Management

Top 10 Remote Work Management Tools For Your Business (2024)

Remote Work Management

Remote work became popular after the pandemic, as many employees started working from their homes. Although the pandemic is gone, many employees, as well as employers, still feel that remote work is beneficial for them. However, there are major challenges to remote work as well when it comes to managing remote employees. Hence, it is essential to keep remote workers connected to the team to ensure productivity. In this article, you will learn about some of the best remote work management tools for small businesses to explore.

This article will provide you with the best remote work management tools in different categories. Apart from that, this article will also list the benefits of using remote work management tools for you. Furthermore, you can also learn how these tools can be beneficial for your business.

What Are Remote Work Management Tools?

What Are Remote Work Management Tools

According to Indeed.com,

“Working remotely typically requires an internet connection and software applications for monitoring progress and keeping in contact with colleagues and supervisors. If you’re interested in seeking remote work or you work for an organization that implements a remote work model, it can be helpful to know what tools you can use to facilitate productivity, communication, collaboration and storage.”

In recent years, remote work has grown in popularity. However, it comes with its own set of benefits and challenges. Hence, it is important for the business to ensure that the remote and hybrid workers are well connected to their teams. This will ensure better productivity for the business. This is where the remote work management tools come to the rescue. No matter where a team member is, it helps in getting the job done.

The best remote work management tools make remote work possible and make it easier and more attractive. Remote workers are, hence, not only able to work comfortably but also enjoy the tools that come with remote work.

However, remote work management tools also provide workplace managers the ability to manage remote employees. This also works when managers are working from a remote location.

Basically, remote work management tools can provide you the freedom to craft your workday. With the help of such tools, you will be able to make your remote work flexible and more productive. The next few sections will discuss the major benefits of remote work management tools, as well as the best tools you will find in 2024.

What Are The Benefits Of Using Remote Work Management Tools?

What Are The Benefits Of Using Remote Work Management Tools

There are a variety of benefits of using remote work management tools. These tools are not only helpful to keep your remote teams on the same page as the in-house team, but they also help ensure productivity.

According to Business News Daily,

“In addition to allowing team members to work from wherever an internet connection is available, remote working tools allow for better communication, management and collaboration. When you have seamless integrations and connectivity within your remote workforce, you can quickly host video calls and message each other in real time, giving your team easy access to one another.”

However, all these factors depend upon how you choose the remote work management tools.

Benefits Of Using Remote Work Management Tools For Employees

Here’s how remote employees can benefit from remote work management tools:

1. Higher Flexibility Of Work

With remote work management tools, employees can work from any location. All the employee needs are a good internet connection and a good working system. Hence, the employee can have higher work flexibility and more work-life balance. 

2. More Focus On Work

Remote work management tools for employees can help them minimize distractions and allow them to have a more focused environment. This will help with better productivity. 

3. Enhanced Communication

With the help of the right remote work tools, employees can have better connections with managers and colleagues from any location.

4. Lesser Stress (Both Physical And Mental)

Since the employee does not need to commute to the office, remote work will be less stressful (physically and mentally). Furthermore, it also frees up time for the employee to perform other activities. 

5. More Autonomy Of Work

By effectively using remote work tools, employees can have more autonomy and ownership over tasks. This can be motivating and rewarding for employees.

What Are The Best Remote Work Management Tools?

What Are Remote Work Management Tools

The best remote work management tools depend upon the size and needs of your team. Hence, it is important to choose tools that are adaptable to your business and scalable for you, too.

Apart from that, you will also need to make sure that the tools that you start using are easy for your remote working team as well. Furthermore, since people will have access to your company data from remote locations, you will also need to make sure that there are ample security features for data protection and privacy.

The best remote work management tool will allow you and your team to stay connected and accountable and thereby productive. Hence, if you want to transition into remote work or hybrid work, having access to the best remote work management tools is essential. Furthermore, there are certain tools that come for free as well.

The following are some of the best remote work management tools (based on categories) that you need to check out in 2024:

Remote Work Management Tools For Communication

Remote Work Management Tools For Communication

In remote work, one of the first things that businesses must focus on is communication. This is possible through messaging, phone calls, and video conferences. Apart from that, emails also play a big role in ensuring communication. Having the right communication tools will allow you to ensure that conversations are relevant and top-the-point.

