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26 Best Work From Home Tools and Tools for Online Collaboration

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26 Best Work From Home Tools and Tools for Online Collaboration

As I am writing this post, the world is grappling with the demon called coronavirus. The crisis has given us the lesson of our lives;  how fragile our systems are. Millions of people have lost their jobs and chances are, the road to economic recovery will be a long and treacherous one.

The only segment of our society that has remained somewhat immune to the effects of this global crisis is the one that deals with the online ecosystem. Yes, several software companies have felt the heat of the crisis but the silver lining seems to be the fact that far fewer jobs have been lost where there is a possibility for people to work from home and where they have access to tools for online collaboration.

Below, you can find an exhaustive list of

File-Sharing Tools

Design Tools

Documentation Tools

Communication Tools

Software Tools

Video Conferencing Tools

26 Best Work From Home Tools and Online Collaboration

File Sharing Tools

Google Drive

google drive

This is perhaps the most popular tool on the internet for sharing files. Anyone who signs up on Google Drive gets 15 GB of free storage for various documents and any other digital file. Files are easy to arrange in files and folders and provide easy sharing options. You can also collaborate on any file and edit them as and when you need them.

Dropbox

dropbox

Irrespective of the device that you are using, Dropbox allows individuals to sync any document. Dropbox is free to use, however, its business version allows more space (1 terabyte) and more features, including  priority email support and more sharing limits.

Individuals can edit documents in real time and everyone will be able to see the real time version of the document.

Box

box

Box.com is meant for enterprises that need file sharing service.  Once you subscribe to the services of Box, businesses will get a file sharing service, collaboration services, a content management system and a centralized dashboard to manage your business .

Hightail

hightail

As a file-sharing platform, Hightail allows for creative collaboration among teams. For projects, you can specify the level of security you want and the kind of access everyone has. You can track changes and speed at which the project is moving forward  and you can also change the pace at which your team completes projects.

MediaFire

mediafire

While many of the other file sharing sites on the list have evolved to more complicated platforms, MediaFire markets itself as a simple file sharing and storage platform.  Media Fire focuses solely on bringing its users the best file sharing service possible.

This is perfect for the users who don’t want to pay for extra features.

OneDrive

onedrive

OneDrive, gives you 5 GB free usage and one can get another 50 GB for just $1.99 per month.

Though earlier versions of Windows do not have OneDrive installed by default, OneDrive is pre-installed on Windows 10. However, one can access OneDrive from previous versions of Windows too and can access and share files and photos on PC, Mac and operating systems like Android and iOS.

This tool allows you to collaborate on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote from your device and the web.

Design Tools

Invision

invision

Having some of the big names in the industry as its clients, Invision enables its users to create intuitive designs. It also allow its users to gather feedback from colleagues and customers from within the app. You can also explore your team’s idea on a digital whiteboard.

Their aim is to help their clients deliver the best possible digital product. Brands like Airbnb, Amazon, HBO, Netflix, Slack, Starbucks and Uber use this platform to make their products.

Mural

mural

Mural makes digital collaboration very simple. Their tools help creating diagrams useful in agile methodologies really simple.It is just like a digital white board.  Just like Invision, Mural has some of the biggest names in the industry as its clients. IBM, Github, Zapier, Intuit are some of the biggies among others.

Through their platforms, users can put what they have in their minds on sticky notes. The sticky notes can further be aligned into lists, flowcharts, diagrams etc. so that the teams can be aligned.

Documentation Tools

Google Docs

google docs

Google Docs is probably the simplest and the most used tool for online collaboration of documents. It is feature rich, easy to use and powerful. Not just that Google Docs has cool features like allowing its users to create blog posts , spreadsheets, and presentations. Most importantly it is free. You can use these tools as much as you want without paying a penny.

Office Online

microsoft office online

This is Microsoft’s free version of its original Office suite of tools. You get the core of Office: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and Onenote.  When you combine it with Outlook.com, you essentially get the Office Home and Student suite.

There are certain limitations on the features that you get for free, however.  For instance, if you wish to add a references section such as a table of contents and add citations, you will need to upgrade to the paid version.

