Remote working has become a viable option for people in a variety of jobs. The rise in remote work opportunities can be ascribed to a number of causes, including faster internet speed, widespread availability of internet-enabled devices, globalisation, and rising environmental concerns. Without these technologies, performing of daily tasks, collaborating remotely, communicating with colleagues, customers, and other businesses or organisations can be quite challenging. For these reasons, having the necessary devices and equipment, as well as access to the appropriate applications and services, are essential. 

Finding the perfect tools to be productive and stay connected when working remotely is the key to success. Having access to these tools will keep you and your team aligned and operate in harmony.  

What are the best tools for interaction and collaboration? 

Remote Desktop 

Want to work on a presentation from home, but your visual assets are all on your office computer? A good remote desktop application is required here.  

• TeamViewer  

This application is available for Windows, iOS, Linux, and Android. It’s an excellent alternative for remote employees who need basic desktop access because it has file transfer, clipboard transfer, wake-on-LAN, and is easy to set up. No port forwarding is required, and only minor firewall tweaking is needed to get it up and running. 

Telepresence 

Many people expect telepresence to sweep the distant work scene, but it hasn’t. However, deploying robots and tablet devices to represent employees when they are not in the office is no longer a dream. Cisco, for example, has saved tens of millions of dollars by beaming in members of its global workforce via telepresence. In fact, several telepresence gadgets are vying to be your next avatar for virtual meetings. Some excellent choices are shown below. 

• Microsoft Teams 

Teams is a full-service collaboration and communication package for Windows users that comes as part of the premium Office 365 subscriptions. Within Teams, you can make video and VOIP calls, send direct and group messages to other users, and share work from other Microsoft Office 365 applications like PowerPoint and Excel. 

• Zoom 

If you have big team meetings that include lots of remote workers, consider using Zoom. This is a video chat application that supports a “Brady Bunch” mode for dozens of participants. Large meetings with up to 500 participants are supported as an add-on feature.  

• Slack 

Slack is the clear winner in real-time team conversation, whether you’re across the hall or halfway around the world. Slack’s main assumption is that it frees up email inboxes and minimises the number of cc and bcc you have to deal with. Teams can be based on departments, projects, and other topics. Messages can be sent to entire teams or to individuals or small groups over the transom. 

What are the best project and time management tools? 

• Trello 

When it comes to project administration, this software is about as simple as it gets, yet its simplicity masks great organisational and task management abilities. Trello is based on the idea of a bulletin board. Each board could, for example, represent a project. Teams construct lists within each board, which they subsequently fill with cards. The cards can be labelled, stamped with a deadline, filled with comments or attachments and may be assigned to certain team members. The system’s hierarchical structure allows it to be versatile while still maintaining a basic level of simplicity. 

• Timely 

Timely is a wonderful time tracking software to check out if you use a calendar to schedule specific periods of time to work on dedicated projects. Timely allows you to schedule tasks and track the time spent on projects in real time, unlike some time tracking systems that only track time while you’re working. It has a calendar-style UI. It also keeps track of earnings for hourly workers. 

How to reduce security risks 

One of the problems with distributed workforces is that remote workers make prime targets for those wishing to exploit vulnerabilities. That’s a huge cybersecurity concern if your employees are dealing with sensitive data, proprietary information, and client contracts. Here are some things to keep in mind. 

• Strong Password 

This is self-evident, yet it can’t be stressed enough. Businesses are protected by strong and often updated passwords. 

• Security Protection 

If the company owns the device, it should ensure that it is appropriately protected with the latest antivirus program, device encryption, and firewalls. Cybersecurity policies should specify which devices are allowed to be utilised for specific types of businesses. 

• Email Encryption 

Email is a point of entry for possible security breaches thus email encryption is essential for distributed teams. This is a stringent email policy that defines questionable messages and how employees should respond to them. 

• Public WIFI and Devices 

Here, a company policy could save the day, because abstention is the best policy, at least in this domain. Remote workers should not be allowed to use public WIFI or shared laptops for work-related purposes. 

Helpful tips for managing a distributed workforce 

• Focus on Goals 

One of the main reasons that employees would want to work remotely is to avoid the office pressure of always appearing to be busy. By its very nature, remote work lends itself to goal-oriented management rather than activity-oriented management. Focus more on your team members’ deliverables rather than on how much time they spend on tasks. 

• Expectations must be clear and communication must be open 

It’s more difficult to synchronise expectations while you’re separated. It’s also far easier for both managers and employees to let dissatisfaction develop. As a result, it’s critical that teams communicate frequently. It’s also apparent that everyone understands what’s expected of them and how their work will be evaluated. Setting deadlines and arranging regular check-ins are excellent ways to keep everyone on the same page and working toward the same objectives. 

• Figure Out How to Foster Community 

Instilling a company’s culture in a virtual setting is tough, but not impossible. Members of the team should be encouraged to communicate online in ways that foster camaraderie and community. Birthdays and sales objectives completed, for example, can be occasions for joyful digital engagement. In addition, the correct communication and collaboration technologies will encourage spontaneous involvement. 

Finally, regular on-site get-togethers are an excellent method to develop business culture. Even when workers are geographically separated, the lessons from a retreat or office visit can serve as the cornerstone for a successful team culture.