Technological advancements and emerging digital tools have made telecommuting possible in many industries. Modern tools available have made complex and impossible tasks easier and doable. And with more industries allowing telecommuting in their organizations, new tools and applications have been made accessible to increase team collaboration through online platforms, allowing organizations to maintain their productiveness and employees to connect to their teams efficiently.
There are many applications and tools available online which has made telecommuting in 2022 easier for employees. Here are some of the applications mainly used by organizations for team collaboration and work progress:
1. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft teams is a common software used by organizations, not only for telecommuting but also for traditional office communications. Figuring out a query or question that requires you to walk to other departments or floors can be time-consuming, and in the case of telecommuting not possible. Microsoft teams is a chat-based software that allows users to communicate efficiently through their devices. With Microsoft Teams, you can create group chats for different teams, and share information and data such as pictures, docs, videoes, etc. It also allows you to check the availability of other colleagues or if you are an employer, you can check if your employee is active.
The pop-up message features also allow employees to access each other quickly and gain each other’s attention in case something urgent is required.
It also allows users to schedule meetings, or con-calls to discuss important work-related matters and gives you the option of tracking other’s activities and tasks assigned.
2. Trello
Trello allows organizations and team leaders to create a common platform and assign tasks to individuals. Trello interface allows managers and team leaders to assign tasks to each member, and make different categories as required such as ( Done / On-going / Pending / Urgent / or projects).
Employees given access to the platform can look up to the tasks assigned to them, and as they are moving on with their work, they can make Live updates on the application so that the managers and team leaders are aware of the progress. On the completion of the task, an automated mail will go to the team leader, keeping team leaders posted on all the updates.
The features in Trello allow users to share pictures, and links, write descriptions, and collaborate easily. It’s an ideal choice for teams who are working on projects together, share consistent ideas and are required to keep each other updated and write comments or feedback. This also helps employers track employee productivity levels and ensure that progress is happening as it should.
3. Google Drive
For organizations working with heavy data and videos, it’s not possible to easily share data through regular platforms such as email, Trello, or teams. Hence, organizations require a platform to share much heavier data. Google Drive and Dropbox allow you and give you the ability to do so.
Along with the ability to share massive amounts of data, it offers security and safe transfer.
4. Dropbox
Dropbox can transfer files into collaborative workspaces where you can add targets, and to-do lists, and write descriptions about the project. It is designed to maximize collaborative potential and offer everything you and your team need to work together efficiently in one place.
Dropbox offers features like team highlights, and search bars, to help teams stay organized and work efficiently. It allows you to link content and mark the calendar for meetings, events, and deadlines, which could be accessed by the entire team.
With dropbox your team can mark deadlines, link files, share documents, exchange ideas, write descriptions, and aim goals, all in the same single space.
5. Google Hangouts
Google Hangout is another Google software widely used for telecommuting. Work emails are common and regular, and the new update on the email platform allows users to check Google Hangouts messages.
This makes it an ideal choice, so you don’t have to switch platforms for formal and informal communication between colleagues and your clients.
6. Microsoft 365
Working at an organization means loads of documents, Excel sheets, PPTs, and so on. For such documentation and accounts, our go-to tool would be MS office or Microsoft 365. Although Ms office wins the debate, it’s not quite an ideal choice of teamwork.
Microsoft 365 allows users and employees at an organization to create work platforms and share document access easily without going the extra mile. Microsoft 365 allows real-time co-authoring and the ability to see who is making the required changes. It also allows employees to communicate, give feedback and leave comments without switching platforms.
7. Google Docs
Just like Microsoft 365, Google Docs extend the same services. Google docs allow its users and teams to collaborate on their daily tasks. This includes sharing documents, co-authoring, writing descriptions, creating data tables, and so much more.
Google Docs comes with alternatives for Word, Excel, as well as Powerpoint.
Conclusion
Technology and online applications have come a long way in the past few years. It surely has made human tasks a lot easier and possible. And as it’s enhancing, it is bringing newer opportunities to different industries for telecommuting.
