Fear of a coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has shaken the business world. Many companies are seriously considering hiring professionals working remotely or changing their permanent staff to perform remote work from home. On the plus side, the need for telecommuting software is breathing new life into the industry in this area.
What are the valuable telecommuting apps that are gaining popularity day by day? We’re going to look at a list of 10 essential tools for remote work that are affordable and flexible enough to meet the needs of small businesses and large corporations.
The Ten Best Tools For Remote Work
PDFelement: Award-Winning Document Management Software
PDFelement is a classic example of remote working software that improves team productivity by giving them complete control over document workflows that primarily involve PDFs and virtually any other content format, including HTML, MS Office, ePUB, etc. It is affordable, user-friendly, and well-integrated with cloud services, making it a must-have for telecommuting tools.
Presentation :
PDFelement for Windows/Mac/iOS/Android delivers unparalleled performance in PDF management and document workflow across multiple devices and operating platforms. It offers a clear cost advantage over market-leading Adobe Acrobat DC and Pro DC PDF editors. Here are some of those main features:
- Create, view, edit, annotate and convert PDF. It allows the generation of PDFs from other document formats, considering them, making changes to them, adding comments and annotations, and converting PDFs into various output formats. Working remotely gives you complete control over your online document workflows, while cloud integration increases accessibility even further.
- Secure, Sign, and Redact PDFs – Scanned documents can take advantage of PDF security tools such as password encryption, digital signatures, and redaction tools to hide confidential information in a PDF.
- In-depth management of PDF forms – The problem with conditions is that combining paper and digital documents is impossible. This software solves this problem with features such as the automatic creation of interactive forms, recognition of form fields, data extraction from records, import/export options, and even batch processing for loads of more meaningful work. From simple form filling to adding legally binding digital signatures to using advanced encryption algorithms to password protect your PDF, PDFelement covers it all.
Price :
The Pro version, which includes additional features such as advanced forms management, an OCR, etc., is available on subscription for $89 per year per user or a one-time fee of $129 for the perpetual license. The Standard version of PDFelement is available for $79 per year per user or a one-time, permanent license fee of $129.
Why Get It?
Millions of small businesses don’t have massive software budgets but still need performance that matches products like Acrobat Pro DC. PDFelement fills this gap by offering a complete document management software solution suitable for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and small businesses but which can be deployed enterprise-wide across borders. The software also supports nine different interface languages and over 20 languages for OCR, making it ideal for companies that transact with countries worldwide.
Slack: The Chat Tool With Advanced Features
Slack needs no introduction as it is one of the leading team collaboration platforms used today. Originally designed as an internal instant messaging tool, the many third-party integrations and API features have made it a flexible chat and file-sharing tool for teams. In short, the company now pitches its namesake product as a “smart alternative to email.”
Presentation :
- Highly customizable private and group (chat) messaging channels
- History search feature to find anything from past conversations
- Voice and video calls
- Easy file sharing
Price
Its free version is generous and adequate for small teams who want an online chat and meeting tool to be constantly connected. Upgrade to the Standard plan for $3.20 per month or $2.67 per month on an annual plan, and you’ll get group video calls, guest features, and unlimited built-in apps.
Upgrading to Plus is $6 per month or $5 per month on an annual commitment for 99.99% guaranteed uptime and other benefits. Enterprise Grid users benefit from designated account managers, and the platform can accommodate up to half a million users.
Why Get It?
A powerful messaging, file sharing, and meeting platform that can integrate with over 2,000 other productivity apps is an invaluable and essential asset for any business considering moving to remote working for all or even just their roles. Its critical positions. Slack is affordable and flexible enough to be the perfect remote collaboration tool.
ClickMeeting: Complete Webinar Utility
ClickMeeting is another useful meeting tool, and it is also a significant competitor to Zoom. The main difference between the two is their organization and the tools they offer. ClickMeeting is more suitable for presentations and webinars, while Zoom presents itself as an integrated communications utility as a service.
