Have you decided to go remote or create a remote company? It may be a challenge, but remote working has its benefits. With the pandemic outbreak, businesses were forced to introduce remote working and for many it was an uncharted territory. However, companies continuing to work remotely prove that this working model brings many advantages to employers and their workforce. Cost savings or working with teams in different time-zones open new opportunities for business expansion, and employees enjoy improved work-life balance. But realistically, it's not that hard if you know how to handle specific situations and tasks. That's why we’re bringing you a pack filled with everything you may need on your way to a successful remote company.
Remote tools starter pack
Choosing the right tools and strategies is crucial for managing the challenges of remote work and harnessing its benefits. Remote work heavily relies on communication, collaboration, and productivity tools. Let’s dive into our remote tools starter pack to become more topic savvy.
Cloud Services
Cloud is critical for remote working enabling remote workers to access work-related resources anywhere, anytime. Collaboration tools facilitate teamwork amongst remote workers, additionally cloud providers invest heavily in security measures to protect data stored in the cloud. Not to forget: cloud is cost effective especially for smaller businesses or start-ups as they don’t need to invest in - and maintain - their own infrastructure.
Cloud providers offer a plethora of services such as:
Compute service
- Virtual machines
- Containers (lightweight, portable, and scalable environments for running applications and services).
- Serverless computing (allows developers to run code without provisioning or managing servers. Examples include AWS lambda, Google Cloud Functions, and Azure Functions).
Storage services
- Object storage (scalable and durable storage for large amounts of unstructured data).
- Block storage (persistent storage volumes that can be attached to compute instances).
- File storage (managed file systems for sharing data across multiple instances).
Database services
- Relational databases (managed database services for traditional SQL databases).
- NoSQL Databases (scalable and flexible databases for semi-structured or unstructured data).
- Data Warehousing (services for storing and analyzing large volumes of structured data).
Networking services
- Virtual Private Cloud (VPC – isolated network environments for deploying resources securely).
- Content Delivery Networks (CDN – distributed servers that deliver content to users with high availability and performance).
- Load Balancing (distributes incoming traffic across multiple instances to improve reliability and availability).
- Networking monitoring and security (tools for monitoring, securing, and managing network traffic and configurations).
AI and Machine learning services
- Machine Learning (ML) Platforms (tools and frameworks for building, training, and deploying machine learning models).
- AI APIs (pre-trained APIs for vision, speech, language, and other AI tasks).
Developer tools and services
- Integrated development environments (IDEs – cloud-based development environments for coding, testing, and debugging applications).
- Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD – services for automating the software delivery pipeline.
- Source code repositories (managed repositories for version control)
Cloud compute service providers
Microsoft Azure
This cloud computing platform can be used for your IaaS, SaaS, or PaaS projects, but also simply to store your data or enhance your cloud computing capabilities even if you are using different services. MS Azure is scalable, somewhat intuitive if you are used to a cloud environment, and has an excessive knowledge base. MA's key features include data storage and management, AI and Machine Learning, single-pane operations, and hybrid capabilities.
Rare Crew can be a great partner to help you with the migration to Azure. Read more about the benefits of Microsoft Azure migration.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
AWS is a comprehensive and widely adopted cloud platform that offers over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. Key features include services as Amazon S3 for storage, Amazon EC2 for computing, and AWS Lambda for running code without provisioning servers. AWS suits a wide range of applications, from hosting simple websites to complex machine learning applications.
Read more about AWS here.
Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
GCP offers cloud computing services that run on the same infrastructure as Google Search, Gmail, and YouTube. Key features include Google Compute Engine, Google Kubernetes engine for containerized applications, and Google Cloud Storage. GCP is particularly strong in data analytics, ML and containerized apps, benefiting from Google’s pioneering work in data management and AI.
Learn more about Google Cloud Platform here.
IBM Cloud
IBM Cloud offers a range of robust computing options, from bare metal servers to serverless environments, emphasizing hybrid cloud and AI capabilities. Key features include Watson AI for cognitive services, IBM Cloud functions for serverless computing and extensive support for Kubernetes. It is ideal for businesses looking to leverage hybrid cloud capabilities and those in integrating AI into their applications.
Your business’ focus might not be computing, but other cloud solutions and tools became indispensable for operating remote companies. Here are some examples.
Storage service providers
Smaller teams and firms that don't have to use the cloud as a computing platform may take up the cloud as a storage solution. For this purpose, one of the best tools out there is Google Drive. Of course, there is strong competition, such as Dropbox, but Google Drive could be a part of something bigger. That's not a cheesy metaphor – you can use Google Drive for your business and create an ecosystem of tools for your business.
Sync.com is another secure cloud storage service that focuses on privacy and encryption. It offers end-to-end encryption, secure file sharing, and real-time collaboration features. Sync.com is popular among users who prioritize data privacy and security.
Box is a cloud content management and file sharing service designed for businesses. It provides features such as file storage, file sharing, collaboration tools, and security controls. Box offers both individual and enterprise plans tailored to different business needs.
Communication and meetings service providers
Quick communication is a must in your remote work. Emails are often the exact opposite; long and chaotic threads with miles and miles of scrolling. And then there’s Slack. Easy to use, with a simple user interface and intuitive futures. It looks like a chat but provides so much more. If you have never tried to talk to your team with Slack, you will discover a whole new world of the remote. Go for it.
Microsoft Teams is also a popular collaboration platform included in the Microsoft 365 suite. It offers real-time collaboration, chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft Office applications. Teams also supports third-party app integrations and customization options. Teams is particularly suited for organizations that are already using Microsoft products.
