Best Remote Work Software

The concept of "working remotely" or "work from home" has transformed the way the Global workspace operates these days. Working from anywhere other than your office premises has become relevant in most sectors, such as sales and marketing, technical support, software development, copywriting, and many more. Especially during pandemics like COVID-19, telecommuting and remote working have been a boon. The work-from-home methodology helps businesses and their employees survive even through the financial crisis.

Thanks to the internet and technology that has facilitated storing information on the cloud, conducting video conferences, and communicating through instant messaging apps, remote working is feasible and extremely convenient. Today, the best remote work software solutions and applications are available, enabling employers and employees to follow remote working methods and simultaneously maintain high productivity and quality levels.

Whether you purchase new remote work management software or need to replace your existing one, this buyer's guide can help you pick the right solution for your business needs. So, let's start with a basic understanding of remote working and then move on to the intricacies of remote working tools, enabling you to make smart purchase decisions.

Remote working is often confused with work from home, telecommuting, and flex hours. Let’s clarify the difference between these terms -

Remote Working: Employees work from a home, cafe, airport lounge, client's office, or any other location.

Work From Home: A subset of remote working in which employees work from home only.

Telecommuting: Employees work from the place of their choice but are supposed to visit the office on certain days.

Flex Hours: Employees follow flexible work timings regardless of the place they are working from.

Around a decade ago, remote working was very rare among businesses. Employers used to provide remote working facilities to employees only in special cases or due to critical circumstances. But now, many companies thrive with all employees working from remote locations. The reason behind this is the changing preferences of the employees and employers and advancement in technology.

Earlier, there were no tools available to help employers monitor and supervise the employees working from a remote location. And so, productivity became a major concern for companies while allowing their employees to work remotely. But now, there are many project management solutions and time tracking systems available that can help managers keep an eye on their employees consistently and restrict them from getting distracted by unproductive tasks. Moreover, collaboration platforms, video conferencing tools, and live chat software are available that have made remote working quite convenient for both managers and employees.

Remote working has helped employees enjoy the flexibility and freedom to work at any time from anywhere. At the same time, employers have benefitted by saving on their overheads, hiring and retaining their top talent by providing them with remote working facilities, and remaining competitive within their industry.

As per Global Workplace Analytics, remote working has grown by 173% from 2005 to 2019. After the outbreak of Covid-19, working from home has become “The New Normal.” According to the Washington Post, big tech companies in the United States, like Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Twitter, have mentioned that the work-from-home trend is here to stay. They would prefer to be the last among the large companies to reopen their office doors and welcome their workforce back after this pandemic is over.

Communication Gap

As the remote working employees are not physically present in the office, there are chances of communication gaps between the teams working together. There are many virtual communication tools like GoToMeeting that can help team members conduct video conferences, communicate on a real-time basis, and solve their queries.

Difficulty in Collaborating

Team collaboration becomes difficult if all team members are not under the same roof. A lack of flawless collaboration can lead to misunderstandings and conflicts. In that case, file-sharing platforms like Google Drive can enable all team members to access updated information on a centralized platform and maintain transparency in the workflows.  

Easy To Get Distracted

When employees work from a remote location, they are not on their supervisors’ visual radar. So, there is a chance of them getting distracted by browsing social media and gaming apps. Technology in the form of time tracking applications like DeskTime can help managers and supervisors ensure that their subordinates are working efficiently on the tasks assigned to them and meeting the organization’s expectations in terms of productivity.

Procrastination Can Become A Habit

Like distraction, if procrastination becomes an employee's habit, it can harm the business organization's productivity. Especially when the employees are working remotely and answerable to no one, if the tasks aren't completed on time, the work gets delayed, and no deadlines are achieved, it can harm the business organization's productivity. Implementing the right project management tools and task management applications, such as Wrike, can help overcome this challenge.

Lack of Training & Mentorship

When it comes to assigning a new task to the employees, the first thing that comes into mind is whether they have enough training to do this new task. Working from a remote location can be a great challenge for imparting training & mentorship to the employees. The solution to this problem would be to use remote connectivity software like Teamviewer, helping you access your subordinates' computers from a remote location and train them for the new tasks.