There are also some font and formatting limitations as well.  But, if you’re looking for basic documentation and editing tools, the free version will suit your needs just fine.

Etherpad

etherpad

From its website: “Etherpad is a highly customizable Open Source online editor providing collaborative editing in really real-time.”

You can write articles, press releases, and to-do lists, with colleagues and clients all working and editing the same document in real time.  And because it is open source, Etherpad is free to download.

Zoho

zoho

Zoho Projects provides you with a set of project collaboration tools which helps the team members involved in the project to come together, plan, collaborate and get work done faster.

It helps you create project workspaces that will enable you to collaborate with teams in various geographical locations.  You can give feedback, discuss projects in forums, and share a project calendar to increase productivity among team members.

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Communication

Yammer

yammer

Yammer is a private social network that helps employees collaborate across departments, locations and business apps.

Yammer is a social network that’s entirely focused on your business. In order to join your business’s Yammer network, your team member must have a working email address from your company’s domain.

In order to segregate relevant information to specific team members, you can create groups that will help reduce the noise in the Newsfeed.

Users can share posts with specific groups simply by utilizing the drop down menus below the Update box (which is similar to Facebook’s Status Box).

Slack

slack

One of the fastest growing startups today, Slack is the powerhouse messaging app used by remote teams.  Its powerful integrations, numerous bots, and the ecosystem being built on top of the platform have quickly transformed it into one of the most flexible communication tools on the market.

At its core, Slack operates in channels.  A company can create channels to track and archive conversations around teams and projects in order to get things done. Slack’s search feature ensures that you will never “lose” a conversation about a project.

Skype

skype

One of the biggest reasons that Skype is the most popular communication tool is that it’s free.

Skype allows audio and video calls between multiple devices.  In other words, one person could be on a laptop and another can be on their phone.

And yes, if you’ve ever used Skype, you may have run into reliability issues.  But for the longest time, it was the best bang for your buck. (Now rivaled by Google Hangouts.  See below.)

Project Management Tools

Asana

asana

Asana is a cloud platform that enables all of your employees to log in no matter where they are, as long as they have a wifi connection. The dashboard consists of three panels in order to give you all of the data you need on a given project.

As a business owner, Asana will give you an overview to all projects currently going on in your organization. This is the information on the left hand side of the dashboard. Once you click on a particular project, the middle of the dashboard will allow you to zoom in on the tasks associated with the project. And finally, the right hand side of the dashboard will be even more granular. There you can see who is assigned to a particular task and when it is due.

Podio

podio

Podio is a powerful tool that helps entrepreneurs and managers operate their businesses effectively.

As a remote team of over 50 employees operating in over a dozen countries in all conceivable time zones, tools like Podio make it possible for for us to get everyone moving in the same direction.

All managers need to know what tasks employees are working on, how employees are spending their work day, and can be assured that employees are able to easily collaborate amongst themselves, no matter where they are located.

Trello

trello

Trello is a web-based tool that allows you to organize your projects using cards that are organized on a board. To conceptualize this, imagine writing tasks on Post It Notes and sticking them in columns on a wall. You can write on them, take them off of the wall, and move them around.

Each column represents a different part of the project. As you and your team make progress on a card, you move it across the board. This lets you see the status of everything you’re working on with just a quick glimpse at the board.

Basecamp

basecamp

Even though the guys running Basecamp didn’t invent the project management software category, they are probably one of the most loved software companies in the world.

With their simple, easy to use, powerful and very affordable software, it is perfect for small businesses. Its free offer and minimal learning curve mean you can get started without much of a hassle.

LiquidPlanner

liquidplanner

The project management tool designed to serve technology teams.  According to its website “Technology teams are continually being asked to do more work with either the same or fewer resources.”

LiquidPlanner is flexible enough to allow developers to use either Agile or Waterfall methodologies in order to accommodate the needs of all users to their platform.

Users can organize projects, collaborate seamlessly, and even track time to see how long projects take to complete.

