Remote work has become increasingly common in recent times and shows no sign of going away anytime soon. A recent survey found that most Australians would prefer to continue to work from home as we advance. With more of a focus on employees working remotely from now on, business managers need to put systems in place to help manage their remote teams with ease.
With the right software and cloud-based platforms at your disposal, managing a remote team can be very straightforward. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to remote working software. It’s important to take the time to consider the needs of your business and your employees when you are choosing which software to use. While some companies might find one platform to meet their requirements, others may find a combination of remotely working software solutions to be more effective.
Let’s take a closer look at a few useful tools that business managers can use to help manage their remote teams.
1. Time-tracking software
A time clock app is a great way to ensure that your wage calculations are accurate. Tracking your employees’ hours can be difficult, especially if your team is in different locations around the country or further afield. However, with an easy-to-use time tracking app, you can get a clear picture of exactly how many hours each employee has worked. Premium providers also allow employees to share their GPS location to verify that they were in the correct location when they were meant to be there. Precise records of employee work hours allow you to process payroll more efficiently and with greater ease.
2. Communication Tools
Maintaining open lines of communication with your remote workers is crucial. Depending on your business’s needs, there is a range of excellent tools that you can choose from, each one with something unique to offer. Consider ease-of-access for your employees when you are making your choice and check that the software can be used across different devices. Having a simple and straightforward way to communicate with your remote team will simplify the process of working together, no matter where you are located.
3. Project management software
Project management software is standard in many businesses nowadays, whether they are brick and mortar setups or exist in the online realm. If you are managing multiple projects, project management software can help you keep track of every aspect of the project as it moves forward. Delegate tasks to team members, assign deadlines and create project milestones from one platform to ensure that your projects are completed on time and spec.
4. Collaboration tools
Although you and your team may be based in different physical locations, you need to work together on projects with ease. Collaboration tools are similar to project management tools; however, there are some distinct differences. Collaboration tools typically have a range of functionalities allowing simple communication between two or more collaborators working together on a single document or file. Team members have the ability to discuss the project live either via messaging, voice, or video, making the process of working together on projects seamless regardless of where they are based.
5. Manage your remote team with confidence
Tracking your remote team’s progress, staying connected with them, and keeping them motivated can be challenging. However, with the right tools and software, there’s no reason that you can’t manage your remote employees effectively. Before you choose which tools you will use, be sure to consider the needs of your business. With a better understanding of what you are striving to achieve, you will be able to choose the best solution to manage your remote team more efficiently than ever before.
