Written By: Michael Gardon
If you’re looking to up your remote work game, you may be interested in finding the best tools to succeed in remote work. There are countless options available for every task and business function imaginable, so it can be challenging to assemble the perfect collection that will give you an edge, but not overwhelm you or make you a slave to the tools. I’ve worked remotely for most of my career as both an employee and as a business owner. I’ll share my favorite picks (along with some other notable choices to consider) to give you a jump start on your research.
What Are Remote Work Tools
Remote work tools are tools that help you do your job no matter where you’re located. Let’s face it, remote work was a huge trend before the pandemic, and now it’s considered normal. Remote work is only set to accelerate in the future. So, in response, software companies are rapidly cranking out new web-based software to help you communicate, collaborate, and get stuff done anywhere you have an internet signal.
Related: Best Job Sites For Remote Work
Remote Work Tools For Collaboration
It can be challenging to work together when you’re not in the same room (or time zone!) as your team members. These tools can help you collaborate remotely:
Loom
Of all the collaboration tools I use in my business, I think Loom is the best! Loom is a real-time video messaging platform that lets me create short employee training and onboarding videos or share other essential information without writing a long email or scheduling a Zoom call. The greatest feature (in my opinion) is that it cuts down on meetings.
Zoom
When I absolutely must meet with my team, we get together on Zoom. It’s an easy-to-use video conferencing software that lets us see each other, share our screens, and record our sessions for future reference as needed.
Slack
Slack helps my team and I stay productive and in close contact. We can easily send direct messages to each other, share important files, and organize our conversations in designated channels and threads.
Google Suite (especially Google Docs)
The Google Suite, or G-Suite, is one of my go-to’s for collaboration because it lets my team share files, leave comments, and work on projects together in real-time. We primarily use Google Docs, but Google Sheets, Slides, and Forms can be very useful, too.
Dropbox
If you need to share files with a geographically dispersed team, Dropbox is worth considering. The software lets you securely store, manage, and grant access to key documents, photos, videos, sound bites, and more.
WordPress or Squarespace
As part of my business, I own multiple websites. We use WordPress and Squarespace to create, update, and manage web content.
Remote Work Tools For Keeping Everything Straight
As a business owner, you need to stay organized and lead your team to ensure the success of your enterprise. So here are a few remote work tools you should explore:
Evernote
If you’re like most entrepreneurs, your mind is constantly on overdrive, churning out thoughts faster than you can act on them. I use Evernote exclusively for dumping my brain into it. I journal, build-out business ideas and save reading materials for later with the Evernote Web Clipper browser extension.
Notion
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Notion is a great tool for remote work because it provides a centralized platform for teams to collaborate and manage projects. With its customizable templates and database features, it allows for easy organization and tracking of tasks, deadlines, and team progress. Additionally, its integrations with other tools such as Slack and Google Drive make it a seamless addition to any remote work workflow.
Keap CRM
As your business grows, keeping and managing all of your essential information in one place can be very helpful. Keap (previously Infusionsoft) is a robust customer relationship management (CRM) and marketing software that does that and so much more.
Related reading: The Best CRM Software
Bill.com
Paying bills is a necessary (and sometimes tedious) part of running a business, but Bill.com makes doing so easy. Plus, your payment data automatically syncs with your accounting software, so you can spend less time on bookkeeping tasks later.
DocuSign
When you work remotely, the last thing you want to do is deal with printers and paper files. DocuSign helps you maintain an organized and clutter-free workspace by allowing you to securely send and sign documents online, analyze and negotiate contracts using artificial intelligence, and more.
Remote Work Tools For Time Management and Productivity
Working from home (or the beach) has a lot of perks, but it’s easy to get distracted by the life happening around you. These remote work tools for time management and productivity can help keep you on task:
Asana
Asana is an online project management tool. I use it to assign tasks to my team, track the progress of our current initiatives, and ensure we meet critical deadlines.
Trello
Trello is another digital project management platform. We use it specifically to manage the content for our CareerCloud blog. It helps us stick to our content calendar, publish new posts consistently, and collaborate with our freelance writers.
Todoist
Checking an item off of your to-do list is supremely satisfying, and Todoist has brought the process into the digital age. The software lets you add, schedule, prioritize, manage, and delegate tasks so you always know what you (and your team) should be working on.
Motion
Motion is a game-changer for productivity. With automation and AI, Motion boosts productivity by a whopping 137%. It intelligently plans your day, schedules meetings, and creates the perfect to-do list, helping you reclaim your time and supercharge your efficiency.
How To Use Remote Work Tools To Be Successful
Remote work tools can help you be successful on the job. Here are some best practices to follow:
- Embrace the idea of using these tools. While some are better than others, most can increase your productivity or enhance your work experience.
- Identify what areas of your business or role would benefit most from implementing a remote work tool. This exercise will help you determine what types of tools you should prioritize.
- If you have the option, experiment with a couple of highly-rated tools that fulfill similar functions to see which one you like the best. For example, you could try and compare Trello and Asana.
- If you’re required to use a specific tool, learn everything you can about it and customize it to your work style and preferences as much as possible.
- If you find a remote work tool to help your team function better, put together some talking points about features, benefits, and costs, and share them with your manager. The worst they can say is no.
Remember: No two people are alike. What works best for you may not work at all for someone else. Ideally, you can take the time to find the exact combination of tools that help you perform at your best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What equipment do remote workers need?
In general, remote workers need a clutter and distraction-free workspace, a comfortable chair, an up-to-date computer with a microphone and webcam, high-speed internet access, and a cell phone. Depending on their role, they may also need a printer, a scanner, a second (or third) computer monitor, job-specific software, and more.
What is the best digital tool you have used while working from home?
The best digital tool I’ve used while working from home is Loom. It helps me collaborate with my team and quickly document essential company information.
Which tools are the most useful to remote employees and coworkers?
The most useful tools to remote employees and coworkers will vary based on what they need to accomplish. If you’re the decision-maker for your company, make sure the tools you select help your team members get through their to-do lists efficiently and effectively.
What technology do you need for remote workers?
Your remote workers need adequate technology to communicate, collaborate, manage their time, and track their progress. There are many options on the market, so you’ll need to implement a suite of tools that work best for your business.
The Bottom Line
Working from home is now the norm, and the best remote work tools can help you connect better with your team and get more done in less time. Hopefully, this article has given you several options to explore. I’m confident that implementing the right tools will lead you to new levels of success, and I can’t wait to see what you do!
