In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into remote work technology, and look at the different types of tools out there. So that next time when you are looking for ways to improve your remote tech stack, you know where to go.
Communication and collaboration tools
With the rise of remote work, communication, and collaboration have become the biggest challenges for teams After all, communication and collaboration tools are the lifelines of remote work. Fortunately, there are many tools available that help remote teams stay connected and collaborate effectively. Some well known, others less so. Let's take a look at at a selection, starting with video conferencing tools:
Video conferencing tools
As the name suggests, video conferencing tools allow you to have face-to-face meetings with your remote team and serve as the basis for your remote tech stack. you can meet, share your screen, record meetings, use virtual backgrounds to add a little fun to your calls, and more. Each of these tools has its own unique features and here are our favorites:
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By now, everybody has probably heard of zoom. For many people around the world, this conferencing tool was the go-to way to connect with people during the pandemic - and after. The simplicity of the interface and ease of setting up a meeting propelled the platform to have over 300 million users in daily meetings in 2023. Combine that with screen sharing, (the sometimes hilarious) virtual backgrounds, and breakout rooms and it’s easy to see why It's a popular choice for remote teams.
Teams:
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It is Microsoft's combined answer to Zoom and Slack. Teams basically offers all the same communication features, plus some cool elements from the Microsoft Office suite. You can chat, share files, and make video and audio calls with ease. it integrates with other Microsoft Office apps like Word and Excel for easy file sharing, storying and collaboration and items lets you add some fun by customizing your background and creating custom emojis. It's no wonder that Teams has really skyrocketed as one of the top choices for remote teams. They've gone from 20 million users pre-pandemic to a mind-blowing 270 million in 2022 and Microsoft keeps on developing this suite with most lately - the addition of ChatGPT in the form of ‘auto pilot’.
it is a video chat platform that lets you invite up to 100 participants, and meet for up to 60 minutes per meeting at no cost and with 18$ for up to 500 participants. You don't even need an account to get started - just hop on and start chatting away. With Google Meets, you can share your screen, live stream to YouTube, and record your meetings. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with other Google services such as Google Calendar, Gmail, and Google Drive. This makes it super easy for users to schedule and join meetings, share files, and collaborate on documents all in one place.
if you are looking for a free, easy-to-use, and secure alternative to popular options like Google Meet, Zoom, and Teams then Jitsi meet is there for you.! With Jitsi Meet, you start a meeting with just one click - no account creation or software download is required.! It has everything you’d expect from a video conferencing tool like screen sharing, chat, and real-time document collaboration services.
Tox:
TOX is the video conferencing app that puts your privacy and security first. With TOX, you can send messages, make voice and video calls, and have group chats with up to 10 people, while knowing that your conversations are completely private thanks to end-to-end encryption. TOX may not be specifically designed for collaboration, but it still has some features such as screen and document sharing. Plus, TOX is highly customizable, with a variety of themes and plugins available to make your experience even better.
Meeting intelligence software
In a remote or hybrid organization, virtual meetings are the lifeline of your operation, and this opens up a whole new critical data source for your business - meeting content. Everything that’s discussed in meetings, is potential input for make-or-break decisions - and this meeting content should be handled in a specific type of way. After all, without the proper tools to help out here, most of what’s being said in remote meetings turns into vaporware as soon as the meeting ends. Yes, people take notes, and yes you can record your meetings, but notes are messy, and how many times have you watched back an hour long meeting in full?
That’s where meeting intelligence software comes into play. This emerging category of workplace software focuses on helping you turn remote meetings into a competitive advantage, without adding to the workload.
Through a combination of Artificial Intelligence, Natural Language Processing and Data Science, Meeting Intelligence Software records, indexes, transcribes and (sometimes even) summarizes meeting content, to make meeting recordings searchable and enable people to catch up on meeting notes or summaries in minutes. In short - a must-have for any remote or hybrid organization out there. Here are a few meeting intelligence software vendors:
is an AI powered meeting intelligence platform that transforms hour long meetings into minute long highlight reels, written summaries and a fully searchable transcript, so you can skip meetings, and simply catch up later. Carv works on desktop, and comes with a mobile app so you can catch up on the go. Setting up an account is easy and free: simply login, connect your calendar and you’re on your way. Try Carv here.
It is an AI-powered tool that captures and stores customer information shared during meetings. Avoma’s main focus is on sales and customer service strategies. It offers the option to create custom reports and listen back to meeting recordings with time-stamped notes anywhere. Which helps to gain deeper insights into customer interaction. Overall Avoma is like having your very own personal assistant who makes sales cycles shorter and helps you create meeting notes.