Mismanagement of Time

Many managers are concerned about productivity and thus don't encourage a remote working culture within their teams. But it can be the opposite, too. When personal and professional jobs are supposed to be done under one roof, it becomes hard for employees to maintain a work-life balance, and they tend to overwork themselves. In that case, time management solutions like Time Doctor would help employees analyze the time they are spending on different projects and remind them to take breaks at regular intervals. 

Missed Opportunities

While working remotely, many times, it happens that the efforts of the employees go unnoticed by their supervisors or managers. In that case, the employees miss opportunities like performance appraisals or new responsibilities to grow their careers. This can demotivate your employees and ultimately make it difficult to retain them for a long period. Solutions like Teamwork can help solve this issue as it enables the managers to differentiate the employees in terms of their performance based on the time taken to complete the projects and the quality delivered by them.

Absence of Spontaneous Conversations

One of the most prominent reasons employees like working from the office is their spontaneous conversations with their teammates during lunch hours and coffee breaks. Working from a remote location takes away this chance from the employees and makes them feel lonely. Remote team communication software like PukkaTeam can help in solving this issue. HR managers can conduct events using virtual team communication solutions and keep them motivated and energetic enough to work with enthusiasm.

Remote work software is a set of tools that help businesses manage and support their employees working from home or any other remote location besides their office. Whether it is about assigning tasks, managing projects, tracking working hours, sharing files, or conducting virtual meetings, a remote working solution can handle everything relating to managing teams working in the office or remotely. Also, you can rely on remote work tools for managing your software subscriptions and data security. An efficient remote worker software helps the team members collaborate and communicate from wherever they are, supervisors to monitor the time spent on different tasks by their co-workers, and even track the progress of the organization's projects.

The remote work solution types can be segmented based on three aspects: functionality, deployment, and price. Let's examine each one.

A. Functionality

i) Time Tracking Software: Helps track and monitor the spent time on different tasks and projects by the employees working remotely.

ii) Project Management Software: Allows the supervisors and managers to create & assign different tasks to their team members and track their progress.

iii) Collaboration Software: Enables users to communicate with each other through emails, voice & video calls, and instant chat messaging. 

iv) Desktop Sharing Software: Allows users to access desktops, laptops, and smartphones from a remote location to provide technical support and troubleshoot problems.

v) Video Conferencing Software: Helps the team members to conduct virtual meetings, share ideas, take notes, and plan strategies.

vi) Virtual Private Network Software: Enables remote working employees to securely connect with the company’s private networks and access confidential information.

All the above different remote working tools are available as stand-alone systems or integrated into a single remote worker software to provide versatile functionality. For example, Teamviewer is known for its desktop sharing capabilities, Zoom for its video conferencing functionality, and Asana for its project management features. You can select a remote working software depending on the exact blend of the features you require.

B. Deployment

i) On-Premise Remote Work Software

The software installed on the server located within your work premises is known as on-premise remote work software. You require a pre-defined infrastructure and technical abilities to upgrade and maintain the on-premise remote working solution. When it comes to deploying an on-premise remote work platform, you can consider one of the options given below -

• Hire a freelancer/in-house software developer or delegate the entire software development project to a professional company to get a customized remote work program built as per your business requirements
• Purchase a licensed version of a remote working solution
• Download a free and open source remote work software

ii) Cloud-Based Remote Work Software

Cloud-based remote work platforms refer to applications deployed on distant servers owned by software vendors. Users can access the software using their devices and the Internet from wherever they are located. The benefit of using cloud-based remote work apps is that it saves your infrastructure and technical staff costs. The cloud-based software vendors manage the task of managing and upgrading the remote work platform. This type of remote work solution usually follows a monthly/yearly subscription pricing plan system and has proven to be quite affordable.

C. Price

i) Paid Remote Work Software

When it comes to selecting a paid remote work software, you need to choose one from the options given below -

• Purchase a licensed copy of remote work software
• Hire a team of developers or a software development company and pay them a mutually agreed amount for their services
• Purchase monthly/yearly subscription to a remote work software

ii) Freemium Remote Work Software

Freemium remote working tools include software that is free to use for a limited time or has restricted features. For example, GoToMeeting is free to use for 14 days, and ToDoist is free forever but allows the creation of only 80 projects.

iii) Free Remote Work Software

Free remote work software may include limited features but can be very useful for freelancers, and startups, as they don't need to invest a considerable amount in staying on top of their work. If you are looking for a free option in this category, you can go through this list of the best free and open source remote work software. You can also consider a simple to register and use cloud-based free remote work apps like Trello and manage your remote working employees easily.  