WorkflowMax

workflowmax

WorkflowMax is the project management tool for mid-sized client service firms.  Think of WorkflowMax as a hub for various services such as accounting, billing, project management, lead management, creating quotes, and a whole host of other services required to run a client service business.

With WorkflowMax, you generate beautiful and robust reports that will allow you to make sure your projects, from start to finish, are delivered on time and under budget so that you can ensure each one of your clients is profitable for your business.

GanttPRO

GanttPRO

GanttPRO is a Web-based project planning tool based on Gantt charts.

Thanks to its intuitive UX/UI design, the software allows becoming an advanced user of it in 5-10 minutes. This Gantt chart software divides even large projects into clearly defined tasks with start and end dates along a timeline.

The tool allows users to create tasks and assign them to team members, create dependencies between tasks, track progress, and collaborate with project participants, get notifications, browse the whole history of a project, and simply be aware of all the processes in a plan.

Also, GanttPRO has a resource management feature. It provides with possibilities to work with resource workload what allows managers to track how everyone from his/her team is working: whether a resource underperforms or, vice versa, overloaded.

Software Tools

GitHub

github

At the time of this article, GitHub is the most popular software repository on the web.  According to a March 2015 Wired article, GitHub is one of the top 100 most popular websites in the world and hosted 9 million software projects.

GitHub wraps a version control system called a Git where developers can host their projects for free as well as exchange and talk “code” with other developers.

Bitbucket

bitbucket

Bitbucket is another large software repository platform and is brought to you by Atlassian, the same folks who own the JIRA and Hipchat brands.  Unlike Github, Bitbucket offers unlimited private repositories.

Where Github focuses on Opensource, Bitbucket is designed to help developers within enterprises to collaborate on projects.

Video Conferencing

12. Zoom

This longtime Skype alternative gives you the chance to easily have video calls, online demos or webinars with your virtual teams. Advanced features include selective screen sharing where some participants can see the presenter’s screen and others can’t.

If your remote teams use Microsoft Outlook, then this is a top selection: it’s easy to schedule video conferencing meetings from Outlook through the Zoom plugins.

It also has breakout rooms, meaning virtual teams can gather inside video calls without ever losing the main feed. This is very helpful to discuss remote work when running a large webinar or training session.

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From Scheduling to Tracking: The Essentials of Effective Courier Software

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Courier Software

In a world that moves at the speed of a click, efficient courier services have become the unsung heroes of our daily lives. Whether it’s a last-minute birthday gift or a crucial business document, the reliability of courier services is paramount. What makes these services seamlessly weave into our fast-paced lives? It’s the magic of effective courier software.

Unraveling the Basics: What is Courier Software?

Courier software is the wizard behind the curtain, orchestrating the intricate dance of parcels and packages from sender to recipient. It’s the digital brain that powers the logistics, ensuring that your package doesn’t take an unexpected detour to Timbuktu. Think of it as the GPS for your parcel’s journey.

But how does it all work?

Imagine a world where every courier company relies on handwritten notes and manual scheduling. Chaos, right? Cloud-based transport software eliminates this chaos, streamlining the entire process from order placement to final delivery.

Seamless Scheduling: The Heartbeat of Courier Operations

At the core of every successful courier service lies a well-oiled scheduling system. This is where the magic begins. Instead of scribbled notes and messy calendars, sophisticated courier software automates and optimizes the scheduling process. It’s the difference between sending your parcel on a scenic route versus the fastest highway.

Why does scheduling matter?

Efficient scheduling ensures that your parcel takes the most direct route to its destination. It minimizes delays, reduces fuel consumption, and, most importantly, ensures your package arrives on time. Courier software takes the headache out of logistics, making sure your parcel is on the move when it needs to be.

Real-Time Tracking: A Game-Changer for Both Senders and Recipients

Remember the days of nervously pacing around, waiting for the doorbell to ring with your awaited package? Those days are long gone, thanks to real-time tracking provided by cutting-edge courier software.

How does it work?

Every step of your package’s journey is tracked and updated in real time. From the moment it leaves the sender’s hands to the triumphant knock on your door, you can follow its journey on your smartphone or computer. It’s like a virtual companion for your parcel.