Here are some of the best remote work management tools for communication: 

1. Zoom

It is one of the most popular remote video conferencing tools. You can use it to connect with your team through video chat, phone calls, and conference rooms. Apart from that, you can also schedule online meetings, cross-platform messaging, and webinars. The basic version of this app allows you to add 100 participants to a meeting and lets you have infinite one-on-one meetings.

2. Slack

This instant messaging platform allows you to organize your conversations into various channels. As a result, you will be able to communicate with your team members worldwide. Apart from sharing messages with your team, you can also connect through video calls. Furthermore, this app also comes with various integration options. However, if you hold regular meetings, the Slack paid version will be a better option. 

3. Microsoft Teams

If you use Office 365, then Microsoft Teams is a great option for team collaboration. Here, you can combine chat, video conferencing, posting statuses, and more. Furthermore, this tool also comes with top-notch app integration options. Also, it comes with cloud storage options from Microsoft. The app is available for free and comes with plenty of features, including integration with AI. 

Remote Work Management Tools For Scheduling

Remote Work Management Tools For Scheduling

When it comes to remote work, scheduling meetings and other tasks is important. This can allow the management to see everyone’s availability and can also ensure regularity. The following are some of the best remote tools for scheduling: 

1. HubSpot Meetings

One of the best things about HubSpot meetings is that you can sync them with Office 365 calendar and Google Calendar. Moreover, the tool also allows you to save contact information. Basically, you can start with HubSpot Meetings for free and can hold up to an unlimited number of meetings.

2. Connecteam

Apart from ease of usage, Connecteam offers good customer support too. Apart from an efficient time tracking feature, this toll also offers you a customizable and friendly user interface. However, the features are limited, as the free plan is only available to up to 10 users. It also has good integration options and provides you with other management features as well. 

3. Homebase

According to the Forbes Advisor,

“Homebase is a popular employee time tracking app that turns a phone, tablet or computer into a time clock and scheduling app. It allows employers to set schedules, track hours worked and administer human resources tasks. Its all-in-one system makes it easy to go from scheduling to tracking hours to transferring those hours into payroll with one click.”

The app is available for free and has a user-friendly interface. It also integrates well with software systems like Gusto and Square Payroll.

Remote Work Management Tools For Projects

Remote Work Management Tools For Projects

A good project management tool will help employers and employees create and share a variety of tasks and files from one location. Hence, it gets easier for the members of the team to collaborate, and it helps managers to ensure that the project is on track towards the verge of completion.

The following are some of the major project tools for remote work:

1. Monday.com

It is a cloud-based platform where you can create your own work management tools and apps. It also comes with automation options for projects and workflows and offers various options for flexibility. Furthermore, the interface is easy to understand and comes with a variety of features. Moreover, it also provides a lot of integration options. 

2. Basecamp

Business News Daily adds –

“Basecamp is a management tool that places everything your team needs to get work done in one place. Within every project, your team gets message boards, to-do lists, file storage, real-time group chat and automated check-in questions.”

Furthermore, this app also integrates well with other third-party apps. However, the paid option comes with unlimited features and unlimited user options.

Remote Work Management Tools For File Sharing And Cloud Storage

Remote Work Management Tools For File Sharing And Cloud Storage

The following are some of the major tools that help in file sharing and cloud storage: 

1. Google Drive

You can store, share, sync, and access files from any device in Google Drive. At the start, you can get 15 GB of free storage, once you open a Google Account. However, for more storage per user, you need to pay. 

2. DropBox

Here, you will get cloud storage options and file sharing in one centralized workspace. Furthermore, it integrates well with other systems like Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. However, the free account only offers you 2GB of storage. This cloud storage also allows you to access the cloud from any device and location. 

Wrapping Up

Hope this article was helpful for you in getting a better idea of the best remote work management tools. However, before you choose the apps in each category, you will need to get a full idea of what your business needs. 

Do you have more suggestions to add on remote work management tools? Consider sharing your suggestions in the comments below.

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Soumava Goswami

Inspired by The Social Network, Soumava loves to find ways to make small businesses successful – he spends most of his time analyzing case studies of successful small businesses. With 5+ years of experience in flourishing with a small MarTech company, he knows countless tricks that work in favor of small businesses. His keen interest in finance is what fuels his passion for giving the best advice for small business operations. He loves to invest his time familiarizing himself with the latest business trends and brainstorming ways to apply them. From handling customer feedback to making the right business decisions, you’ll find all the answers with him!