Presentation :
ClickMeeting offers audio and video conferencing services, recordings, screen sharing, breakout rooms, and more. The chat function is handy during webinars. Other tools include automated email sending, cloud storage, ad tracking with analytics and pixel integration, custom registrations, payment integration, and more.
Price :
There’s no free version, but you get a 30-day free trial before being charged for any of the plans. These plans are based on the number of webinar attendees and start at $25 per month for up to 25 Live plan attendees.
Why Get It?
Having such a tool allows you to automate your sales channels and achieve higher conversion rates through interactive webinar tools that assist you. It’s ideal for training remote workers through automated webinars and live sessions with multiple presenters.
Google Doc/Sheet/Slide/Forms: Competitor Office 365
The online equivalent of Google’s MS Office tools is suitable for this list. It has been a cloud-based environment from the beginning, unlike Office 365, which went through a seismic transition before the online version of MS Office was recognized as the de facto leader in office suites.
Productivity
The G suite was compiled as a competitor in the same market. Many companies prefer the real-time environment of Google Docs, Sheets, etc., to a relatively active Office 365 subscription. It’s essentially the same thing, but lifetime users are well aware of the nuances of each that make them more appealing.
Presentation
In short, you get a suite of real-time collaboration tools that includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation software, form builder, and several other valuable integrations. These products also incorporate features for security, comments, version control, and more.
Price
The Google Suite is a service that starts at around $72 per year per user for the Basic version and goes up to about $300 per user for the Enterprise edition. Discounts are available under Flexible and Annual plans, and there is a 14-day trial period before billing begins.
Why Get It?
It’s the basic set of office tools that every business, big or small, needs. The advantage is that everything is in the cloud, and security is based on how the administrator defines user permissions and access to different tools.
Cropro: Screen Capture And Editing Tool
Wondershare Cropro is an indispensable screen capture and image editing tool for remote collaboration at work. It lets you capture screenshots and videos and annotate them with a full suite of markup tools. For a design or authoring environment, it can be used for mockups or content reviews and simple screenshot sharing.
Presentation :
Copro’s basic and advanced screen capture features are made available in a neat user interface. One of its standout features is the built-in sharing option that lets you send content through numerous channels. It’s an excellent tool for remote work. This tool will make your remote staff more productive and less dependent on multiple third-party tools for screenshots, annotations, and sharing.
Price :
Cropro is available for $9.99 per license.
Why Get It?
Cropro is the best combination of tools for screenshots, annotations, and sharing. Having such a premium screen capture tool will immediately increase your remote employees’ skill level and productivity.
Microsoft Teams: “Team Collaboration” Component Of Office 365
Microsoft Teams is part of the Office 365 ecosystem and offers comprehensive calling, messaging, and meeting functionality. Teams are either accessible as a standalone service for chats, file sharing, and essential collaboration or with an Office 365 subscription. The free version also includes online versions of MS Office software but lacks advanced security features, downloadable Office apps, and other paid features.
Presentation :
It is a powerful collaboration platform enhanced by Office tools and other features included in paid subscriptions. As part of a paid subscription, the Teams program gives you access to other Office 365 productivity tools.
Price :
Office 365 subscriptions range from $5 per user per month to $20 per user per month based on an annual commitment.
Why Get It?
Office 365 is handy from a user migration perspective if you are used to a Windows-based desktop environment. Employees already familiar with Microsoft’s portfolio of office productivity tools will have a short learning curve when switching to remote work with Office 365.
Google Drive: Cloud Storage Component Of The Google Suite
Cloud storage is an absolute necessity for managing documents that need to be accessed by people working from multiple remote locations. It makes records accessible from anywhere and offers flexible solutions. Each Google Suite user has unlimited storage space, except for the Basic plan, which is capped at 30 GB.
Presentation :
Your files and data are accessible from anywhere. User management features are extensive, and the service is scalable from a single user to thousands of employees across multiple locations of an international company.
Price :
Google suite formulas have been covered in the software tools section above. As a reminder, plans range from $6 to $25 per month per user on both the flexible schedule and the annual plan, though offers may vary.