Customer Communication: Keeping You in the Loop

Courier software doesn’t just stop at tracking. It excels in keeping you informed. Imagine receiving a friendly notification on your phone, letting you know your package is out for delivery. It’s like a digital pen pal keeping you company throughout the delivery process.

Why is communication key?

In a world where information is king, keeping customers in the loop builds trust. It transforms a seemingly anonymous courier service into a reliable partner. Whether your package is delayed due to unexpected weather or it’s just a few blocks away, transparency in communication is the key to customer satisfaction.

The Human Touch in a Digital World

In the era of algorithms and automation, it’s easy to forget the human touch. Courier software, while incredibly efficient, is not devoid of humanity. It’s the people behind the screens who ensure that your parcel is handled with care and reaches its destination safely.

Who are the unsung heroes?

From the meticulous hands that pack your parcel to the friendly faces that deliver it to your doorstep, there’s a human touch at every stage. Courier software simply enhances their capabilities, making the entire process smoother and more reliable.

Choosing the Right Courier Software: A Guide for Businesses and Individuals

Now that we’ve unveiled the importance of effective courier software, how do you choose the right one for your needs? It’s like finding the perfect pair of shoes – it has to fit just right.

Consider these factors:

  1. User-Friendly Interface: The best courier software is like a good friend – easy to understand and reliable. Look for a user-friendly interface that doesn’t require a PhD in logistics to navigate.
  2. Scalability: Whether you’re a small business sending a handful of parcels or an enterprise managing a plethora of shipments, choose software that grows with you.
  3. Integration Capabilities: A seamless experience requires integration. Ensure that your chosen courier software plays well with other tools and platforms you use.
  4. Real-Time Tracking Features: The heart of modern courier services lies in real-time tracking. Ensure that the software you choose provides accurate and timely updates for both senders and recipients.

The Final Mile: Wrapping Up the Parcel and the Post

In the grand symphony of logistics, courier software is the conductor, ensuring that every note is played to perfection. From scheduling to real-time tracking, it’s the backbone of a reliable and efficient courier service.

So, the next time you receive a package at your doorstep, take a moment to appreciate the invisible hands and the digital wizardry that made it all possible. It’s not just about parcels; it’s about connections, reliability, and the human touch in a digital world. Cheers to the unsung heroes of the courier service – may your journeys always be swift and your deliveries, always on time.

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Top 7 HRM tools every Human Resource Manager should explore

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Top 7 HRM tools

There are a variety of human resource management (HRM) tools available, each with its own unique features and benefits. In this article, we have covered seven popular HRM tools that organizations often use.

All these tools are cloud-based human resource management (HRM) tools that are designed to help organizations manage all aspects of HR management, including payroll, benefits, recruitment, talent management, and more. These tools have gained significant popularity in recent years due to their user-friendly interface, advanced features, and scalability. In this article, we will also discuss how to use them effectively.

All the below HRM tools offer several benefits to organizations, including:

  1. Cost Savings: They can help organizations save money by reducing the time and resources required for HR management tasks.
  2. Accessibility: They are cloud-based tools, which means that users can access them from anywhere with an internet connection. This makes it ideal for remote workforces.
  3. Compliance: They are designed to help organizations stay compliant with labor laws and regulations, reducing the risk of costly penalties and lawsuits.
  4. Scalability: They are designed to scale with organizations as they grow, making them an ideal tool for small and medium-sized businesses that are looking to expand.

To start using these tools, organizations must first purchase a license and complete the setup process. For most of these tools, this involves defining user roles, configuring security settings, and setting up integrations with other HR systems. Once the setup process is complete, users can log in to the platforms and access their features through the main dashboard.

One of the key benefits of using the below tools is their user-friendly interface, which is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate. These platforms are organized into modules, which can be accessed through their main menus on the dashboard. Users can also customize their dashboard to show the modules and reports they use most frequently.

