It's easy to get overwhelmed with work as a remote worker, especially when you don't employ optimized SaaS tools to manage your workload. These tools increase your efficiency and can alleviate pressure from work.
The good news is that many of these SaaS tools are free to use, and while there are paid versions for some, they're relatively affordable. With these tools, you become more flexible with work, spend less, and optimize your data's security. Let's get into it.
What Is SaaS?
Software as a Service, often called SaaS, is a cloud-based software delivery model whereby cloud providers host applications provided to users over the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. SaaS is one of the three main categories of cloud computing. Unlike Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS), the other two categories, SaaS is often employed by IT users, business owners, and personal users.
This article will guide you through ten of the best SaaS tools you will find useful as a remote worker. Utilizing them will lead to efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness.
1. Google Meet
Google Meet is a fantastic tool connecting you with your colleagues working from different locations and time zones. As a video conferencing tool, it's a great way to collaborate and maintain in-person relationships. Using Google Meet is easy; the user interface is straightforward. You can share your screen with other participants in a meeting, allowing everyone to receive first-hand reports from employees or colleagues.
Hosting your meetings on Google Meet makes it more qualitative. Furthermore, its optimized work environment makes it easy to find solutions to potential bottlenecks and problems that threaten your work's progress and that of your employers.
2. Asana
As a remote worker, communication is important. While you may already know a few tips on managing remote teams, communicating changes, problems, and progress is essential to the team's success.
Asana eradicates any guesswork as it actively encourages team communication and collaboration. If you want to stay up to date on contributions, get necessary stakeholder approvals, be accountable and efficient in hitting deadlines, and manage your teamwork and progress, then you should explore Asana.
3. Bit.ai
Bit.ai is a document collaboration platform for team members, irrespective of where they do. It's integrative, collaborative, and effective in internal and external communications. You can create documents containing text, images, videos, cloud files, and music files embedded in them using this tool.
Additionally, Bit.ai can be integrated with other apps such as Google Drive and Spotify, giving you various opportunities to live chat, collaborate, and discuss projects. These features are invaluable to remote workers, and you should probably add this tool to your work arsenal ASAP.
4. Proofhub
Proofhub is project management software that enables you to access the tools your team needs easily. If you are a remote worker who works in teams more often than not, then Proofhub is one of the perfect SaaS tools for your workflow.
You can use this software application to work collectively on projects, deliver project results on time, and ensure team accountability. You can explore Proofhub in a way that allows you to work on projects collectively, thereby gaining from the expertise of your colleagues.
5. Trello
Trello's boards, lists, and cards help professionals transform creative ideas into concrete actions. Similar to Proofhub, Trello brings projects to life and keeps them going.
It's a software application that improves team bonding by encouraging team members to brainstorm on project planning collectively. If you work remotely but enjoy the feel of an in-person office environment/workspace, you should try out Trello.
6. Slack
Slack is a tool built to manage remote workers' pressure since the sudden shift to remote work for many organizations. It's a channel-based messaging platform that organizes your work in specific, custom-built patterns, improving remote work efficiency.
You can use Slack to create specific channels for various topics, and these channels can have a consistent naming convention, which makes them easy to find and utilize. For instance, you can create a "Help" channel, a "Team" channel, a "Project" channel, and others, depending on your virtual workspace needs. You can also integrate Slack with Gmail and Google Drive, further optimizing your workflow process.
7. Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams enables remote workers to actively work with other team members, stakeholders, and clients. This tool is a fantastic blend of features that allows you to use chat rooms, videos, and audio for efficient communication and collaboration.
This tool enables you to speed up your assessment through its project collaboration features. Additionally, you can create and share reports seamlessly through the Microsoft report template, schedule meetings in Microsoft Teams, and add personal notes on the app.
8. Mockplus
Mockplus is a design tool that enables designers to meet and graphically convey their ideas to one another. If you're a designer who works remotely and frequently collaborates with other designers and team members, you probably should be using Mockplus already.
It's not enough to speak about your design; you must display them. So, with Mockplus, you can discuss ideas with your team members and visualize them. This way, you can make necessary adjustments promptly and work efficiently.
9. Zoom
Zoom is the biggest video-conferencing tool most organizations and businesses use today, as it's an excellent hosting platform for small and large meetings. Optimizing your workday with a few meetings, chats with colleagues, and training can be productive as a remote worker.
On Zoom, you can easily share your screen during meetings, break into smaller rooms and accommodate as many team members as possible. Even though it has so many useful features, it's also free and can accommodate most of your needs.
10. Loom
Loom is a great remote working app that brings the digital workspace to life. With it, you can see and hear team members giving presentations.
Conversely, you can use Loom to give or get optimized feedback. The software application can capture an individual's mood, facial expression, and body language, useful tips that can help you improve your verbal communication skills.
Streamline Your Workflow With SaaS Tools
You must be familiar with tools to ease your work processes as a remote worker. The tools discussed above will help you stay organized, hit targets, and stay on track to meet work deadlines.
As such, your productivity and work-life balance will improve. All you have to do is perfect your way around these SaaS tools and watch how much progress you will make within a short time.