This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
With the Covid-19 pandemic pushing many employees to work from home, it's essential to have the right tools to stay productive and focused. As of June 6, 2020, a number of apps are available to help remote workers communicate, manage projects, and access business processes.
One such app is Slack, which enables teams to chat, share files, and website links. This instant messaging app is more than just a means of communication, as it fosters collaboration and keeps colleagues informed.
Videoconferencing apps like Zoom, Skype, and Google Hangouts can bridge the gap between people at different locations, making it easier to have face-to-face interactions.
For project management, Trello is a popular and freely available application. It helps remote workers present benchmarks, tasks, activities, and goals of their project, making it easy to track assignments and progress in a highly visual interface.
Remote working also requires a central platform for sharing and storing files. Dropbox and Google Drive provide secure storage spaces where colleagues can access large files without the need for email attachments.
Signing documents is a daily office function, and online signature apps like DocuSign and HelloSign make it possible to sign remotely without the need for physical documents.
At home, a smartphone and the Tiny Scanner Plus app can be used to scan documents, converting them into pdf format if needed.
MyNoise is another productivity app that offers a customized white noise soundtrack to help block distractions and bring focus.
As we wait for the coronavirus to subside, work need not stop. With these digital tools, we can create an unfettered professional, productive, and focused home office environment.
— Mr. Wambugu, an informatician, can be reached at [email] or on Twitter at @samwambugu2.
