Any remote team needs efficient communication tools to connect and collaborate. These apps, websites, or services are at the core of your operations, allowing you to message one another and manage your tasks. The all-important decision of which communication tools can be especially challenging with the multitude of options available on the market. So, let us jump into how to choose your communication tools and which ones are best for your remote team.
How to Know if a Communication Tool is the Best For You
What are your criteria for your team’s communication tools? You will have to remember that these sites and apps are used to promote productivity and efficiency in your workflow. As such, you will want communication tools that:
Have an easy-to-understand interface
Help you set a practical work routine and process
Are free or cost-effective
Provide a sense of collaboration that helps members feel connected
What are the Kinds of Communication Tools for Remote Workers?
There are a variety of reasons you might need a remote company communication tool. If you know what your purpose or need is, you will be able to find the most suitable app or website for you. Here are some purposes to consider:
Instant messaging
Video conferencing
Collaboration
Project management
Employee social network
Team building
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams can be the focal point of your team, the one place everyone goes to for chatting, video conferencing, screen-sharing, and sharing files. With a scheduling feature that links to Outlook as part of the Office 365 package, your teammates will be quickly updated about what they need to do for the day. Integration is made easy if your group enjoys using Office 365 programs such as Outlook, OneDrive, and PowerPoint.
The best part? Microsoft is free, making it easy for everyone on your team to join in. This is especially good news for startups who want to save on operational costs. For premium access, you must pay a monthly fee of $22 per person.
Slack
The good thing about Slack is that it’s easy to use. You can create separate channels for different uses such as reminders, daily updates, company hangouts, and whatever purpose you can think of. Similarly to Microsoft teams, you can use Slack for video conferencing, messaging, and file sharing. Slack’s integrations include Google Drive, Zoom, and Github, making it all the more convenient for teams who often use these apps.
It is also free to sign up for Slack but upgrades start at $7.25 with the Pro account which can skyrocket to $12.50 per person for Business+ benefits like securing group discussions with outside organizations.
ProofHub
ProofHub is an all-in-one work management software that allows you to manage all your tasks, documents, and communications in one location. It’s especially useful for teams that are spread out across the globe because it allows you to keep track of every piece of information related to a project or task in a centralized fashion which makes for a seamless workflow.
It’s convenient for you to assign tasks and review the progress of each assignment. With e-mail integration, calendar integration, and a built-in time tracker— ProofHub seems to have it all. This comes with a flat rate annual price of $89 per month which can also be an advantage for big teams that want to avoid platforms that have you pay per member.
Zoom
For larger companies, Zoom is a great videoconferencing platform where you can host meetings and webinars. One of the advantages of using Zoom is that you can create custom meeting links to tailor-fit your event. Recording your meeting is also simple when using Zoom, allowing you to replay footage later on.
Still, free Zoom accounts have a time limit of 40 minutes, necessitating you to pay a monthly fee starting at $14.99 per user if you want to hold longer video calls.
RingCentral
Aside from the usual communication options of video calling and instant messaging, RingCentral boasts the project management feature of assigning tasks to group members. It is a phone system that provides your company with its custom business phone number for accessible communication. Integration is also a plus with its compatibility on RingCentral with both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. Monthly prices start at $20 per user if you pay annually.
Asana
Not only is Asana user-friendly and clean, but it also has a free version so startups can access this project management tool without a problem. You can easily choose different interface options to organize your workflow and assign tasks to your group members. Once a deadline is coming up, your remote workers will be constantly reminded— a check for productivity. If you want the full package, Asana’s monthly pricing plans start at $13.49 per user.
Google Docs
Most businesses need to share and collaborate on documents. For these purposes, Google Docs is the place for maximum convenience. You can invite your teammates to view, comment on, or edit written works— all while you get real-time updates directly on the file.
Having a hard time tracking the changes in your documents? Google Docs helps you track the history of a document, giving you the ability to see each edit or revision. This tool works well with any other app on Google Workspace and is completely free.
Donut
Companies who already have slack will want to use Donut for that virtual coffee morning or exciting team-building activity. You can easily introduce new team members with its ready-made prompts. Additionally, it helps you break the ice by pairing you up and giving you conversation starters to get the ball rolling. Lastly, Donut celebrations remind your team of each birthday or special event that’s coming up.
Since building rapport with your remote team can be both challenging and essential for teamwork— Donut is one of the must-haves on this list. Users who already have Microsoft Teams and Slack can easily integrate with Donut.
The Bottomline
We hope that you have some clarity about what communication tools you can use for your remote team. Whether you need an instant messaging platform or a project management app— you’re sure to benefit from increased productivity and easier collaboration with any of our picks.