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signs your boss doesn't like you

10 Signs Your Boss Doesn’t Like You

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Your Boss Publicly Criticizes You As if micromanaging or leaving you out of the important discussion was not enough. He had to go call out a simple mistake you made during your probation period. Then he went to the length of criticizing you in front of your whole team.  Three Years In The Organization And No Promotion! Your performance is like Ronaldo bagging constant hat tricks against Juventus. There is literally no black mark in your track record. But, when it comes to the promotion, he always brushes off your name. No, it is not your performance. It is quite personal. It is one of many signs your boss doesn't like you.  Lack Of Appreciation  How come Rhonda gets thanks for readying the report on time, and you get nothing when you meet the deadline before the deadline? A lack of appreciation should not always be excused with forgetfulness. How can a person forget the presence of another, especially when they put their best efforts into fulfilling their responsibilities? 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Lead Management

Lead Management 101: A Comprehensive Guide to Success

Do you ever wonder how big businesses manage to earn so much revenue by making so many sales? This is because they smartly apply a process called lead management. This helps them to better convert leads into sales by nurturing them at every step of the marketing and sales funnel. If you wish to understand this concept better, then read this post till the end. What Is Lead Management? If you wish to know the lead management meaning, then you are on the right webpage. Lead management is the process of generating leads in order to interact with them and convert them into buyers. Here, businesses spend a considerable amount of time and money on lead management since this allows them to get more customers and make more sales, resulting in more revenues and profits. This is an essential process for a firm since it helps them understand their customers better. 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Project Management

Project Management: What Is It? – Major Types, Examples, And More

Every business team has to achieve a goal or bring a solution to a problem within a given deadline. The goal of project management is to help business teams like these to achieve their goals. This is mostly done with the help of a project manager who is responsible for managing the team to meet the goal. The manager plans and organizes the resources to move the team toward the completion of the project. In this article, you will learn some of the essential details about project management. In addition to that, we will also discuss the major types of project management. Furthermore, we will share with you the steps of project management. Finally, you will learn project management with the help of a simple explanation. Hence, to learn more about this business term, read on through to the end of the article. What Is Project Management? According to the Forbes Advisor, “Project management uses processes, skills, tools, and knowledge to complete a planned project and achieve its goals. 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The target of applying project management functions is to achieve a higher efficiency in the team, with the use of best practices, so that there is a higher rate of success for the project. Read More: Entrepreneur : Who Coined The Term ‘Entrepreneur’? The Major Types Of Project Management According to Investopedia, “Every project usually has a budget and a time frame. Project management uses a type of triage process to keep everything moving smoothly, on time, and on budget. That means when the planned time frame is coming to an end, the project manager may keep all the team members working on the project to finish on schedule.” What type of project management option to choose depends upon the project manager. The manager chooses the style based on experience, theories, early examples, and recommendations of experts. The decision is taken on the current situation of the project. Here are some of the major types of project management models you must know of: 1. Waterfall Model In this technique, the manager ensures that one task is completed before the start of the next task. Here, the team of employees completes the job that is first in line. They cannot proceed to the next job until the whole team completes their individual jobs in hand. 2. Agile Model This is the opposite of the waterfall model, where the completion of the tasks is independent of the successor and the previous tasks. Hence, the team is able to work at their own pace and incorporate the right changes as per the need. They basically go with the chain of events. 3. Lean Project Management In this project management process, the job of the team is to bring more out of the project while ensuring that the cost is reduced. Apart from that, the manager also ensures that there is a minimal amount of waste and that the end product is satisfactory for the customer. What Are The Steps Of Project Management? 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Sabbatical Leave

Sabbatical Leave: What Is It, And How Does It Work?

