6 Virtual Platforms That Every Remote Worker Needs
It’s no secret that the current remote workforce has required significant strides in digital transformation, whether it’s for team collaboration and task approval, or browser based software and program based software. Data from Statistics Canada showed some pretty interesting trends in 2020 that have trickled into 2021, including the fact that 25% of Canadian businesses are likely to let employees work remotely post pandemic, while 14% are likely to make it a requirement. It was also noted that the businesses that are expecting their employees to work from home are mainly in the information and cultural industries sector (47%) and the professional, scientific and technical services sector (44.5%). That’s a large piece of the pie. Needless to say, many organizations are adopting a Work From Home (WFH) policy where their employees have the ability to use virtual platforms to perform their daily tasks. However, are these programs enough to retain high levels, or relatively the same levels of productivity and morale that have been exhibited in an office space? Let’s look at some of the virtual platforms your company might have missed out on, but should definitely consider implementing during the continued remote workforce policy trends.
Project Management
One of the most valuable programs your organizations can invest in (especially during remote working conditions) is a simple project management tool. Explore options like Asana and Monday.com. These programs are not only necessary in today’s work environments for basic team collaboration and organization, but can take some stress away from those who tend to plan ahead, far in advance. Setting up quarterly and yearly targets and task objectives are useful when working your way backwards through any task calendar. The ability to visualize both your and your teammates tasks, including comments, reviews, and completion notifications, will help your team stay on the same page.
Video Conferencing
We’ve said it many times, but video conferencing is replacing face-to-face communication in 2021 (well, at least for the time being). What better way to engage in a virtual meeting than with video. We see it with companies large and small, which is why this is on our list. It’s no wonder that we as humans tend to strike a better balance by decoding and understanding messages, instructions, presentations and conversations with the combination of visual and verbal communication. Using a video conferencing tool, such as Huddle, enables you to virtually meet with anyone anywhere, with the benefit of unlocking an entire suit of business communication software integrations and analytical features. Incorporate a solid video conferencing platform for 1-1 meetings between colleagues, department meetings, company-wide meetings, and partner/client meetings. Who says these have to be all work no play? Keep reading to find out how this specific platform benefits your organization in multiple ways.
Cloud Storage
It’s not the same as it used to be. Rifling through your desk drawers or the office cabinets to find that one piece of paper you had from 2 weeks ago is a moment of the past. Once you think about it, storing many gigabytes (or even terabytes) of files on our computers not only slows them down, but can also come with high upgradable memory costs. Capitalizing on free or paid cloud storage is something that can easily be overlooked until the moment you need more room for your sales, marketing or success teams’ files. Every department could use a little extra space to store files, and what better way than to safely upload and store your project files for case studies, graphics, videos, whitepapers and email drips into a cloud based system. Google Drive has been a leader in this industry for years, and we at net2phone Canada stand by it. Having the ability to save documents, set viewing and download controls, and ensure your remote workforce has access to anywhere they are located is perfect for any team. Spend less time offloading your files onto dated drives and centralize your documents by moving your files into the cloud.
Note-Taking
College students aren’t the only ones taking notes. Exploring note-taking solutions such as Evernote can do wonders for your organization while working from home. Fetching a pen and pad (assuming you can actually find one at home) can distract you from your daily tasks, so why not have everything you need right at your fingertips. With a cloud-based note-taking app, your thoughts will be with you on any device that happens to be in your hands. Perfect for those of us who prefer typing away, these programs can eliminate the stress of misplacing sticky notes with vital information.
Music/Podcast Streaming
All these wouldn’t be possible without a certain level of concentration when working from home. If you’re like us, you enjoy the occasional tunes here and there to get you through the week. Having a music/podcast subscription based platform like Spotify or Apple Music on your devices can elevate your mood or put you in the zone when crushing a 12 page document in record time. Listening to your favourite music or podcast can recenter your mind and motivate you to get your work done with any potential distractions in your way. Take it one step further and create a company playlist for different tasks, holidays or themes. Get feedback on your taste in music/podcasts and having something to chat about at your next casual meeting.
Virtual Fun & Games
Keeping morale high is the name of the game when we can’t be together in person. Communicating through a computer screen is the best we can do, so why not spice it up a little with some virtual office fun. Whether it is during the pre-holiday office party period or just a normal Friday afternoon, using a program like TriviaMaker for trivia quizzes, an app like HeadsUp for charades, or anything you can enjoy through a video call is going to transform the way you think about social activities from the comfort of your own space.Keeping morale high is the name of the game when we can’t be together in person. Communicating through a computer screen is the best we can do, so why not spice it up a little with some virtual office fun. Whether it is during the pre-holiday office party period or just a normal Friday afternoon, using a program like TriviaMaker for trivia quizzes, an app like HeadsUp for charades, or anything you can enjoy through a video call is going to transform the way you think about social activities from the comfort of your own space.
It’s pretty conclusive that establishing a reliable, scalable, value added business communications solution within your organization is as if you’re addressing the elephant in the room. Virtual communication is here to stay, and equipping your employees with these programs and platforms as part of their WFH toolkit is just scraping the surface. Make sure your team explores net2phone Canada’s business communication solutions to get you started. Book a demo and speak with a representative today.
