So … an unprecedented event in world history has forced most of (if not your entire office) to work remotely from home – but how exactly are you going to do that? This is a question many industries now find themselves scrambling to answer in the wake of the COVID-19, also known as novel coronavirus, pandemic. But have no fear, fellow professional – there are a bevy of remote work tools you can utilize to keep your office team together even when they are at least 6 feet apart – as good social distancing recommends.
Here are some of the top tools you can use to make working remotely feel like just another day at the office.
Stay In Touch Tools
Looking for a way to chat with your office, share files for review, host a video meeting and send the occasional funny GIF? Try using a tool like Slack, Zoom or Microsoft Teams to get started. Boasting more than 12 million daily active users in more than 150 countries, Slack is today’s office what AOL Instant Messenger was to many ’90s college students, except, you know, better.
Likewise, Zoom is great for hosting video conferences with HD audio and video, which is why it was hailed fastest growing businesses at work video conferencing app by Okta, a cloud software management company, for 2020. Microsoft Teams is the new name for Skype’s business subscription app and has features similar to those of Slack and Zoom; as an added bonus, Microsoft is offering a free 6-month trial of the app’s premium version. Apple’s App Store has a full slate of apps for remote work, so if you’re a fan of the company with a bite in its logo, you’ll definitely want to check them out sooner than later!
Project Management
When working remotely, project management can make or break a team, so finding the right tools for your team is a must. From day-to-day tasks, project deadlines or meetings – your project management platform can help ease the uncertainty of, “was I supposed to do that?” Basecamp is incredibly popular but there are other options like Asana or Trello. Each offer different prices points and functionality based on the unique needs of your team. Want to keep things as simple as possible? Trello may be your best bet. Looking for something with more capabilities or integration options? Asana may be the tool for you. Or are you wanting to get something set up ASAP? One reason Basecamp is so popular is because of how easy it is to create an account. For a more detailed comparison between these three project management tools, click here.
Be Creative
If you’re more the hands-on creative type, don’t worry – the Adobe Creative Cloud is ahead of the curve with more than 20 desktop and mobile apps for photography, design, video, web design and more. InVision is another popular resource with more than 5 million users utilizing its ability to build interactive prototypes and more. Looking for an easy-to-use graphic design tool? Canva‘s drag-and-drop interface and template library inspires creativity and offers helpful tutorials on layout and presentation.
File It!
Need to share a file with a co-worker but can’t be in the same physical space? Well, cloud resources like Google Drive Enterprise and Dropbox Business are versatile storage and file sharing solutions perfect for businesses of varying size, complete with different price plans to boot. Other services to explore include pCloud, Amazon Drive and SugarSync. These cloud applications can keep your remote office virtually free of storage problems.
Working remotely may take getting used to for many of us. After all, when you’re used to getting up early, fighting traffic, grabbing your morning coffee and chit-chatting with your co-workers, being alone (save for a spouse and/or children, which presents a whole different set of challenges) can be an issue. That’s why these tips on best practices and taking care of your mental health are worth checking out, too.
About Scooter Media
Scooter Media is a full-service communications agency in Greater Cincinnati specializing in public relations and social media.