Ensuring Productivity Is Maintained

Remote worker software helps managers keep their team members aligned and motivated by clearly defining tasks and their deadlines. Moreover, it also helps them track the time each employee spends on different projects.

Keeping Teams Connected

Using the right tools for remote workers, you can conduct video conferences and meetings, communicate instantly through chat, and easily share updated documents. This improves collaboration among team members and keeps them motivated to do their jobs efficiently.

Gaining Insights On A Real-Time Basis

No matter where the employees are working from, managers and supervisors have clear visibility over the jobs done and pending using remote worker software. It provides insights in real time, helping in making crucial decisions relevant to each employee's task assignment and working capacity. 

Maintaining Data Security

Working with employees from remote locations increases the risk of data being distributed to people who can use the information against your business's interest or benefit. Remote work software ensures that the right person accesses the data and that security is maintained.

Managing Risks

By using the best tools for remote workers, you can sense the danger before it comes. You have clear insights about which project is pending and whether it will be completed on time or not. You have a chance to apply more resources to the tasks based on their priority and avoid the circumstances that can harm your business.

Project & Task Management

Managing tasks and projects is a critical task without applying an automated tool. Remote working software should allow you to assign tasks to your employees, set up deadlines, and modify task delegation, helping you manage your projects flawlessly.

Instant Messaging

Communicating on time is very important for smooth operations and avoiding conflicts between employees and managers. The remote working software you choose should include a chat application that allows instant text messages and phone/video calls.

Video Conferencing

Conducting conferences and meetings is important for planning new strategies and ensuring that everyone is on the same page. In companies where employees work from different locations, video conferencing can bring everyone together virtually.

Centralized File Storing, Editing & Sharing

Many times, remote work requires multiple team members to work on the same files. The software for remote work you choose should allow the team members to store files in a centralized location, edit them, and share them. This would help each team member access real-time information and stay updated.

Time Tracking & Management

Some people may have the misconception that remote working doesn't require watching the clock. On the other hand, if you have employees working remotely, tracking their time spent on different projects becomes extremely important. This would help you ensure that a high productivity level is maintained in the organization.

Reporting

Generating reports relevant to which projects were completed on time and which ones were not and the hours spent by the employees on different projects daily, weekly, or monthly is crucial to making certain decisions beneficial for the business. The software for remote work you choose should be able to generate customized reports according to your business workflow.

Integration

You need to ensure that your remote work software integrates with the other systems and applications you are currently using; otherwise, you will waste time on repetitive manual data entry tasks.

Scalability

Today, if you have only 80 projects to manage, it is not necessary to have the same situation after a couple of years. Changing the software frequently would be a hassle. So, it would be wise to choose scalable remote working software that can grow with your business.

User-Friendly

The remote work software you choose should be well-organized so that users can locate its features easily and be free of bugs to provide an excellent user experience. This would encourage users to use the software without wasting their time and enable them to maintain efficiency and quality while working on any task.

Cost-Effective

Choosing expensive remote working software that includes features you don't require can put financial pressure on your business. Thus, you need to select a remote working software with features you are going to use and a price within your budget.

Security

Data security is the prime concern, especially when managing employees working from remote locations. You need to ensure that the remote work software you choose includes high-end security features and a role-based access facility to keep your confidential information secure.

Support

While selecting working remotely software, one of the most critical aspects you need to consider is the vendor's technical support. Just check the authentic reviews given by remote work software users and choose the one that comes with prompt technical support so that you can carry out your business processes without any glitches.

Testing

It is important to test remote work software before purchasing it. Many remote work tools provide free trials or demos. Ask your team to test it thoroughly and ensure that it includes all the functionality your remote work environment needs.

