“An average Australian spends around 8 hours a day at work.”
Nowadays, employers are constantly looking for ways to implement remote working strategies to stay productive and keep employees happy. The average Australian spends around 8 hours a day at work, so staying connected with the outside world within the confines of the home is vital. Remote working apps allow workers to stay in touch with their coworkers and give bosses oversight across their teams, while still providing a high level of professionalism and productivity. Here are 5 of the most popular apps that let you work remotely.
1. Slack
This app is best for people who want an easy way to communicate with their coworkers. Slack offers messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing with the touch of a button to aid team communication. You can also create private channels to chat with specific coworkers in a more intimate setting, which is great for teams who work closely together on specific tasks.
Slack’s distinguishing feature is that it emulates an Instant Messaging (IM) environment (back when AIM and MSN were popular!) in a modernized way: it allows for as much or as little privacy between users as they want, allowing them to set alerts that allow for automatic replies. Slack charges a subscription fee for unlimited audio/video calls and group chats but includes a Snapchat-like feature called ‘camera’ that lets you send pictures or documents by snapping them onto the screen. Though Slack has many plus features, it is sometimes said to be “not serious enough” as the app is heavily associated with gaming and lacks many business-oriented features such as task management and timesheet tracking.
2. Google Drive
Google Drive keeps all your files in one place and syncs them across different devices automatically, so you can access your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations from anywhere. It’s perfect for remote workers because it’s reliable and simple to use on any computer or internet-enabled device. Besides storing files, Google Drive has many useful features such as word processing capabilities (Docs), spreadsheets (Sheets), presentation software (Slides), drawing tools (Drawings), photo editing capabilities (Photos), conversion capabilities (Cloud Print), and even a slide show presentation tool called ‘Show’.
Further, Google Drive is widely used across the workforce thanks to its advanced and affording features such as automatic backup, sharing tools, and storage which can be edited through your Google account. Drive, like Slack, has similar shortcomings where it is a non-customizable, boiler-plate application that companies have to force-fit its app features into their workflow.
2. Asana
Asana is the perfect productivity tool for keeping track of different projects simultaneously. It allows you to collaborate with other people working on the same project and provides an easy way to track what was done when. Task management is simplified with Asana as it uses push notifications to inform you about new tasks and updates. Unlike Slack and Drive, Asana provides a strong focus on project management, with the app allowing you to create both personal and group projects. Asana is a great tool for businesses that have multiple projects or need to track multiple tasks at once.
3. Trello
This app is perhaps one of the most useful remote apps in the market as it helps users simplify their life by keeping track of different aspects of their work. Trello organizes all your life’s activities into tasks, boards, lists, and cards which you can access from anywhere at any time. It can be used with just about any device, including mobile phones. This is the ideal tool for teams who want to set goals but don’t have a specific checklist in mind. Trello allows you to create checklists for your team that are easily achievable and simple to follow through. You can update tasks online and add new ones at any time. It’s easy to use while still providing a lot of functionality.
4. Monday
This is a great app for remote workers who like the concept of “gamifying” their workdays. Monday lets you track your productivity, and rewards you for hitting certain goals. Its “Ding” feature is almost like a game, where you can congratulate other users when they complete a task or tick off something completed from their checklist. For management, Monday offers a lot of tools to see how the team is performing. A supervisor can check in on their worker’s progress to see if they have completed their tasks or not. This is great for team-based work, where a manager will also have access to subtasks to oversee that the overall direction aligns with the project goals and company vision.
Comparison
Each app has its own unique strengths and weaknesses, so use your best judgment when deciding which one will be most beneficial for you and your team. The key is to pick an app that works well with the way your team already operates. For example, if you are a team that is used to using Slack or Drive, it makes more sense for you to continue using it rather than trying to force-fit Asana or Trello into your workflow. However, if your group tends to be very goal-oriented, it’s worth trying out Trello to see if you can use their app to achieve more of the goals you have set. Always remember, there are a lot of options for you and your team when it comes to communication and productivity apps. There is no “one size fits all” solution, so try out as many apps as you can and see what works for both yourself and your team!
5. Appranet: 2021’s Newest Remote Working App
We want to introduce Appranet’s as the latest addition to the lineup; Our remote working application combines the best features of Slack, Google Drive, Asana, Trello, and Monday. Not only that, we make the app itself entirely customizable – this means each app deployed can and will be specific to your company’s situational requirements and workflow. Integrated well-being surveys check-in on your staff’s mental wellbeing and timesheets help teams stick to deadlines and planned hours. Messaging and push notifications come basic with a whole host of integrations to boost productivity even further. Plus, where contact tracing is a norm in 2021, Appranet’s remote working app keeps tabs on staff movement through GPS tracking and identification.
Again, the entire app is custom-built. From the design and features to specific text placement and fonts, Appranet is the top choice for remote working, customized to your company’s workflow.
Contact us now to find out more.
Want to see how a remote working app can work for you? Get in touch with us now, by emailing
info@appranet.com or visit our website and drop us a message at https://www.appranet.com/request-demo/ to request a demo. Try Appranet now!