If you can’t make it to the office, don’t worry. The office is coming to you.

While working remotely used to be somewhat of a luxury, it is fast becoming standard practice for businesses. According to Deloitte’s 2016 Shift Index Survey, not only has remote work become the norm for many businesses, but by 2022 more than half of all workers will rely on some form of non-traditional office space.

In 2022, remote working will become the new norm for many companies around the world. In fact, experts predict that “by 2025, 50% of organisations will be 100% virtual”. That’s a lot of entrepreneurs and freelancers working from home or coffee shops!

One of the biggest issues with working from home is the isolation that can occur. While you might not be at a physical office, there are plenty of tools and apps out there that can help you stay connected.

5 Remote work Productivity Challenges

People who work from home enjoy the benefits of flexibility, but they still have to get things done. The tools they use will play a huge role in their productivity. The wrong tools will lead to procrastination and frustration, while the right ones will help them get things done, no matter where they are.

There are 5 productivity challenges for work from home set up. So the tools and apps that solve these remote work pain points are a must have for every remote worker in order to be successful and productive:

Challenge 1: File-sharing/Cloud storage/E-signatures Software

Solution: QuickScan App

File sharing is now a lot simpler than it used to be. Internet speeds are much quicker and devices are much stronger and have a lot of storage.

Scanning, saving, editing and sending of documents back and forth by email is the most efficient method to ensure the smooth flow of information among members of the remote group. Cloud-based storage options are more efficient as well. QuickScan is the most accessible of them all.

The storage was created to store documents in a designated location, which multiple users can access and modify if the permission was granted by the account’s owner. The service is able to synchronise across all devices, meaning that your team members can access the files using their tablets as well as mobile phones. You can organise your documents into various folders and use pre-designed templates of diverse documents, and filter your documents, and browse through them using the integrated search bar.

The greatest thing we love about this scanning and file sharing app is the ability to E-sign the documents.

Features

  • Storage, sharing, and editing
  • Scan that includes OCR Annotation, Scan with OCR, E signatures
  • Synchronisation across multiple devices
  • Applications designed for iPad, Android, and iOS
  • Privacy settings can be adjusted for folders and files
  • Solutions for individuals, groups, and companies

Challenge 2. Project Management/Task Management software

Solution: Trello

If a lot of people are working on different aspects of the problem It can become an unorganised mess. It is also likely to become an entire disaster when the team members are working remotely and you’re not able to control the process to ensure it will operate as efficiently as it should.

This service lets you manage and organise teamwork or personal projects so that they can complete deadlines in a timely manner. It allows you to assign a task to a single person or a whole group and set deadlines for your projects, post comments on workflows, design checklists, share and store documents, track productivity and get other benefits from intelligent remote-work software. Based on the Kanban method, Trello is easy to use because it breaks the most complex tasks into simple cards and boards with the tasks in between easily visualised and simplified.

It is accessible through the most commonly used browsers with no downloads, though portable and desktop apps can also be downloaded. Even the free version offers most of the functionality that is available, including unlimited storage space and integrations and users.

Features

  • Compatible with Firefox, Safari, Chrome and edge
  • Free plan that allows unlimited members
  • Massive collection of templates
  • Customised backgrounds and stickers
  • Integration with over 200 applications
  • The visualisation of metrics for performance

Challenge 3 : Collaboration/communication software

Solution: Zoom

As per Atlassian the average employee has 62 meetings per month this is thought to be excessive by some experts. Yet, meetings remain an essential part of collaboration between groups and individuals and lockdowns aren’t able to stop employers from holding meetings frequently. Even more important is that they are facilitated by the flexibility and sophistication of a tool like Zoom.
The video conferencing platform is able to hold video and audio-based gatherings for up to 100 people in its free version which increases to 500 or even 1,000 participants when you subscribe to paid plans. For no cost you can connect with your clients, teams or even partners for up to 40 minutes or choose one-to-one meetings, which are virtually infinite. It’s easy to invite participants to a meeting by sending them a link for an instant messaging session and email or other social networks. The platform can be accessed through a browser as well as applications available to iOS as well as Android devices.

However, the capabilities of Zoom go beyond meeting rooms. It supports both group and private chats as well as live streams, webinars, screen sharing, scheduling and much more. It permits recording, saving and sharing files as well as a variety of integration options. Of the course, Zoom is praised for its exceptional audio and video quality.

Features

  • Lavish account free
  • Add-on plans for better flexibility
  • Support for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome OS and Linux
  • Video and audio meetings chats, webinars, and audio meetings to allow private and group communication
  • Virtual events with integrated ticketing
  • Enterprise-level cloud phone system
  • The Zoom Home Kit, which includes compatible devices
  • Virtual workspaces
  • Add-on plans start at $45 per month

4. Challenge: Time tracking/Employee Monitoring/Payroll integration Software

Solution: Connecteam

With Connecteam the management has complete supervision over the admin desktop dashboard as well as the mobile application. Employees have access to the app from their phones or also access your desktop’s dashboard.

Utilising Connecteam, the Connecteam time tracking application employees are able to time into and out by using the GPS time stamp right from their phone devices to view their current and previous timesheets and take notes while traveling!

Additionally, managers can utilise the application’s Breadcrumbs technology to gather random locations, capturing employees’ movements and gaining an understanding of where they’re at when they’re working.

As the manager, you are aware of the status of your employees and their whereabouts at a glance, as well as in real time. It is also easy to receive reports and insight on the way resources are utilised on various kinds of jobs such as customers, projects, or customers and bill each customer directly without complex calculations.

It’s an all-in-one employee time tracking application. Connecteam lets you perform practically everything ( employee scheduling communication, project management, communications training, and so on) without the need to connect or pay for various solutions. It even integrates seamlessly and directly with QuickBooks Online payroll!

Features

  • Time clock limits
  • Overtime settings
  • Reminders and notifications
  • GPS tracking for location and Breadcrumbs technology
  • Management of absence
  • Automated payroll processing
  • Information about your job (mileage equipment, mileage, etc.)

Challenge 5:CRM software

Solution: Zoho software

A cloud-based, omnichannel customer-relationship management tool Zoho CRM helps multinational businesses in controlling their business operations and creating long-term relationships with clients. The platform on the web can be customised to suit many different industries. Zoho CRM is compatible with more than 40 Zoho software products. It can also be expanded to include over 300 software extensions from third parties which include G Suite, Office 365, Salesforce, and other popular software.

Features

  • Multichannel Engagement
  • Analytics, Reports, Forecasting
  • Customisation, workflow regulations
  • Territory Management
  • Control your business processes
  • Marketing Automation
  • Catalyst & Developer Tools

Key Takeway

These tools and apps allow a person to work remotely. These tools and apps solve many daily problems like getting the right kind of professional communication, collaboration, arranging and scheduling meetings, time management and so on.