Internet of Things (IoT)

IoT has empowered remote working in many sectors like supply chain, healthcare, manufacturing, and many others. IoT-enabled wearable devices indicate the patient's condition to healthcare professionals located at a remote location and suggest a suitable treatment. Moreover, even the supply chain workers can easily monitor the inventory and prevent thefts from a remote location with IoT devices' help. In manufacturing industries, IoT devices allow remote teams to detect, diagnose, and rectify the machinery's technical problems without being physically present at the place where the machinery is located.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The integration of Artificial intelligence with remote working software can automate many tasks, reducing human efforts and improving the overall work environment. Artificial intelligence would allow supervisors and managers to analyze their team members' performance based on their working habits and behavior. Artificial intelligence is anticipated to eliminate the limitations of remote working in terms of team interaction and collaboration. Precisely, remote working software with inbuilt Artificial intelligence features can change businesses' landscape depending on the remote working environment.

Virtual Reality (VR) Conferencing

It has been predicted that virtual reality conferencing would replace video conferencing while dealing with employees and customers located at remote locations. Virtual reality conferences like GFiT would allow people to immerse themselves in interactive and engaging experiences, helping them better understand any product, service, situation, or concept. Virtual reality conferencing features integrated with remote work software would include creating 3D environments and introducing new paradigms in terms of digital collaboration and business management.

Chatbots

It is an inevitable fact that the concept of remote working is going to increase in the coming years. It would be challenging to make reliable support available 24/7 to remote employees working in different time zones. HR & IT teams face several problems as it is not possible for them to instantly solve the queries of their employees working in different time zones. Thus, many companies are planning to integrate chatbot systems into their remote work applications. It would help the employees working remotely to have access to an instant support system whenever they require it and eliminate all the obstacles they may be facing while accomplishing their tasks.

There are many remote working solutions available, with subscription charges ranging from $1.5/month to $99/month. For example, Scalefusion is available for $1.5/month, Wrike at $9.80/month, and Basecamp at $99/month. If you are not comfortable with monthly subscription charges, you can go for ConnectWise Control at $24/year, ISL Online at $145/year, or FOCOS at $43 one-time subscription charges.

As all these remote work tools differ in terms of features, the price cannot be the only criterion for selecting one. You need to check the features included in each subscription plan to make the right selection.

Suppose you are searching for remote work management software offering customized pricing plans, you can consider Activetrack or Remotedesk so that you pay exactly for those features you are going to use.

Also, there are remote work solutions like ToDoist and Notion that include free versions. So, if these tools' free plan includes the features that suffice your needs, you can deploy them without investing. But, you need to ensure that the free remote work software you choose allows you to upgrade the subscription plan in the future whenever your business demands.

Finally, it is always better to choose remote work software that provides a free trial or demo to determine whether it suits your business processes before investing a considerable amount.

To help you further with the task of picking the best remote work platform, we would recommend you to go through the Goodfirms' list of the best remote work software along with in-depth details and authentic reviews because -

• Goodfirms has an experienced and skilled team of researchers that includes only remote working solutions built using the latest technologies and techniques.
• Goodfirms follows a professional and systematic approach while intricately curating the list of remote work tools and applications.
• Legit ratings and reviews given by the users for each remote work solution mentioned on Goodfirms' list would give you clear visibility over the right solutions.
• As Goodfirms consistently updates the remote work program list with emerging software and applications, it becomes easy for you to select the trending functionality.

Remote working is inevitably benefiting organizations as it has enabled them to hire people with specialized skills no matter what their physical location is. Similarly, employees have also gained the advantage of working from their convenient location with flexible timings. But, if remote working is not applied with the right tools and technology, it can be a disaster in terms of loss of productivity and leakage of confidential business information. 

Finally, considering the below checklist becomes essential for selecting the best remote work program as per your business needs -

Is this tool user-friendly enough for not so tech-savvy employees?

Can you have access to the remote employees' devices easily using this tool?

Can you customize this tool to work according to your business needs while simultaneously maintaining your brand identity?

Is this tool capable enough to meet the growing security standards of the company?

Is it easy to conduct support sessions using different methods like live chat & video conferencing using this tool?

Does the tool include features that can record the tasks done by different remote employees and their conversation history?

Does this tool generate reports that facilitate smarter decisions?

We hope this buyer’s guide has helped you in choosing the right remote work solution available. Still, in case you need additional information, please get in touch with our consulting team to ensure that you are making a wise investment decision.