With a pandemic that looks like it will never end, teleworking is here to stay. In one way or another, the possibility that your work must be done from your home computer is increasing, that’s why in this blog I’m going to discover the best alternatives for each of the needs that a teleworker will need:
COMMUNICATION
The comfort of being able to ask questions or expose ideas at work no longer exists in the way we used to, which is why a fluid and equally private online communication is necessary. The following alternatives provide an answer to this need:
-Tutanota
Tutanota is not another Gmail at all. This company offers maximum security through end-to-end encryption. If you need to get started, it offers 1GB of free storage, however the mail must have the domain @tutanota.com. If you want to edit the domain and have more storage, there are 2 payment plans: 12 ? and 48 ? per month.
-ZOOM
Do you need to contact your employees by video call? Or do they need to contact each other? Zoom is the best option since only the administrator will need to have the application downloaded, everyone else will be able to access it through the link. Also, if the link has been shared without permission, there is the option to accept who can enter once the live chat is in place. It should be noted that the meeting can be recorded, including the integrated chat!
CLOUD STORAGE
The security of the files that are stored in the computers of the companies can be good, however, when we must use these documents from our private computers this fades away. That’s why I recommend that the documents to be used, are uploaded to the following platforms, downloaded, used and then uploaded again to leave no possibility for any hacking.
-Internxt
Internxt is a European private cloud storage that makes up for all the lack of privacy that may exist on the network. Company documents must maintain maximum privacy not only for the integrity of the company but also for the protection of customer data. That is why Internxt, offers a solution through the innovative technology of Blockchain that eliminates any opportunity for hacking, even they can not see what is uploaded. It has 1 free plan for always and 3 cheap plans for individuals with storage up to 2TB. For companies Internxt Teams also offers specific plans.
-WeTransfer
With Wetransfer we can send files to any person in the world without having to pass any mail. Just upload the files and pass the link. However, it is not as private as Internxt, which has a project underway to create Internxt Send.
TIME CONTROL
A worker or a freelancer who has several projects open and works by the hour must know very precisely how much time he has spent on each one, that’s why they can use different applications that are perfect for time control.
-Toggl
The best option is Toggl, this tool allows us to know how much time we spend on each task. We can assign each task to a project and a client. It gives us the option to get statistics and graphs by client, week, project… Thanks to this you will be able to make a detailed study at the end of the month and make changes in the organization of your time if you consider it to increase your productivity. Another advantage is that if you are working for a client, he can see what phase his project is in.
-Desktime & Timedoctor
We get an analysis of the use that has been made of web applications, so that employers can know what employees are doing during working time. We recommend the use of this application to know what applications my workers are most involved in, so that we do not skimp on costs with this one.
ONLINE TRAINING
Many companies invest in training their employees both to educate newcomers and to keep older ones up to date, which is why options should be considered to continue training employees even if it is at a distance.
-Loom
A convenient screen and audio recording tool to answer your employees’ frequently asked questions. Don’t know how to install the company’s VPN? No problem, create a video explaining how to do it. Loom is easy, comfortable and free if it is not for commercial use. However, if you need Loom for the company, for only $8 they offer everything the free plan offers and more tools like drawing on the screen or inserting call-to-actions!
-Thinkific
Looking for something more educational? Thinkific is a software platform that allows entrepreneurs to create, market, sell and deliver their own online courses. There is a free version, however, although the number of students is unlimited, the number of courses is not. The following unlimited plans range from $39 to $399.
TASK MANAGEMENT
One of the main fears that managers have when their workers have to telework is the loss of supervision of the work they have from the employees. That’s why they must have lists of tasks that have to be completed by certain dates. The following alternatives are among the best applications that exist in the market:
-TODOIST
It allows to organize everything in the form of tasks, sub-tasks, scheduling when projects must be finished. It also allows you to tag and share projects and set daily and weekly goals with the aim of reviewing productivity trends and see how your profile Karma points increase.
-Notion
Notion is an application similar to Todoist that can be downloaded for offline use, it has 3 paid plans and 1 free plan with which, in principle, it will be good for everything if you do not share files with more than 5 people.
-Trello
Trello is a very intuitive application similar to the two previous ones, however it doesn’t give the option of being able to program a task, since it is a premium function. It has 2 paid plans more expensive than Nation and 1 free plan with which you can use the vast majority of functions.
REMOTE CONTROL
There are times when you cannot access a file from your personal computer or you have problems installing a program, that’s why remote controls are needed for the company’s IT staff to solve the doubts from work.
-TeamViewer
TeamViewer is the remote control option with the widest range of functionality in the area of access, support and collaboration. It can be connected to Linux, Windows and Apple. For companies, it does not have any free plan, the cheapest is 27.90 euros per month, however for emergency situations like this pandemic, it may be necessary. For private use, it can be downloaded for free.
-Anydesk:
Similar tool to the previous one but with the difference that Anydesk does not offer a free plan even for personal use. However, they use TLS 1.2 technology to ensure security and RSA 2048 to encrypt the exchange.
With the new work normality, we must change our modus operandi at work, even if it’s from the couch at home, that’s why I hope these tools will help you improve your productivity and know better what you do with your work time.