It is a note-taking tool that captures video and audio during meetings and generates transcripts. It easily integrates with various video-conferencing apps such as Google Meet, Zoom, Teams Webex, and other platforms, and lets users share meeting notes via apps like Slack, Notion, Asana, and more. Fireflies.ai is a perfect tool for sales, recruiting, and internal processes, and provides real-time performance measurements.
Instant messaging tools
Sometimes you just need to quickly send someone a message without scheduling a call. That's where instant messaging apps come in. It allows you to chat with your team in real-time, share files, and create group channels for specific projects or topics. They're a great alternative to the formalities of emails and help team members to build stronger relationships and feel less isolated because of their informal character. Some of the most popular instant messaging apps are:
Slack is the uncrowned king in the instant messaging tools space. Need to stay connected with your team while working remotely? Slack has got you covered! With its playful interface, features like custom emojis and GIFs, and extensive integration capabilities, communicating with colleagues instantly becomes more engaging and enjoyable. Next, to direct messaging, Slack offers channels for different projects or departments, file sharing, and video conferencing among other things. . In short, an all-in-one must have a remote work powerhouse.
We’ve of course discussed Teams before, but it also has a great instant messaging suite embedded within the platform. So, are you looking for a comprehensive collaboration platform that includes instant messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing? Then Microsoft Teams is for you! It offers a virtual workspace where team members collaborate on projects, share files, and keep track of deadlines. You can even customize your notifications and set your status to let your team know when you're available.
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It is a communication and collaboration tool that lets you chat, share files, and collaborate with your team in real-time. With features like video and audio conferencing, screen sharing, and chatbot integration, you streamline your communication and get more done. Plus, Rocket.Chat is open-source which means it can be customized to fit your unique needs. and also supports over 50 languages, so it's easy to customize and use no matter where you are in the world.
Project management software
When you're working on a project with multiple people from different locations, it is hard to keep everything organized. So it’s easy to see why Project Management Software plays an even more important role in the remote tech stack than in the ‘regular in office tech stack’.Here are our 4 favorites:
If you're looking for a project management that's simple, customizable, and easy to use, Asana is the way to go. You can assign your tasks, check your due dates here and track the progress of a project amongst many other things, so it's perfect for remote teams who need to stay on top of their tasks and deadlines. The biggest benefits of Asana are its flexibility, ease of use and friendly interface, allowing teams to customize their workflows to fit their unique needs.
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is an AI-powered project management tool that allows employees to organize their work and projects in an easy way without too many bells and whistles.. It is like having a big, empty kanban board where you and your team can all collaborate. You can add cards that represent your tasks and projects, and keep track of the status of all projects in a simple overview. It's perfect for teams who prefer a visual approach to project management. Trello's drag-and-drop functionality and customizable templates make it super easy to use, even for those who aren't tech-savvy.
is an all-in-one project management tool. It's got everything you need, from to-do lists to message boards to file sharing, all in one place. Basecamp's clean and simple interface makes it easy for everyone to collaborate effectively, even if you're not in the same room. The best part about Basecamp is that you don't have to juggle multiple tools or apps to get things done! It has a comprehensive set of tools, allowing teams to manage all aspects of their project in one place.
If you're a software development team, Jira is like having a superhero sidekick that helps you manage your projects with ease! With features like bug tracking, sprint planning, and agile project management, Jira is the ultimate tool for software development teams. Jira's customizable workflows and integration with other developer tools make it an essential part of any software development team's toolkit!
Visual collaboration tools
These tools offer a shared digital canvas where team members can unleash their creativity and collaborate on visual content in real-time. These tools come loaded with a plethora of features, including simultaneous editing, whiteboarding, diagramming, screen sharing, sticky notes, commenting and labeled cursors. So, whether you're trying to communicate a complex idea, design a prototype, or keep everyone on the same page, visual collaboration tools make it easy and enjoyable for you.
Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular Visual Collaboration Tools available:
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Miro is a versatile whiteboard platform that enables remote teams to work together as if they were in the same room. With its vast library of templates and widgets, Miro makes it easy to create and share diagrams, flowcharts, and mind maps. The platform also features real-time collaboration, allowing team members to work together in real-time, making Miro the perfect choice for brainstorming sessions or design thinking workshops.
is a browser-based web design tool that lets teams of users collaborate on projects to build interactive user interface prototypes. Users can modify texts, shapes, colors, and images and add functionalities such as hovering, scrolling, or animation to their interface assets.The platform's real-time collaboration capabilities and cloud-based storage make it easy to share designs and get feedback in real-time, ensuring that everyone is on the same page.
