Basic Tools for Remote Workforce

As we continue to navigate the new normal of remote work, it's becoming increasingly important for businesses to have the right tools in place to facilitate this shift. 

I'm currently working on a remote contract, and it's been refreshing to experience having the right programs and tools to make the project run smoothly. While every business has their own way of doing things, when it comes to working with contractors, there are certain tools that are essential for both admin purposes and usability. These are the essential (and simplest) tools I reckon companies should look to. 

Email:

Email is a staple of communication for all businesses of course! It allows for quick and efficient comms between team members, clients, and partners. When it comes to email, Google's Gmail is by far the easiest choice because of its simplicity and accessibility.

The key benefits of using Google email is that it's accessible to everyone. Most people already have a Google account, so creating a new account under the businesses umbrella is easy for contractors to integrate. Additionally, setting up Gmail on a computer is easy and straightforward, even for people who aren't tech-savvy.

Another advantage of using Gmail is that it provides a lot of storage space for free. With 15 GB of storage, there's plenty of room for emails and attachments and as we’ll discuss a little further on, project files, working files and everything else project specific. 

Instant Chat/Communication:

Instant messaging is by far the easiest way for teams to communicate in real-time. When it comes to instant messaging for remote teams, Slack is definitely my fav. 

Slack is a cloud-based messaging platform that allows teams to communicate in real-time through channels and direct messages. One of the benefits of using Slack is that it integrates with many other tools that teams use, like Google Drive, Trello, and Asana. This integration makes it easy to share files and collaborate on projects in real-time.

Another benefit of using Slack is that it allows for easy organisation of conversations. Conversations can be organized by channel or by topic, which makes it easy for team members to find the information they need quickly.

Slack also offers a wide range of customisation options, like custom emoji and notification settings. This makes it easy to personalise the platform to meet the needs of your team.

Storage of Project Items:

When it comes to storing project items, the cloud is the way to go. Cloud-based storage solutions like Google Drive and Dropbox allow teams to store and share files in a centralised location.

One of the benefits of using cloud-based storage is that it allows for easy collaboration on files. Multiple team members can work on the same document at the same time, which makes it easy to get work done quickly and efficiently.

Cloud-based storage also provides easy access to files from anywhere with an internet connection. This means that team members can access the files they need from home, the office, or on the go. I like Google because it’s cheap. My partner on the other hand likes Dropbox it’s more accessible for her students that attend her courses. 

Cloud-based Productivity Tools:

Cloud-based productivity tools like Google Docs and Sheets, as well as Microsoft Office 365, allow teams to collaborate on documents in real-time. Again, me personally I’m Google all the way for the same reasons I mentioned earlier. It’s easy, simple to use, most people have it, it’s safe and it’s cloud based.  Office becomes a navigating and integration headache for me (probably because I don’t use it that often). 

These tools make it easy to create, edit, and share documents with team members. They also provide a range of customisation options, like templates and formatting options, which make it easy to create professional-looking documents. For me, when project managing it’s all about simplicity and ease. 

I know everyone has their own preference but when it comes to project managing it should all be about ease, simplicity and integration. Setting up a new contractor shouldn’t take more than a day. It should be a 30min task. Give them logins and let them get to work. There’s never enough time for any project as any project manager will tell you. Jumping straight in and having everything working can make those early days a lot easier.