Top 10 Apps and Tools for Better Communication and Management

By George Wright, myGwork

With many countries now under lockdown and countless businesses forced to work from home, many teams are having to find new platforms to ensure that their work can continue unimpeded. In this article, we examine our top 10 apps and tools designed to help you better communicate with your team, and manage your projects for the duration of this lockdown.

1. Zoom - https://zoom.us/

Where would we be without the conference call software that’s being used in just about every business from start-ups to governments? Zoom is an online software that enables you to host conference calls, webinars, Q&A panel sessions, and other face-to-face functions. With a webcam and a microphone, you can join the rest of your team in providing updates on how your projects are going, work through meeting agendas and provide feedback to team members on their presentations. It is an essential must-have for any team that is hoping to keep up their connectivity during this time.

2. Slack - https://slack.com/intl/en-gb/

Slack is a handy platform that allows you to break down your organisation into channels, where members can share files, feedback, and ideas. By compartmentalising your team down into specific subgroups - Finance, Social Media, and Client Engagement, for example - they can work in their own virtual space compiling their findings, conversations and updates whilst the rest of the team is able to observe and pitch in where possible. With affordable pricing that will suit any size company, Slack is not to be sniffed at.

3. Whatsapp - https://www.whatsapp.com/

Invaluable for teams on the go, Whatsapp is a fantastic resource for teams where members can’t all be sat at a computer all of the time. On desktop and mobile, Whatsapp allows teams to create team chats and keep the conversation going whilst they work on projects. Whatsapp also presents a slightly less formal setting where team members can converse whilst they’re at work and keep team spirit high. We certainly have had a lot of use out of Whatsapp where members can text and pitch ideas to each other before going back to their work and improving based on the feedback.

4. Basecamp - https://basecamp.com/

Basecamp is just as the name suggests: a base from which teams can sort their projects and work together. Create team chats, to-do lists, schedules, share files, and more on Basecamp where your team can collaborate effectively. Workers can manage their time well, getting notifications when team members interact with them - with the option to set their work hours for notifications - and execs and managers can ask their team what they’re working on in real time to keep track of team productivity. Give it a look!

5. Microsoft Teams - https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-teams

Described as email reinvented, Microsoft Teams is a platform based around the ability for teams to share files and converse whilst preparing project proposals and presentations. With the option to make new chats for group calls, ping files from other Microsoft products, and thread-based team set ups, Microsoft Teams is a heavyweight in the sector enabling businesses to remain in contact and on top of their work.

6. Box - https://www.box.com/en-gb/mobility

Looking for a lightweight solution to teamwork, to compliment an existing system you have? Box enables teams to share files even from their mobiles, with comments and file encryption, to really keep teams up to date as they collaborate on projects together. Combined with an existing network like Zoom or Whatsapp, Box can really help keep the Office as normal as possible whilst working from home.

7. Skype - https://www.skype.com/en/

An old Favourite, Skype is tried-and-tested call software for teams of up to 50. With an interactive chat, file sharing, and robust netcode, Skype is a familiar software that many team members may even already have. Largely universal, it also enables teams to connect with clients and share screens to boost the capability and effectiveness of teamwork whilst at home, and ensuring that vital meetings with clients or investors continue.

8. Monday - https://monday.com

Monday is a platform for teams to keep track of the projects they’re working on. Managers can create to-do lists and assign team members with deadlines, post comments providing advice or direction, and follow up with staff how they’re getting on. With the ability to export data to excel and clearly visualise the workload, teams will benefit considerably from the productivity boost and clear compartmentalisation of their tasks ahead.

9. Trello - https://trello.com/

Trello is a platform that provides companies a virtual board. From this board, teams can tack on tasks, reminders, to do lists and files, and designate tasks as to-do, doing, or done. With a mobile app and the ability to integrate existing business software, Trello is used by companies big and small to organise their projects and ensure their teams are involved in productive, clearly-set-out work. Take a look - we’re sure you’ll find it to be an intuitive tool for listing and prioritizing your tasks going forward.

10. Salesforce - https://www.salesforce.com/uk/

Salesforce is a service for managing customers and teams, with a single integrated app suite that enables an entire company or team to access a unified layout for company clients. With AI, analytics and mobile CRM available, Salesforce presents a high-quality product aimed at increasing productivity and a company’s capacity to access, create, and read data. With a tried-and-trusted business platform, Salesforce is a heavyweight in the customer-relationship-management industry.