5 Tools Needed to Successfully Work From Home

Work From Home

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

      For many people, working from home isn’t a strange concept. Today, there are a lot of freelancers that work in the comfort of their houses. With that being said, working remotely has been associated with an increase in productivity and effectiveness. On the other end, it does have its downsides—all of which we will discuss below.

      The coronavirus pandemic initially forced many employees to adopt a work from home schedule. As states and industries across the country began to reopen, many businesses have decided to keep the #WFH mantra permanently. If this practice is new to you, it is common to run into bumps along the way. This is why we have compiled a list of 5 tools that can enable you to professionally and successfully work from home. Let’s start by exploring the pros and cons of a permanent home office.

      Pros of Working from Home

      • No commute
      • Money saved on transport and business attire, among other things.
      • Work in a comfortable environment
      • Flexible schedule
      • Increased productivity

      Cons of Working from Home

      • No face to face interaction with work colleagues
      • Skews work/life balance
      • Multiple transactions

      Must-Have Work From Home Tools

      Team Chat Apps

      To facilitate interaction and communication with colleagues, use team chat apps. Prime examples include Google Hangouts and Slack. Both are professional and highly-rated tools designed for business success. They feature the ability for group messaging, one on one instant chats, and other excellent features that facilitate team communication.

      Video Conferencing

      At times, your work team must interact on a more personal and direct level. This is where video conferencing comes into play.  Tools such as Zoom and Skype allows your business to host live video events with easy deployment and minimal fees.

      Security Tools

      Working remotely almost always requires the internet. Unfortautenly cyberspace is a ripe place for data theft. It would help if you heightened your online security measures. Some tools to consider include:

      • File and disk encryption software
      • Password managers
      • Two-factor authentication
      • VPN network access

      Time Management Tools

      One of the downsides of working from home can be a skewed work/life balance. Adding a time management tool will help you adhere to a professional timeline. Some of the time management tools you can use include Trello or Timecamp. These tools allow you to schedule projects, set deadlines, and monitor performance.

      File-Sharing Tools

      Having easy access to company files makes work streamline. Therefore, file sharing tools are a must-have. There are a lot of options when it comes to file-sharing tools such as Dropbox or Google Drive. These apps allow you to share files from your browser to desktop or the cloud and vice versa. Ensure you choose a file-sharing tool that integrates top-notch security features.

      To conclude, with this set of tools, you are ready to venture into remote working without running into any complications. Irrespective of which field of expertise you operate under, these tools can improve your working from home experience. Don’t forget to stay focused and give yourself adequate breaks. Keeping employee morale up is also important. Like any of the above tools, Payment Savvy focuses on ease of use and streamlined access. If you are in the market for an innovative and secure payment solution, please reach out to discuss your options.

      We look forward to creating a perfect payment solution for your business!

      Chad Deatherage

      Chad Deatherage

      Chad is a serial entrepreneur and founded Payment Savvy in 2011 armed with the goal of providing high-risk establishments with a pioneering and tailored payment processing solution that allows them to flourish. Having decades of knowledge in the financial services and debt recovery industries, he ensures every client receives the same level of expertise, resourcefulness, and strategic vision no matter the size of the organization. Always willing to push the envelope, Chad’s forward-thinking and leadership skills are responsible for Payment Savvy being on the map as an industry-leading payment processor.