Whimsical is a simple platform that is perfect for creating flowcharts, wireframes, and other visual representations of ideas. With its clean, modern interface and powerful collaboration features, Whimsical, you can easily create and share beautiful diagrams with your team members. The platform's drag-and-drop functionality and intuitive tools make it easy to bring your ideas to life, no matter how complex they may be.
Lucidchart is the intelligent diagramming that brings teams together to make better decisions and build the future. Individuals and teams can easily and quickly map out where they are, what’s missing, and what’s next. This tool makes it easy to create professional-grade flowcharts, mind maps, and other visual representations of complex ideas, With its vast library of templates and widgets.
Productivity and time management tools
Productivity and time management tools are designed to help you take control of your daily tasks, and deadlines, and spend your time efficiently - something that can come quite handy in a remote work situation. How? Well, for example, Task management tools keep track of who's doing what and when it's due, so no one misses a deadline. By time tracking you know which tasks are taking up too much of your time, so you focus on more important things. And finally, with cloud-sharing tools, you collaborate with your team on projects and documents no matter where you are. Using these tools makes your work easier and helps you get more done in less time! resulting in more efficiency and productivity in the team. So let's take a look at some popular tools and what they can help you accomplish:
Time tracking tools
These tools allow you to easily track how much time you spend on tasks (which is especially helpful when you work in the service sector), and identify areas where you can improve and optimize your workflow. With time-tracking tools, you can stay on top of your work, hit deadlines, and make the most out of your day.
is an AI powered time-tracking app! With Timely, users can seamlessly track their time across multiple projects and tasks, all while enjoying the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their time data is accurate and reliable. But what sets Timely apart from other time-tracking apps is its use of artificial intelligence. Timely's AI technology can actually predict how long certain tasks will take, making it easier for users to plan their day and stay on track. Plus, Timely's AI-powered tools also automatically categorize time entries and create detailed reports, saving users even more time and effort.
is a fantastic app that helps you take control of your time and productivity! With the time tracking feature, you easily keep track of the amount of time you're spending on each task and project. But that's not all - by analyzing your time logs, Toggle gives you detailed insights into your productivity and helps you make the most of your workday.
Provides detailed reports on each team member's activity levels, and time spent on different tasks. It's handy for remote teams that bill clients based on hourly rates! Also, this report identifies areas where you can improve your focus and efficiency. Another feature of Time Doctor is its built-in task management system, where team members easily assign and track tasks, making it easier to ensure everyone is on the same page.
Task management software
Task management software is comparable to project management software, only task management software is more focused on individual productivity. Perfect for the remote worker, we must say. Task management tools help you stay motivated and excited about your work and the tasks ahead by breaking bigger projects down to bite sized bits. This way, it becomes easier to stay on track and feel a sense of progress. Here are our favorites:
is an app to help you organize your tasks and prioritize them with the power of artificial intelligence. Trevor integrates with your Google Calendar, and helps you plan out your day. All you need to do is enter everything on your to-do list after which, a realistic schedule for the day is made by Trevor’s time-blocking feature. following that you can easily track your progress as you go. Trevor is a great tool for basically everyone working remote, and helps create a sense of structure, helping you to stay focused - even without a team or an office around you.
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Wrike is an AI-powered task management tool that simplifies your workload and increases on-time delivery, trusted by over 2.3 million worldwide! just create and assign your tasks and Wrike will automatically keep track of the work. Also, it calculates the time you need to spend on each task and notifies you when deadlines are approaching. Wrike also offers in-app collaboration tools that help teams reduce email by up to 90%.
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ClickUp is a cloud-based task management tool with extensive project management capabilities embedded as well. Clickup offers a range of features, from time tracking to goal setting. Remote teams can create tasks, assign them, and track progress using various views, such as Kanban boards and Gantt charts. With an AI-powered assistant, you will have access to all your team's information in one place, making it easy to communicate and collaborate. In addition, ClickUp integrates easily with other leading tools like Slack or Trello. With this tool, you'll get the perfect balance between simplicity and power.
Cloud storage and file-sharing services
Another entry in the can’t-do-without software in your remote tech stack, is cloud storage and the closely related file-sharing services! These let you easily store, share, and access your documents, assets, and files from anywhere, making collaboration convenient. Plus, you don't have to worry about sending huge attachments through email or losing track of versions of important files. Here we have gathered 4 examples of cloud storage and file-sharing services to help you with your remote working.
