Must-Have Tools for Remote Work

Of course, our entire team owns a laptop and cell phone, which allows them to work from anywhere, as long as they have an Internet connection. In addition, as we use cloud-based solutions, our employees receive data protection training and are all aware of our remote working policy to ensure data security and secure connection.

Our team is tightly knit, and we believe that this is mainly due to the effective communication built throughout the organization, from managers to employees and vice versa. Communication is even more important for team spirit and cohesion in a remote work environment. Our motto? Communicate more! Here are the communication tools we use and love in contexts of remote work:

• Slack

Slack is a simple interface that offers real-time messaging. Conversations can be organized by topic or team, thanks to the different channels, but it is also possible to send private messages to each user. Slack is compatible with several other applications, such as Google Drive and Zoom, which we also use.

Bonus tip: At Folks, we have a #nicejob channel where employees are encouraged to recognize their coworkers’ achievements. Employee recognition is a great way to boost team motivation! 

• Gmail

For our email exchanges, we use Gmail, a secure and private email application from the G Suite by Google. Gmail helps employees access their messages from anywhere and from any device. In addition, via the mobile application, it is also possible to read and write offline emails, which will be sent as soon as the device is connected to the Internet.

• Zoom

As for video conferencing tools, Zoom is a must for remote employees: virtual meetings, training or technical support, you will undoubtedly find it helpful in more ways than one! You can also record a Zoom meeting on the platform, and the free version can gather up to 100 participants per 40-minute meeting.

• VoilaNorbert

VoilaNorbert helps you find any email address, manage your leads and save a lot of time otherwise spent on creating an email list. It allows you to find leads, email addresses and contact information on any websites simply by clicking on a button. All your leads can then be exported, added into custom-made lists and/or contacted directly from Norbert with advanced tracking tools to know if they opened or even clicked on your emails.

VoilaNorbert lets you find any corporate email address, but also has a feature of verifying addresses in bulk. This helps you keep your email list clean and approach the right people.

• Google Drive

Google Drive uses cloud storage and lets you share and access your files from any device. In addition, real-time editing features facilitate teamwork and optimize remote team collaboration.

• ClickUp

ClickUp is a comprehensive task management tool that supports remote collaboration. At Folks, we use it for project management. Since we don’t always work from the same place, ClickUp helps us track project progress and keep track of priorities by assigning tasks.

Bonus tip: ClickUp allows you to create goals for more creative projects. We like to assign goals to each other and think about different strategies to reach them to motivate one another!

• ProofHub

ProofHub is an all-in-one project management and team collaboration tool that streamlines remote working. It offers an intuitive platform where you can delegate tasks and track progress with ease. The built-in chat along with the powerful collaboration features such as discussion, comments, notes-sharing, and @mentions help in keeping the entire remote team on the same page.
Bonus tip: Apart from these, you can provide instant feedback and approval on its proofing tool, despite your different time zones.

• Folks HR

It goes without saying that we use our own software to manage our human resources! Folks is the perfect HR solution for SMBs: comprehensive, user-friendly and affordable. Our features include employee database software, PTO and absence management, performance evaluation and an HR reporting and analytics solution that provides custom reports of your organizational health.

• Folks ATS

Folks ATS (Applicant Tracking System) is a simple tool that allows you to centralize, store and assess your applications. The ATS optimizes your entire recruitment process from the moment you post a job to the definitive hiring.

• Deluxe Payroll

In addition to being one of our partners, Deluxe Payroll is our payroll service provider. Deluxe offers monthly, quarterly and annual payroll management, salary and bonus processing by professional level and employee category, and a wide range of payroll reports. It is a comprehensive solution that we always highly recommend to our clients!

• HackerEarth

HackerEarth is a global company that helps large enterprises recruit, evaluate, and upskill developers based on specific skills. The company’s platform enables recruiters to make the most accurate and informed decisions about candidates, improve hiring efficiencies, facilitate continuous learning and development, and ensure the right developers are matched with the right positions. HackerEarth is also a leading facilitator of online hackathons and coding challenges, where its community of over 7 million developers can upskill and practice for employment interviews.

Many tools allow organizations to adapt to remote work, but you don’t need to use them all to be effective. As you can see, at Folks, we can work optimally with just a few essential tools. What matters the most is to choose solutions that fit your business reality. For instance, you can use a software tailored for professional service providers.

Furthermore, it is crucial to think about the management that comes with implementing new work methods and tools. All in all, when it comes to tools for remote work, less is more!

Would you like support in choosing and implementing new technologies within your organization? Folks provides HR solutions for nonprofits and many more industries. Our HR solutions consultants are available to discuss the best digital infrastructure for your company and refer you to partners who can meet your needs. Feel free to contact us for more information!