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These 5 types of productivity tech aim to simplify remote work

Posted by Shivali Anand

August 24, 2021    |     3-minute read (581 words)

Remaining productive during an era of ongoing uncertainty surrounding the pandemic is a challenge. Many business owners express frustration at their inability to keep remote employees on task, not to mention their own work. To help you stay on track, we’ve culled a list of productivity management tools to tap into.

  1. Collaboration tools

By enabling contact with remote colleagues and clients, communication platforms such as Skype, Zoom, UberConference and Cisco WebEx Meetings bolster productivity and ensure everyone is on the same page. Not only can you conduct online meetings, but you can also share screens and instantly message one another throughout.

Meanwhile, business platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams make it possible to organize your employees in groups and build project-based channels. This reduces the volume of email and organizes discussions in one location where participants can check comments and track status. Important notifications and files can also be pinned to channels, making them immediately available as needed.

  1. Listing and scheduling tools

Business owners and entrepreneurs have a lot on their plates, but certain tech can simplify task prioritization and make scheduling more seamless. 

Task organization tools such as Microsoft To-Do, Todoist, Evernote and Focus To-Do enable you to sync your lists among devices and view them from any location. These apps help you avoid missed deadlines through the use of notes, make project to-do lists and set reminders, all of which you can check from your laptop, phone or desktop. You may also add a picture, report, a web page and more as needed. 

Scheduling apps like Doodle, Calendly and TimeTree let you schedule meetings and book appointments while on the go by scanning your calendars to see when you are available.

  1. Task and project management tools

Create high-level project plans and list ground-level activities using visual task-management platforms such as Trello, Harvest, Time Doctor, Toggl and Asana. Tasks can be delegated and tracked from any location. For every specified job, you can start and stop a timer or manually enter the time. This helps you track how much time everyone on your team has spent on a specific job or project. In turn, this allows you to zero in on productivity bottlenecks and take corrective action before they become a crisis.

These programs can also be used to onboard new customers, manage remote staff and monitor deliverables, making your job simpler. Some can also keep track of monthly earnings, spending and bills, and alert you to any late payments.

  1. File storage and sharing tools

Simplify file storage and sharing with tech apps such as Dropbox and Basecamp, which allow you to keep files in one location. You can save audio, video, photos and 3D design files and switch among devices without losing your work. Then, you'll be able to discover, access and share them more easily when you wish.

Google Docs also allows users to create and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations online. Tools like Adobe Fill & Sign and DocuSign enable you to quickly fill out, sign and transmit forms electronically, saving you time and money.

  1. Marketing tools

Analytics dashboards like Insightly, Geckoboard, Klipfolio and Hotjar display your website’s conversion rates, Google Analytics visualizations, ad agency pitches and social media marketing traffic in a central location. They can also track your website users' movements, button clicks and browsing behaviors to evaluate conversion rates and average cart values. Programs such as Buffer and eclincher automate social media duties, such as posting and scheduling to multiple social sites.

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