The pandemic led businesses worldwide to look at and adopt the remote-work model to survive. Some companies also found it a viable option to save costs and enable better work-life balance, leading to a spurt in the number of companies adopting remote working.

Better connectivity options also made it simple for virtual assistants and employees to complete most of their daily tasks – such as writing a blog post, sending a follow-up email, speaking with a prospect via video call, or setting up a workflow to nurture leads and customers.

However, we all know an Internet connection doesn’t solve everything when it comes to working from home. Managing complex tasks, using collaboration software,  communicating with team members, and maintaining high productivity levels can be extremely challenging. 

As the demand for remote work increases, businesses are increasingly using tools and resources that allow employees to be as productive as possible and prevent collaboration challenges while working from home.

Best tools for working from home!

There are multiple tasks and responsibilities that people working from home need to manage, such as interacting with customers, managing data and accounts, managing social media accounts, and even daily meetings with colleagues. Working on these tasks has led to a dependence on various tools available online. 

However, no tool follows the rule of “one size fits all,” so you must choose the ones that work best for your niche. To find the best and most efficient online tools, we have shortlisted the top tools and their features in this highly informative blog. 

#1 Trello – Task and Project Management

This tool is based on the Kanban board designed by an industrial engineer in the 40s. It is a project management tool and is an excellent option for organizing and collaborating with team members on the same project. 

Trello allows you to build a dashboard that highlights significant projects, categories, and associated tasks. It is possible to label each small task, known as a “card,” with a colored tag and text.

For instance, as a virtual project manager, you could make a red card tag with the word “Urgent” and attach it to the relevant Trello cards if you want to indicate something is “Urgent.” Members of your team can be given cards and deadlines, and you can follow each card’s development through its Activity area.

Additionally, you can use various features such as attaching images and making your working experience more interactive. Through this software, you can:

• Share files in the format of photos and videos with your team 
• Comment on other members’ cards to make changes or give suggestions 
• Keep track of what the other members are doing throughout the day 
• Give colors to the boards according to your priority 
• Insert new cards without any limits 

#2 Asana – Task and Project Management

Compared with other tools on this list, Asana is easy to use and can be simply learned in the first go. The tool has excellent reviews and is preferred by corporate teams. 

This task and project management app is free for individual users and includes everything from cutting-edge organizational features to smiling puppies (for real).

You can create and delegate tasks with Asana, group tasks into shared projects, organize them by checking them off, chat within tasks to keep conversations organized, and add attachments from your computer, Dropbox, and Google Drive.

Additionally, it has your very own to-do list, project dashboards, and calendar features. You can also mark dependencies directly on a task, eliminating the need to keep track of when it’s your turn to begin. Asana will notify you once all other dependencies have been completed.

What can you do with this application?

• It can be easily integrated with all the primary tools used by corporate companies via own integration functionality or third-party solutions, e.g., Asana to Excel integration, Asana to Slack integration, etc. 
• Its collaboration-focused features help you work better with a team. 
• Team members can view your personal tasks and also leave comments to improve the outcome.
• It enables better management of tasks in an organized and efficient manner to make you more productive during your work hours.
• Team members can record and embed videos directly in Asana to improve collaboration and communication wherever they are.

#3 Assembla – Software Development

Assembla is a simple software development tool that allows teams to come together, assign tasks, and create websites, applications, and more. In addition, it provides the user with many tools that help in ticketing time. 

It appears to specialize in project management for web developers, though it could handle project management virtually for any type of remote work.

The software can enhance teamwork by streamlining collaboration through wikis, message boards, file sharing, and StandUp reports. Furthermore, Assembla makes it simple to monitor progress and meet deadlines while staying within budget. 

In addition to task reports and metrics, management has access to real-time project tracking. Furthermore, the streamlined accounting and billing system and personalized reports encourage better task assignment and performance.

Assembla enables developers to create educational pages, communicate effectively, and track the overall progress of their team. Using the group chat feature with the video option, team members can quickly communicate and get clarification from one another.

Below are some features of the tool that make it unique:

• Assembla allows its users to securely manage their codes in the cloud securely. 
• The tool allows the user to create custom reports based on their specific needs and helps in working efficiently
• It simplifies fixing bugs and releasing products 

#4 Basecamp – Project Management and Team Communication

Basecamp is a simple and user-friendly project management software that allows you to organize your calendars, schedule meetings, track assignments, and store and manage documentsstore and manage documents.

Your entire project management is done on a single, well-managed dashboard, giving you a clear overview of everything going on. You can add all the projects you are currently working on, and it will keep them all organized neatly in different tabs. 

When working together, remote workers can stay informed about projects – thanks to this real-time collaboration toolreal-time collaboration tool. It also makes it easier for the employees to check the progress of their work and improve their workflow while keeping track of everything in one place.

Because of its straightforward functionality, simple design, and elegant usability, it is a preferred option among managers, teams, independent contractors, and agencies. In addition, it enables effective client communication and project management.

Through this application:

• You can hold discussions with other people in your team to work together through an invite. This invite can be sent to anyone, including people outside your organization. 
• Any team member can be given the admin role to manage and assume responsibility for finishing the project in the tool. 
• The tool also tracks each of your milestones and alerts you to the tasks that must be completed to reach a specific goal. 

#5 Google Workspace – Business Applications and Collaboration

Google Workspace (formerly known as G Suite) is an affordable suite of intelligent apps. It allows your teams to collaborate on Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides, as well as other simple Google Drive tools. You can also create business emails and share a team calendar through the Workspace.

While it goes without saying, Google Workspace is unquestionably the best collaboration tool for remote working.

It is effortless to use and share whatever you are working on in real-time using the Workspace. Further, you can modify anytime if any document needs any changes. In particular, the marketing and content teams appreciate how collaborative Google Workspace has proven to be for remote work situations. 

Furthermore, everyone can access the files and documents stored in the cloud. You can create shared folders where everyone can keep their work. 

Here’s why businesses love G Workspace:

• Each user in your company can store unlimited mails, photos, and files in Drive.
• You can do company-wide searches for company content across Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and other Google services.
• You can access shared drives.
• The Workspace offers advanced administrator controls.

Leverage practical tools to navigate the world of remote work

As a project manager, it is your responsibility to ensure your employees are able to work effectively from home in the modern workplace. Therefore, they need access to the tools that enable them to work from home as efficiently as they would in an office setup.

With the help of new-age technology, we can complete the same tasks anywhere in the world. Consequently, businesses globally are trying to adapt to the new technology and tools to cater to the changing needs of their employees and accommodate talent from around the world.

Well, nobody works precisely the same way, and everyone faces different challenges. However, you can try implementing the tools mentioned above in your business when it comes to organization and productivity. Use these tools wisely, become familiar with all of their features, and put them to good use to increase your staff’s productivity while they work from home.