Workday

Features of Workday

Some of the key features of the tool include:

  1. Human Capital Management: This module provides core HR features such as employee data management, time and attendance tracking, and benefits administration.
  2. Recruiting: This module is designed to help organizations manage the entire recruiting process, from creating job postings to conducting interviews and making job offers.
  3. Talent Management: This module provides tools to help organizations manage employee development and performance, including goal setting, performance reviews, and succession planning.
  4. Payroll: This module provides comprehensive payroll management features, including tax compliance, payroll processing, and reporting.
  5. Time and Absence Management: This module provides features to help organizations track employee time and attendance, manage time-off requests, and enforce time and attendance policies.

BambooHR

Features of BambooHR

Some of the key features of the tool include:

  1. Applicant Tracking: This module is designed to help organizations manage the entire recruiting process, from creating job postings to conducting interviews and making job offers.
  2. Onboarding: This module provides tools to help organizations onboard new hires, including setting up new hire paperwork and conducting orientation training.
  3. Employee Data Management: This module provides core HR features such as employee data management, time and attendance tracking, and benefits administration.
  4. Performance Management: This module provides tools to help organizations manage employee development and performance, including goal setting, performance reviews, and succession planning.

Conclusion

BambooHR is a powerful HRM tool that offers a wide range of features to help organizations manage all aspects of HR management. To use BambooHR effectively, organizations should define user roles, customize dashboards, train users, and use data analytics. BambooHR offers scalability, accessibility, and security.

ADP

ADP is one of the most popular HRM tools on the market, with over 700,000 clients worldwide.

Getting Started with ADP

Features of ADP

Some of the key features of the tool include:

  1. Payroll Processing: ADP offers comprehensive payroll processing features, including tax filing, direct deposit, and wage garnishment.
  2. Benefits Administration: This module provides tools to help organizations manage employee benefits, including enrollment, plan administration, and compliance tracking.
  3. Time and Attendance Tracking: This module provides tools to help organizations track employee time and attendance, including time tracking, leave management, and overtime tracking.
  4. Talent Management: This module provides tools to help organizations manage employee development and performance, including goal setting, performance reviews, and succession planning.

Oracle HCM Cloud

Features of Oracle HCM Cloud

Oracle HCM Cloud offers a wide range of features to help organizations manage all aspects of HR management. Some of the key features of the tool include:

  1. Talent Acquisition: Oracle HCM Cloud provides tools to help organizations manage the entire talent acquisition process, including job requisitions, applicant tracking, candidate screening, and offer management.
  2. Payroll Processing: Oracle HCM Cloud offers comprehensive payroll processing features, including tax filing, direct deposit, and wage garnishment.
  3. Benefits Administration: This module provides tools to help organizations manage employee benefits, including enrollment, plan administration, and compliance tracking.
  4. Performance Management: Oracle HCM Cloud provides tools to help organizations manage employee performance, including goal setting, performance reviews, and succession planning.

Oracle HCM Cloud is a powerful HRM tool that offers a wide range of features to help organizations manage all aspects of HR management.

SAP SuccessFactors

Features of SAP SuccessFactors

Some of the key features of the tool include:

  1. Talent Management: SAP SuccessFactors provides tools to help organizations manage the entire talent management process, including recruitment, performance management, learning and development, and succession planning.
  2. Payroll Processing: SAP SuccessFactors offers comprehensive payroll processing features, including tax filing, direct deposit, and wage garnishment.
  3. Benefits Administration: This module provides tools to help organizations manage employee benefits, including enrollment, plan administration, and compliance tracking.
  4. Performance Management: SAP SuccessFactors provides tools to help organizations manage employee performance, including goal setting, performance reviews, and succession planning.

Zenefits

Features of Zenefits

Some of the key features of the tool include:

  1. Onboarding: Zenefits provides tools to help organizations manage the onboarding process for new hires. This includes digital offer letters, online forms, and e-signature capabilities.
  2. Payroll Management: Zenefits offers comprehensive payroll management features, including automatic tax filings, direct deposit, and wage garnishment.
  3. Benefits Administration: This module provides tools to help organizations manage employee benefits, including enrollment, plan administration, and compliance tracking.
  4. Time and Attendance Management: Zenefits provides tools to help organizations manage employee time and attendance, including time tracking, PTO requests, and scheduling.