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Is the first AI-based platform to bring document management, creation, and insight all together in one place. Users can create documents that incorporate text and images, but they can also add embedded videos, cloud files, music files, and more. Bit.ai integrates with nearly everything, from Google Drive to OneDrive and apps such as Miro. It features a live chat function, so collaborators can discuss their projects within bit.ai and its smart documents help you weave together digital content into collaborative documents, making communication and knowledge sharing easy within your remote team.
Is a cloud-based storage and collaboration platform that allows remote teams to easily store, share, and access files from anywhere. With free storage of up to 15GB and seamless integration with other Google products, like Docs, Sheets, and Slides, Google Drive is perfect for remote teams who love using Google tools. Plus, its advanced security features ensure that your team's data is safe and protected.
Is a cloud storage service that keeps your files organized, safe, and accessible at all times! You can save your files up to 2 GB for free and integrate them with popular tools like Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite. Dropbox makes it easy to collaborate and share files. You can even send big files like videos or high-res photos without worrying about attachment size limits. It's basically like having a virtual file cabinet that you can take with you wherever you go.
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is the Microsoft cloud service that connects you to all your files. It lets you store and protect your files, share them with others, and get to them from anywhere on all your devices, with a significant chunk of space offered for free. As part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite, OneDrive is a great option for teams who use Office regularly. It offers advanced security features and two-factor authentication for added peace of mind.
Enhancing remote team culture tools
Having a good team culture means that everyone gets along better, communicates easily, and works together more effectively. When everyone is on the same page, communication flows and collaboration becomes second nature. And don't worry, just because you're working remotely, doesn't mean you have to miss out on the benefits of a great team culture! By utilizing the three main Remote Team Culture Tools, you bring your team together and foster a sense of belonging no matter where you are.
Learning and development tools
Looking to boost your team's productivity and create a positive work environment? Investing in learning and development tools is a fantastic way to make it happen! With these platforms, your team accesses a diverse range of courses and certifications to improve their professional skills and grow. Let's explore the popular learning platforms.
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Is using AI to set up virtual training rooms. These rooms are allowing employees to take on simulated challenges and practice their skills in an engaging environment. With Mursion's VR technology, individuals step into challenging stressful workplace scenarios and test their responses with digital avatars that are driven by a perfect blend of human reasoning and AI. And the best part? Mursion provides fast and accurate feedback on how they are doing. tailored to each individual's needs, give you customized training experiences that prepare them to handle tough situations with confidence, achieve their goals, and be the best they can be.
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An online learning platform that offers a vast library of courses, with over 150,000 options covering everything from technical skills to personal development. Udemy courses are created by individual instructors, which means there is some variation in quality between courses and price. But if you research your course a bit, you’re bound to find something for you.
Is a great platform for team members who want to focus on professional skills like leadership, communication, and creativity. The courses are taught by industry experts, so you know you're getting top-notch information and guidance.
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If you're looking for a more academic approach, Coursera is the way to go. With partnerships with top universities and companies, you can trust that you're getting top-quality education.
Employee feedback tools
Providing regular feedback is a fantastic way to overcome the challenges of managing a remote team and keep everyone on track. The good news is, with the help of employee feedback tools, giving and receiving feedback has never been easier. These tools are a game-changer in the world of remote work, enabling managers and team members to work towards shared goals and achieve great results.
With weekly surveys, you gather feedback from your employees. The best part? They can share their thoughts anonymously, which means you'll get truly honest feedback. Then by addressing employees’ concerns, you'll have a happier team, leading to even greater success and growth for your business.
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If you're looking for a tool that promotes transparency and open communication in your remote team, 15Five is an excellent choice. This tool encourages employees to share updates on their progress and challenges on a weekly basis, which builds trust and accountability within your team.
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This tool lets you gather super helpful insights through surveys. With that information, you can make smart decisions that result in success in your remote team. Both Culture Amp and TinyPulse are great employee feedback tools, but Culture Amp is the way to go if you want to base decisions on solid data. On the other hand, TinyPulse is perfect for just getting anonymous feedback with a user-friendly platform.
Wrapping up
So, that’s it. Our list of tools to check out when building or rethinking your 2023 remote tech stack. Now, this is by no means an all encompassing list of everything that’s out there, but it sure is a start. There’s more out there and in the end you’ll have to pick and choose based on you and your company’s unique needs. But that’s all part of the fun in the end. Here's to a productive and fulfilling year of remote work ahead!
