zoom can handle it all.
Zoom's additional features, like virtual backgrounds and breakout rooms, make meetings more engaging and interactive. The platform is a game-changer for remote communication, making it feel like you're right there with your team, even if you're miles apart.
3. Microsoft Teams
- Instant messaging, voice and video calls
- File sharing with integrations
- Integrates with the Microsoft ecosystem
After the success of Skype, Microsoft developed Teams, a communication and collaboration tool that goes beyond just video conferencing. Microsoft Teams is a virtual space for remote teams to communicate and collaborate. As part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite, it seamlessly integrates with tools like Word and Excel.
You can chat with your teammates, make video calls, share files, and transform your remote communication. Create different channels for different projects or teams, keeping conversations organized and easy to follow. Teams is not just for chatting – you can schedule meetings, share updates, and collaborate on documents without missing a beat.
Microsoft Teams keeps everyone connected and on the same page whether you're working from home, on the go, or across different time zones. Make remote teamwork feel like you're all in the same room, working together towards a common goal.
Best Productivity Tools for Remote Work
Work effectively from the comfort of your home with these top productivity tools for remote work. From project management to file sharing, these tools will help you stay on track and produce high-quality work.
1. Truly Office
- Full-feature productivity suite (word processor, spreadsheets, presentations)
- Cloud storage, email, and PDF tools
- Affordable one-time purchase with no subscriptions
Truly Office is the best office productivity suite for all your document needs. It's a comprehensive tool with all the features you need to create, edit, and share documents with your team. Truly Office is the perfect solution for word processing, spreadsheets, or presentations. Don't break the bank with expensive subscriptions — Truly Office offers a one-time purchase for lifetime access to all its features.
Like Microsoft Office, Truly Office has all the familiar features you need. However, it also offers cloud storage, email, and PDF tools to keep your work in one place. It's a great option for remote teams seeking an efficient, cost-effective productivity suite. With built-in security and privacy features, you can trust Truly Office to keep your work safe.
Truly Office offers a 30-day free trial on Windows and Mac to experience its full capabilities before making a purchase. Try Truly Office and take your productivity to the next level.
2. Trello
- Project management and collaboration
- Customizable boards, lists, and cards
- Free and paid plans available
Trello is a visual-based project management tool that helps teams organize tasks, projects, and ideas in a flexible and user-friendly way. It's perfect for remote teams as it provides a centralized space to assign, track progress, and collaborate on tasks.
Trello uses boards, lists, and cards to keep everything organized. You can create separate boards for different projects or departments and use lists and cards within each board to track individual tasks. Pair this with a customizable labeling system and deadline reminders, and you have an efficient project management system that keeps your team on track.
3. Todoist
- Task management and productivity tracking
- Intuitive interface with customizable features
- Alarms and reminders for important tasks
Deadlines and tasks can easily pile up when working remotely, making it difficult to stay on top of everything. Todoist is a task management tool that helps you stay organized and focused. With its sleek interface and customizable features, you can create lists, set deadlines, track progress, and even prioritize tasks.
All you have to do is add your tasks, set their due dates and add labels or notes if necessary. Todoist then creates a to-do list that shows your tasks in order of priority and deadline. You can also track your productivity and see your daily accomplishments. Stay on top of your work with Todoist's simple yet effective task management system.
Best Collaboration Tools for Remote Work
Collaboration is essential for successful remote teamwork. These tools facilitate easy communication and seamless collaboration, making it feel like you're all working in the same office.
1. Google Workspace
- Real-time collaboration in your browser
- Meetings, email, and more
- Cloud storage for easy access and sharing
Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite) is a collection of cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools. It includes apps like Gmail, Google Drive, Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more. With real-time collaboration, multiple team members can work on the same document simultaneously, making it perfect for remote teams.
In addition to its productivity tools, Google Workspace also offers video conferencing through Google Meet and other forms of communication with different tools. You can schedule and join meetings with your team seamlessly within the platform. With cloud storage, you can easily access and share files, no matter where you work.
While Google's solutions require an internet connection, they offer a reliable and efficient way for teams to collaborate remotely.
2. Miro
- Virtual whiteboard for brainstorming and collaboration
- Templates, sticky notes, and other tools to visualize ideas
- Free and paid plans available
Brainstorming and collaborating on ideas can be challenging when working remotely. Miro offers a virtual whiteboard where teams can collaborate and visualize their ideas in real time. Whether you're brainstorming new ideas, mapping out processes, or creating wireframes, Miro provides a range of templates and tools to suit your needs.
Miro integrates with other productivity tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Google Drive, making it easy to incorporate into your existing workflow. It enhances remote collaboration by providing a dynamic and intuitive platform for teams to work together visually, resulting in more efficient communication and better project outcomes.
Best Cloud Storage for Remote Work
Remote work often involves sharing and accessing files from different devices. These cloud storage solutions make it easy for remote teams to store, access, and share documents securely.
1. Truly Cloud
- Secure and private cloud storage solution
- Start with 100 GB storage
- Sync across devices, even offline
Truly Cloud is an excellent option for remote teams seeking a secure and private cloud storage solution. It offers end-to-end encryption for all your files, ensuring they remain safe and confidential. With a focus on keeping your files accessible and safe, you and your team can easily sync and access files from any device, even while offline. Truly Cloud plans start with 100 GB of storage, and you can upgrade to more as needed.
Truly Cloud allows you to seamlessly export and import documents in all major formats, such as Microsoft Office and Google Docs. If you also have Truly Office, you can easily import these files into your apps, like Truly Word or Truly Sheets, directly from the cloud, making it a convenient and user-friendly option for remote teams.
2. Dropbox
- Easy file sharing and collaboration
- Automatic syncing across devices
- Start with 2 GB storage
Dropbox has been a popular cloud storage solution for remote teams for many years. It offers easy file sharing and collaboration, making it perfect for remote work. With automatic syncing across devices, you can access the most up-to-date files on any device at any time. It also makes sharing your files easy with various sharing options, including password protection and setting expiration dates for shared links.
Dropbox offers a free plan with 2 GB of storage, making it an affordable option for small teams. You can also upgrade to higher storage plans as needed. With its user-friendly interface and reliable performance, Dropbox is a great choice for remote teams that need a simple and efficient cloud storage solution.
Conclusion
The 10 tools mentioned above are just a few examples of the many available options for remote teams. Each tool offers unique features and benefits that enhance remote collaboration, productivity, and organization. As remote work continues to become more prevalent, it's important to utilize these tools to ensure successful teamwork and project management.
Consider testing different tools to find the best fit for your team and make remote work feel more connected and efficient. With the right tools, you can maintain a strong team dynamic and successfully manage tasks and projects from anywhere in the world.
Don't know where to start? Get Truly Office and Truly Cloud to enjoy the best of both worlds — seamless collaboration and secure storage.
