These days, many businesses don’t follow the typical 9-5 schedule. More people work from home or on the road, and many more would like to do so. 80% – 90% of the US workforce says they would like to work remotely at least part time, according to a research by Global Workplace Analytics. Currently, 3.7 million employees work from home, and the percentage of employees who telecommuted grew 5.6%.
And it’s not just employees who are interested in telecommuting. Business owners know they get the most out of employees when they employees are happy. Frequently, this means that things like flexible work hours or the ability to work from home help bolster employee morale and efficiency. These small changes can result in happier employees, and in turn, better business outcomes.
Telecommuting benefits for small startup companies also abound. With a remote workforce, you don’t need to have much (or any) office space, which saves a lot of money. You can also pull from a more national or even global work force. You are no longer limited by only hiring from a local pool. Telecommuting can also save time. If you run a small business where your employees need to be out in the field working or meeting with clients, we all know how difficult it can be to schedule face-to-face team meetings. With remote work tools, you can still hold these valuable meetings anytime, anywhere.
Working remotely has benefits for both companies and employees. But, you have to be set up to work remotely in order to do so. Having the right tech tools can help. These days, you don’t need a ton of fancy equipment – a good laptop with a video camera can do the trick. Fortunately, there are some great new tech apps that can help you and your employees work remotely and make the most of the flexibility.
Here are 12 apps and tools to support networking and working remotely:
Communication Tools:
1. Slack
What it’s best for: Keep all communications in one spot. Private and open chat channels, chat, file sharing, searchable archives.
Cost:
Basic edition is free
Standard Version: From $6.97 per user/month
Plus Version: From $12.50 per user/month
Website: https://slack.com/
2. Zoom
What it’s best for: Meetings, screenshares, white board functionality, record meetings for later.
Cost:
Basic edition is free
Upgraded Plans from $14.99 to $17.99 per host/month
Website: https://zoom.us/
3. Join.me
What it’s best for: Meetings, screenshares, video conferencing, don’t have to download anything to view.
Cost:
Basic edition is free
Pro Version: $20/month
Business Version: $25/month
Website: https://www.join.me/
Project Management Tools:
4. Trello
What it’s best for: Project management of all kinds. Create boards, cards, lists, assign members and due dates.
Cost:
Basic version is free
Upgraded Version: $9.99 per user/month
Also has a Large Company version (contact for quote)
Website: https://trello.com/
5. Google Docs
What it’s best for: Share files and work on them at the same time. Chat and comment on documents.
Cost: Free
Website: https://docs.google.com/
6. Asana
What it’s best for: Keep track of projects, tasks, and conversations. Assign team members and comment, add due dates.
Cost:
Basic version is free
Upgraded Version: $8.33 per member/month premium
Website: https://asana.com/
Organization Tools:
7. Google Calendar
What it’s best for: Keep track of meetings, schedules and due dates. Send reminders of events. Sharable with colleagues or clients.
Cost: Free
Website: https://calendar.google.com/
8. Charlie
What it’s best for: Personal assistant app, researches the person you are meeting with.
Cost: Free
Website: https://charlieapp.com/
9. Evernote
What it’s best for: Clip articles, notes, and photos from around the web. Collaborate and share easily. Ability to present notes and convert notes to presentation.
Cost:
Basic edition is free
Plus Version: $24.99/year
Premium Version: $49.99/year
Website: https://evernote.com/
Other Fun Stuff:
10. f.lux
What it’s best for: Adjust the color of your computer display depending on time of day to help you sleep better.
Cost: Free
Website: https://justgetflux.com/
11. StayFocused
What it’s best for: Chrome extension, block out distracting websites for periods of time to help stay focused
Cost: Free
Website: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
12. Pocket
What it’s best for: Easily save Web pages, videos, and articles to view later, even without an internet connection.
Cost: Free
Website: https://getpocket.com/
But remember, if you have employees that work remotely, or if you are thinking about adding this perk to your own company, keep in mind that mobile and cloud security is of the utmost importance. All of these apps and tools are helpful, but only if you are 100% sure your business data is safe.
Our FREE Mobile Device Policy Consultation ($297 value) helps point you in the right direction for your business.
Call Us Direct: 512-900-9478 or Contact Us HERE.
Live in or near Austin? Want to get some practical cyber security information you can use immediately? Interested in learning more about how to remain secure and welcome your user’s mobile devices onto your network? Register to attend our November TECH & TACOS lunch and learn event.
Thanks to Global Workplace Analytics for the stats: http://globalworkplaceanalytics.com/telecommuting-statistics
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