Sabbatical leave is any extended leave that you take for a month or two from your job. In that time period, the employee does not need to report for work to the employer, but the employment stays. In some cases, the employee may even receive a salary based on a variety of factors. If you are looking for a much-needed vacation that will help you recharge your batteries, a sabbatical might be the best option for you. In this article, you will learn about sabbatical leaves in general and how they work. Furthermore, you will also learn about the length of sabbaticals. Then, we will discuss some of the major benefits of sabbaticals and how they can help in your professional life. Finally, we will share with you some steps to follow if you want to plan for such a leave. Hence, to learn more, read on through to the end of the article. What Is Sabbatical Leave? According to Workable.com, “Sabbatical leave is a break from work, allowing employees to pursue interests such as traveling, writing, research, or volunteering. During this period, employees remain part of their organization but are exempt from regular duties. Common in educational institutions, sabbaticals can also be found in corporations.” A sabbatical is basically a break that you can take from work for a particular time period, during which you can pursue your personal interests so that you can feel better. This can also help you to focus better on your career. How Does Sabbatical Leave Work? Investopedia writes - “A sabbatical can give you a healthy amount of time to enhance your academic qualifications, pursue new interests, do volunteer work, travel, address physical concerns, or re-prioritize your life and career. It's an opportunity to manage the effects of professional burnout. A sabbatical can help you rest, de-stress, and return to work rejuvenated.” Furthermore, many employers that allow their employees to take sabbatical leaves make their employees a stipulation. The job function of the employee can also change by the end of the leave if the employee wants a guaranteed job. Basically, the employee’s situation in the organization is a big deciding factor of what shall be the conditions for the sabbatical leave. What Are The Benefits Of Sabbatical Leave? The following are some of the benefits of sabbatical leave: You can take a break from work to feel better You will have the chance to look for new career opportunities You can work on your educational advancement You can return to work with more energy You will have better relationships with your employer However, you might need to comply with some rules of the company if you are applying for a sabbatical leave. According to Indeed.com, “A company’s sabbatical policy will determine employee rights and responsibilities during their sabbatical. Some organizations forbid employees from taking a second job during their sabbatical, especially if they’re being paid during their career break. Others may permit the employee to take a second job as long as it’s not in the same industry.” How To Plan For A Sabbatical? - Steps To Take As already discussed, a sabbatical leave is a paid leave where the employee receives a full salary or a percentage of the salary. However, some companies do not offer any payment for a sabbatical. Furthermore, whether an employee will get a salary, a part of the salary, or not depends on the time period that the employee stays with the company.  On the other hand, whether an employee will get a sabbatical or not depends on the employee’s position, as well as the nature of the employee’s leave.  The following are the steps you will need to take if you want to plan for a sabbatical: Step 1: Be Financially Ready If your company agrees to give you a full salary during your sabbatical, then finances will not be an issue. However, if your company offers only a part of your salary or no salary at all, then you will need to plan your finances during that period. In the latter case, you can add money to your savings account well in advance of your leave. Step 2: Check Your Health Benefits Being on a sabbatical leave might reduce your health benefits. Check with your company’s HR department to find out their policy regarding medical, dental, and other care during the sabbatical. If the company does not agree to cover during that time, you will need to plan for your health care expenses during that time with your own funds. Step 3: Consider Your Retirement Savings If you receive a full salary, then your sabbatical is counted as in your retirement savings. However, if you receive only a portion of your salary, your retirement savings will be proportionate. If you have no salary during the sabbatical, then your retirement savings will be affected and will affect the amount in your retirement plan. Step 4: Get Insurance Coverage Your company might offer you insurance coverage, like life insurance or disability insurance. Having the latter is important, especially if you are the only earning member of your family. In such cases of sabbatical leave, you will need to find out whether the coverage still applies for sabbaticals or not. You will have to consider alternative arrangements as well. Wrapping Up Hope this article was helpful for you in getting a better idea of what a sabbatical leave is. Taking a sabbatical will allow you to focus better on your career as well as your personal goals. If you need a leave for an academic reason, then planning for your sabbatical will be pretty straightforward. In other cases, you will need to plan accordingly. Make sure that your finances and benefits are in proper order if you want to go on a sabbatical leave. You can also receive your salary, or a part of your salary, based on what your experience with the organization is or what your post is. Do you have anything to add regarding how to plan a sabbatical leave? Share your ideas with us in the comments section below. For More Business Related Article Explore Below: Top 7 Best Business Ideas For Teens What Is A Sole Proprietorship? – Let’s Find Out Micro vs Macro Economics: What’s The Difference?