Conclusion

Zenefits is a powerful HRM tool that offers a wide range of features to help organizations manage all aspects of their HR operations. To use Zenefits effectively, organizations should customize their company policies, train users, use integrations, and use data analytics. Zenefits offers several benefits to organizations, including cost savings, accessibility, compliance, and scalability.

UltiPro

Features of UltiPro

UltiPro offers a wide range of features to help organizations manage all aspects of their HR operations. Some of the key features of the tool include:

  1. Payroll Management: UltiPro provides comprehensive payroll management features, including automatic tax filings, direct deposit, and wage garnishment.
  2. Benefits Administration: This module provides tools to help organizations manage employee benefits, including enrollment, plan administration, and compliance tracking.
  3. Time and Attendance Management: UltiPro provides tools to help organizations manage employee time and attendance, including time tracking, PTO requests, and scheduling.
  4. Performance Management: UltiPro offers a range of tools to help organizations manage employee performance, including goal setting, performance reviews, and feedback management.
  5. Recruitment and Onboarding: UltiPro provides tools to help organizations manage the recruitment and onboarding process, including job postings, candidate tracking, digital offer letters, online forms, and e-signature capabilities.

These were some of the most powerful HRM tools that offer a wide range of features to help organizations manage all aspects of their HR operations. Which tool do you use in your company?

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Online Tools and Softwares

The Business Software That Makes a Difference

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Business Software

Business software can make a significant difference when it comes to the success of an organization in terms of efficiency and productivity. In particular, testing software and AI-based business software can be incredibly transformative for businesses of all sizes.

AI testing software is about getting the software as good as it can be to help run a business. Any errors in its coding can cause significant problems and send out the wrong message about a company. It is even more important for companies that are extensively automated and so rely more heavily on the effective running of their computer systems to manufacture goods or service clients. In addition to having quality software, you should also consider opting for a fast browser like Wave Browser, so that your testing process is superfast.

Making Business Tasks More Efficient

The right software in place can help reduce the time it takes to complete tasks, improve communication among employees, and make it easier to track progress and results. In terms of efficiency, business software can automate tasks that would otherwise be completed manually. This can free up time for employees to focus on other tasks or projects. In terms of productivity, business software can help employees stay organized and on track by providing them with tools to manage their work. For example, if you are a franchise owner, you can accelerate the growth of your franchise using a Franchise Software.

The idea that we can save time is one to feel particularly pleased about. We then do not then need the same staffing levels to complete the work. This can invariably save on costs in this area. Alternatively, staff can be redeployed to areas where there is work to be done that will drive a company forward. In other words, we can develop and release more products in a shorter space of time if the software testing is taken care of in automated ways.

One way that tasks are made more efficient within an organization is when the software has been rigorously tested. This means that it has been tested to the extent that it does not contain the kinds of errors that are going to cause business problems with its inner workings or customer relations.

An effective way to software test these days is to use automated tools to test faster. This speeds up new software releases that ultimately have more functionality than the release before. It detects the bugs effectively so that these can be put right before causing problems with using software or making it vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

Improving Communication

One of the most important aspects of business software is its ability to improve communication among employees. This can be done in several ways, including providing employees with a way to communicate with each other through instant messaging or video conferencing.

Additionally, business software can provide employees with a way to share files and collaborate on projects.

We rely on software to keep in touch with one another when working in remote locations. For instance, when the staff work from home.

Tracking Progress and Results

Another important aspect of business software is its ability to track progress and results. This information can be used to improve the efficiency and productivity of an organization.

Business software can track the number of tasks that have been completed, the time it took to complete them, and the quality of the results. This information can be used to identify areas where improvements can be made.

This kind of software can make a significant difference in terms of the success of an organization.

Testing software and AI-based business software, in particular, can be incredibly transformative for businesses of all sizes. By making business tasks more efficient, improving communication among employees, and tracking progress and results, business software can help organizations improve their overall performance. If you’re looking to make a difference in your business, consider investing in business software. It could very well be the best decision you ever make.

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