Best Tools to Keep You Productive (and sane)

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Although remote working has been increasing in popularity since the advent of the internet, no one could have predicted just how many of us would be forced into working from home over he past few weeks. Adjusting to this new lifestyle can be tough for anyone who’s used to sitting beside their colleagues. So here are a few of the best tools to keep you working like normal:

For communicating

Slack

Slack is an online communication tool perfect for remote working. The main difference between it and other similar services is the ability to create ‘channels’ for each team/ department. It allows for voice and video chat and has built-in file sharing capabilities.

The idea behind this is to replace almost all internal emails, it’s easier, simpler and more efficient. Staff can enter and leave channels when needed to avoid being trapped in long email chains.

Slack can also serve as a virtual breakroom, with a hub where team members can get together for professional and team building purposes. This also helps avoid the inevitable side-tracking that often happens in group chats.

Zoom


Now synonymous in most offices, Zoom is one of the most popular communication tools in business and for good reason. Zoom allows for HD video conferencing and unlike many clients only the host needs to download it, everyone can be invited via and email link.

On top of this Zoom features screen sharing, content sharing and recording and a host of other features. It’s a great way to stay in touch with your team and can even be used to replace traditional phone systems.

Zoom really is the all-in-one communication tool that everyone needs in their life. And its free to use, what more could you want?

Aircall


Aircall uses VoIP to create a business phone system for sales and support teams. Using it is as simple as installing the software and Aircall is operational within a few minutes. The main feature here is its ability to be used from anywhere, mobile phone, desktop or even from a browser.

It allows team members to make and receive calls (both internal and external) and can be integrated with many business tools such as CRM to maximise conversion rates and ensure nobody misses a sale.  

For Productivity

Toggl


Toggl is a simple time-tracking app that helps keep track of how long you really spend on tasks. If you’ve ever looked at the clock after finishing a task and thought “Is that really the time?” then this is for you.

Toggl works across all devices to sync your data and the time-logging feature is really simple to use so if you forget to start the timer you don’t loose your hours. Whether you’re still getting used to working from home, a freelancer or even a student this is an invaluable tool.

24me


For those of us who aren’t fortunate enough to have a personal assistant, 24me is the next best thing. This virtual assistant integrates everything to do with your schedule in one place to boost your productivity.

It allows you to keep your calendar, tasks and email all I one place and generates reminders to ensure you leave enough time to get to that meeting across town or  to set up the conference call. 24me can even buy gifts from the in-app store! It’ll be hard to ever forget anything again when you’re using it.

Zapier


Zapier saves you time by automating workflows and bridging gaps between apps. Instead of having to switch between different apps, Zapier makes sure all of the information, contacts, documents and more are in one place.

One of its most common uses is to transfer files e.g. when you get an email, Zapier automatically uploads the attachment to a Google Drive folder. The free version has more limited capabilities but is simple to use and manage and can save you lots of time.

For managing files

Google Drive


The undisputed leader of file sharing, Google’s alternative to OneDrive is a no-frills cloud storage and word processing hub. Drive allows you to create documents, PowerPoints, spreadsheets and more with a simple and intuitive UI.

Although this isn’t much different from most other cloud storage facilities Google Drive allows real-time collaboration on Docs files which gives it an edge, especially at times like these. Google’s full integration with other apps such as Tasks and Duo make it easy to keep track of projects and communicate with colleagues.

Hightail


Hightail is based around shared ‘Spaces’, making it ideal for group collaboration. It features integration with many other storage apps, allowing you to drag-and-drop from Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive and can sync with them as well as desktop folders across Apple, Android and Windows devices.

The project management and collaboration feature allows real time feedback, approval required and accountability. It is one of the more feature-rich file-sharing platforms and is ideal for remote working.  

OneDrive


OneDrive is favoured by many businesses because of its Outlook integration, however there are many other advantages to using it. Like Drive, it allows the user to create documents, slides etc. online, except it uses Office365. This allows you to create more complex projects using the Office suite.

Like Google Drive it also offers real-time collaboration on Office documents, allowing teams to continue to work together from home. The free account offers 5GB of storage but, for £60 ($70) a year you can get Office365 Personal, offering up to 1TB of storage, significantly more storage for your money than many rivals.  

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