Why Get It?
Google Drive is one of the best cloud storage services today. The good thing is that all their tools have always been hosted in the cloud. Potential remote workers are already familiar with tools like Gmail and Drive, making it easier to transition to the remote work model amid COVID-19.
Todoist: A To-Do List With A Twist
Todoist is a project-based task management platform that tracks deadlines for items on your to-do list, hence the name. It is an ideal tool for managing remote workers and helping them meet their task deadlines on time. It can also be integrated with other devices like your Google calendar or even Amazon’s Alexa. Other features include task completion statistics, comments, and task organization.
Presentation :
The Premium and Team plan gives you access to all the tools and features needed for convenient task management. This includes reminders, file downloads, comments, etc. Its intuitive interface is easy to pick up, and it is beneficial for improving productivity and getting results quickly.
Price :
The free version is limited to 50 projects and limited sharing. Premium and Business plans are $3 and $5 per user per month based on an annual commitment.
Why Get It?
Managing tasks by project makes it easy to assign responsibility and track time-bound tasks. It will help managers of remote teams to master their performances and achieve their goals on time.
Zoom: Reliable Video Conferencing Software
This cloud-based virtual meeting room and video conferencing tool are perfect for private meetings, team briefings, and more significant conference scenarios like training sessions. Automated reminders and calendar integration help ensure that attendees are kept informed of their meeting schedules for the day and the week. In tandem with the other productivity tools listed here, this versatile meeting tool can give remote teams and their managers a huge productivity boost.
Presentation :
Zoom offers the ability to host private meeting rooms with invite-only access. It also integrates screen sharing, a telephone system, and all the tools for audio, video, and web conferences. It also offers many extensions, plugins, simultaneous annotations during screen sharing, and many features and tools related to holding a remote meeting.
Price :
The basic version is free and gives you up to 40 minutes of group meetings at once and unlimited individual conferences. The Pro plan costs $14.99 per month per host but can accommodate up to 100 participants. Further up the price scale are the Business and Enterprise editions, which have plenty of features, such as a demo URL and the ability to manage up to 1,000 attendees.
Why Get It?
Simply put, Zoom is a virtual meeting platform that meets the ever-changing meeting needs of organizations, big and small. With features like calendar integration, scheduling tools, screen sharing, co-canceling a screen-sharing session, and more, it’s an ideal environment for meetings. On the web, whether it’s a manager-to-subordinate meeting or a sizable interactive webinar.
Trello: A Tremendous Visual Task Management Tool
Trello is a visually rich task management tool that uses eye-catching cards that can be easily rearranged, edited, set deadlines, and more. It incorporates maps that can be created for various tasks and projects. Stakeholders then have access to dashboards and can be assigned specific tasks by a moderator. As such, it’s a perfect working tool for any business, both in the office and remotely.
Presentation
With Trello, you have a complete set of project management tools that are visually appealing and easy to use. Users can communicate when their tasks are finished to assign new ones. An entire ecosystem is built around the tables and maps interface that allows attaching images and other elements, creating checklists, sharing URLs, uploading data to the cloud, using control tools, etc. It also has an AI feature, Butler, that helps automate workflows through time-based triggers and commands.
Price
The free version can manage up to 10 team boards and has a few other restrictions. Upgrade to Business Class at $12.50 per month or $9.99 per month annually, and you’ll get app integrations, priority support, templates for team boards, a data export, etc. The Unrestricted Enterprise plan costs $20.83 per user for up to 300 team members, then scales down as you reach 5,000 users, while you only pay $5.92 per user per month. More details are available on request.
Why Get It?
Trello uses optical power to simplify tasks and project management. It is a transparent system that clarifies deliveries and deadlines, which has always been a significant challenge in managing remote teams whose members come from different geographical locations.
Read Also: 6 Steps To Building A Gantt Chart& Managing Tasks
 pandemic has shaken the business world. Many companies are seriously considering){kind=link}