As remote work becomes more common, organizations must adapt to the evolving landscape of employee management and productivity. The right software tools enable employees who work from home to perform effectively and maintain communication. Collaboration tools and team productivity management platforms address the unique challenges that work-from-home employees face while empowering managers and supervisors to trust their employees even when they don’t see them face-to-face.
This article explores various types of work-from-home software to enhance productivity and collaboration, including:
- Remote workforce management software
- Communication software
- Project management software
- File sharing and collaboration software
- Time-tracking software
- Security software
- Organization software
Essential Features of Work-From-Home Software
Before you look at what types of work-from-home software your team needs for working remotely, some universal features are a must-have for any solution you consider:
- Ease of use: Remote teams need intuitive software that empowers them to be productive. Ensure your software has a good user interface and extensive tutorials so employees can learn to use it quickly and effectively.
- Compatibility: Your software should work seamlessly across your technology stack, including any devices your employees use such as laptops, cell phones or tablets.
- Ready for growth: Remote work software must be scalable so you can add team members as your headcount increases or adapt to new functions within your organization.
- Customizable features: Your organization will have unique needs and you should be able to customize any of your software programs to fit those needs.
- Secure: Data security and privacy concerns are extremely important in work-from-home settings. Employees need to guard sensitive information, whether it’s customer details or proprietary company information. Industry regulations like GDPR and HIPAA should be native to your software. Look for software that provides end-to-end encryption and multi-factor authentication to keep employees safe from cybersecurity breaches.
- Customer service: Employees who work from home need access to customer support and troubleshooting services to ensure they can do their work.
- Remote access: Cloud-based software is important for work-from-home teams to ensure they have access no matter where they’re located.
Different types of software for work-from-home employees
The following work-from-home software types serve unique purposes, but all provide value to support your employees.
Remote workforce management software
Managers require dedicated software to manage work-from-home employees. When employees don’t report into an office, it can be difficult for managers or supervisors to trust employees are on-task. Furthermore, work-from-home team members’ contributions aren’t as visible to leadership as in-office workers, which could make it more difficult to promote hard workers or determine which employees need more support or training.
Productivity monitoring and management software shows managers when employees are most productive as well as what tools they use to work effectively. The right productivity management software also shows managers how work-life balance or other aspects of work may lead employees towards burnout, such as longer work hours.
For example, ActivTrak’s workforce management software gives supervisors insight into when, how and where workers are most productive or what apps or tools cause distractions. The data goes beyond time spent working to show how policies affect employee productivity, which processes or workflows are inefficient and where compliance issues need to be addressed.
Communication software
Efficient communication is especially important for employees who work from home. Effective communication software ensures team members stay connected while staying informed about their projects and responsibilities. This not only keeps employees on track but also provides a strong base for a good remote work culture.
The right remote communication software provides remote-first options like direct messaging, video conferencing, group chats and call functionality so employees can collaborate more effectively. Email is still an important aspect of workplace communication, but most workers today need tools that empower them to collaborate in real time. Look for work-from-home software and apps that allow for screen sharing, meeting recording and tools for brainstorming like digital whiteboards. Common remote-friendly communication software includes Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack and Discord.
Project management software
Effective project management is table stakes for teams that work from home. There are many software solutions today that address needs like organizing tasks, allocating resources and monitoring progress. Project management tools ensure employees understand responsibilities and deadlines, leading to a more structured workflow that keeps everyone aligned toward common goals.
Task management software empowers teams to categorize, prioritize and assign tasks effectively. Tools like Trello, Asana and Monday.com provide a visual overview of project timelines and individual responsibilities. These platforms help teams break down larger projects into manageable tasks, track progress and hold each other accountable. This leads to better transparency and a greater awareness of who’s contributing what to the project.
File sharing and collaboration software
In a work-from-home setting, easy access to shared documents is critical. Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft Sharepoint allow employees to share files and collaborate on editing seamlessly. These tools reduce the risk of version control issues and allow multiple team members to work on documents simultaneously or asynchronously. This creates a more collaborative atmosphere where input is gathered in real time, enhancing productivity and output quality.
Time-tracking software
When working from home, employees may have more difficulty effectively managing their time. Time management and tracking software is designed to help individuals stay focused and organized while balancing work priorities. These tools also provide insight into how employees spend their time, empowering managers and employees to make informed adjustments to improve their productivity.
Time-tracking applications like Toggl and Harvest show employees how they allocate their time across tasks and projects. With an accurate picture of the time they spend on activities, employees quickly spot areas for improvement. These insights allow employees to set realistic goals, limit distractions and enhance their overall productivity.
Security software
Security is a major concern when employees work from home. Remote access increases vulnerability to cyber threats and attacks. Robust security software is essential to safeguard sensitive data and maintain employee privacy. IT teams should have remote access to employee’s devices to provide regular updates and scans to safeguard against evolving threats and provide remote support when needed.
- VPNs provide a secure connection for remote workers so they can safely access company networks while safeguarding company and client information through encrypted internet traffic.
- Antivirus and anti-malware software solutions like Norton, McAfee and Bitdefender protect devices from harmful software or unauthorized access.
- Password management tools like NordPass, 1Password and Keeper help employees manage passwords while keeping information safe from hackers or cyber criminals.
Organization software
This final type of work-from-software is ideal for employees who work from home need tools to track information, ideas and their personal tasks. Organization software provides note-taking capabilities, to-do lists and reminders to empower employees to prioritize and schedule their days. Calendars are another tool that helps employees keep their schedules up-to-date to ensure other employees know when they’re free for meetings or out of office. These tools also integrate with project management and communication apps and sync across devices.
- Popular organization tools include Todoist, Google Tasks and Wrike.
- Many communication tools include calendars, including Microsoft Teams and Google Calendar.
- For note-taking, employees may use Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes or Google Keep.
Request a demo of ActivTrak’s hybrid and remote workforce management software
Empower your remote workforce with actionable insights and enhance productivity across your organization with ActivTrak. Our advanced workforce analytics cloud gives you the visibility and insights you need to optimize processes and technology, ensuring you team achieves their full potential. ActivTrak offers a suite of tools for productivity monitoring, engagement analysis, and much more. Contact our sales team today to create your free account and start transforming your remote work environment with ActivTrak.