Zoom is known for its ease of use and scalability. It offers HD video and audio feature, screen sharing, virtual backgrounds, and recording. Zoom is ideal for teams that rely heavily on video meetings and want a simple, integrated solution for both, video conferencing and text-based communication.
Amazon Chime is a secure, real-time communication service provided by AWS. It offers online meetings, video conferencing, chat, and screen sharing. Chime integrates with other AWS services and includes features like call recording and virtual phone numbers.
RingCentral offers AI powered communications. Key features include voice, video, messaging, team collaboration tools, business phone system, conference calling, SMS, and integration with popular business applications like Microsoft and Google apps.
Being remote doesn't mean you don't meet other people – clients, coworkers, bosses, or employees. You can schedule regular meetings or brainstorming sessions with the right conferencing tool. GoToMeeting, with features like screen sharing or capturing, mobile conferencing and transcriptions, provides everything for a smooth online meeting that you would expect from a face-to-face meeting except for serving freshly brewed coffee.
Google Meet is another solution that allows users to host virtual meetings, webinars, and video calls with features such as screen sharing, chat, and integration with Google Calendar.
Time tracking service providers
Time tracking can significantly benefit your business. It's essential to know how much time you burn on specific tasks. It will allow you to allocate resources better and identify any bottlenecks. Time tracking tools make it easy to accurately track billable hours and generate invoices, and increase transparency and accountability.
We strongly recommend one of Vault ERP’s modules. Vault ERP's time tracking feature is honed with years of our testing, tweaking, and everyday use. It offers more than just a simple time tracking, even more so if you manage a team: you can gain insights into the true cost of project and services. This information is valuable for budgeting, pricing decisions, and determining the profitability of various activities.
You can read more about benefits of time tracking tools here.
Toggl is another popular tool that offers simple and intuitive features for tracking time on tasks and projects. It provides reporting and analytics, one-click timers and integrates with calendar and other project management tools. It is favored for tis ease of use and visual reporting features and used by freelancers and small companies.
Clockify is a free time tracking tool that offers features for tracking time across different projects and clients. Clockify offers a simple start/stop timer, manual time entry and it provides reports, timesheets, and billing functionalities. It is useful for teams looking for a cost-effective time tracking solution and businesses that need track time without worrying about user limits.
Project management service providers
The crucial point in your remote work is managing operations and projects. We missed a lot of features in tools out there. So, we created a module in Vault ERP that fits the needs of a growing business, whether it's a classic or remote company. Scalable, with many integration possibilities and simple yet excessive interface. Vault ERP's Project Management module empowers you with unique insights into your workflow. Read more about its features and why a project management tool is important here.
Trello is a popular Kanban-style project management tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to organize tasks and workflows. It’s intuitive and flexible and suitable for various project types. Trello offers a flexible setup for managing different workflows and integrates with a wide range of apps via Power-Ups.
Asana is another comprehensive project management tool that allows teams to plan, organize, and track work in one place. Key features include task assignments, deadlines, dependencies, and integrations with other tools. Asana also provides automation features to streamline workflows.
Jira is widely used in software development for agile project management. It offers robust issue tracking, sprint planning and workflow customization capabilities.
Basecamp offers features such as to-do lists, file sharing, messaging, and scheduling, all in one platform.
Security service providers
Even secure platforms have weak spots. Vulnerabilities in third-party software or cloud services can be exploited, and compromise connected systems. It may surprise you that over 80% of data breaches are caused by weak or stolen credentials. Sharing a password can be tricky. Did you know there are tools that help you to generate, share and store passwords safely, even with restricted access? Here are few examples:
LastPass is a popular version of password manager. It features secure autofill forms, storage, and synchronization across devices.
Bitwarden is an open-source password manager known for its simplicity and transparency. It offers password generation, secure storage, and cross-platform synchronization. As it is an open-source app, security experts can review its code for potential vulnerabilities.
1Password boasts of user-friendly interface and strong security features. It also supports biometric authentication for added security.
And finally let’s address our human nature; how easy it is for you to resist checking incoming notifications from social websites, breaking news or investing apps? Just a quick look at how your financial portfolio is doing will disrupt your focus. Likely, you won’t become financially free in a day and will continue to work, so a productivity tool like Website Blocker will help you to stay on track.
Productivity: Website blockers
Productivity service providers
By blocking access to social media, entertainment, or other time-wasting sites, users can improve their focus and productivity. In addition, website blockers enhance security by blocking access to malicious or phishing websites. Use smart extensions for News Feed eradication, or install StayFocusd for Chrome, Monastery for Firefox, or WasteNoTime for Safari. Also, there are hybrids like Freedom which you can use across different platforms and devices.
What do you do if you are new to this remote thing?
You, your colleagues, or employees might be new to remote working. That's okay, we all started at one point. We have written down a few tips on how to handle home offices and how to stay productive - check them out!
Embracing remote work
As technology continues to advance and adapt to our changing needs, remote work offers unprecedented flexibility. Remote work also serves as a cornerstone for sustainability efforts, reducing the carbon footprint associated with commuting and office operations. By adopting the right strategies and tools remote work can significantly contribute to achieving business goals and reduce operational costs. Leveraging cloud services and tools is essential for the success of remote companies. Luckily there are many to choose from to suit your unique business needs. Compare different pricing models, assess products security features, their performance and integration capabilities. Go for the scalable ones and take vendor’s reputation and support into consideration before signing up.
