The modern world is a fabric woven using the thread called ‘technology.’ Improvement in communication, technological advancement has brought a turbulent shrinkage of the fabric, binding it tightly. Faster communication mediums have seen the rise on a spectrum that dominates the world of busy-ness and business. Hence, it paved the way for virtual teams to appear.
Be it at schools or in international projects, and virtual teams have prospered through the ages of the internet. The term was coined and defined in technical terms in 2004, but its existence is older. Very often, in the modern day, any task, event, project, scheme, plan, etc. use the impoverishing technology of applications favorable to communicate. Use sheets and scales for measurements, amounts, and assignment of duties and delegations. Multimedia is a useful tool to give thought a picture, giving it and the path a vision.
And the sole point is: Technology has simplified living and leisure. For individuals and teams online, alike. More for teams since it offers the following advantages:
- Technology has ceased the barriers in geography.
- Electronic communication is the key. Now, thanks to technology, you do not have to meet your partners for every upcoming step of the process.
- This technique has made the achievement of organizational goals facile.
- Technology has overcome the challenge of time dispersion.
- A virtual team follows the three-way convention of purpose-people-links.
- The goal of the creation of a virtual team is specified.
- The people meant to perform specific tasks via a virtual team are specified.
- The link is also determined. The link serves to create a medium of communication and development. Furthermore, various links, through applications, increase productivity.
And in the countdown listed below, we explore ten such applications that are feasibly convenient to use, not necessarily in the same order.
10. Snagit
Snagit, created and distributed by TechSmith, has been satisfying its customers since 1990. Being a screenshot program with visual and audio features have made it dear to virtual teams. Often the need arises when uncertainty in the programme needs to have consented. The exact same image of the uncertainty may not be accurately expressed in words. Moreover, suggestions and drawbacks sew themselves during the course of development. These changes require the sanction of all members of a team in order to make the necessary changes.
And Snagit is just the solution to your misery. The quick toolbar works at the speed of light, capturing the essence of your screen. It also allows viewers to preview their screenshot. With a few more productivity wizards on the window for modification, Snagit gathers the strings, edits it as quickly as you maneuver your cursor. With resizing and annotating features, Snagit is just the app to increase your productivity.
9. Camtasia.
Reputed for its screencasting facilities, Camtasia is a congregation of a recorder and an editor. The primary purpose of this tool is to record the working screen for tutorials and presentations. The next time you learn Python programming via YouTube, wonder whether the video was created using Camtasia. This application offers facilities inclusive of sharing in various AV formats such as MP3, MP4, AVI, WMA and many more. Zip can be created effortlessly using Camtasia. The screen quality is impeccable, embedded with enhanced audio features. What more, the latest version of Camtasia is updated with a humongous library of tutorials. Online text chats, telephonic conversations, etc. are standard to Camtasia.
8. Buffer App
It happens that in this busy era, scheduling of various priorities is to be done for an orderly performance. While you are busy with an important meeting, interactions with customers at a crucial time for better connectivity is necessary. Or, when you have to inform your teammates for a meeting, you are scheduling. Buffer fulfills this requirement for you.
Buffer helps in scheduling posts for your media accounts. There are specific time durations when a crowd from your audience is active. Engagement with the community is essential. Buffer does so by providing time slots at which the posts go live. Default slots have been issued in both the paid and unpaid forms, which are, additionally, customizable. It is available on almost all devices, making it universally accessible.
But not only does Buffer schedule, but it also analyzes the impressions and interactions. It provides reports on the same, determining the preferences of the user too. Team collaborators can be added to the social pages to allow multiple, authorized persons to monitor the page.
7. Skype
Did you know that even before Skype came to be associated with Microsoft, it was a freemium platform? It came into existence in 2003 furnishing telecommunications services such as voice and video chat and calls over multifarious devices. Transmission of multimedia, voice messages, instant and quick replies; all these dreams were realized by Skype over the years.
In 2011, Skype was acquired by Microsoft for a few billion dollars. And ever since, Skype has been satisfyingly compatible over operating platforms as well as devices. Some variably exciting features were introduced, and the same came to be recognized dearly by users. Additionally, Skype also maintains a directory that can be used to look up for a contact or an acquaintance. Additions and removals were made to the application for a long time. But despite all transitions, Skype still remains the most productive tool ever.
6. Asana
“Asana simplifies team-based work management.”
And that’s precisely what it does. Asana allows its users to add tasks, manage them, create projects and designate assignments to the team members. Deadlines can be specified conspicuously, and communication through the app is docile. Introduced in 2012, added features such as reporting tools, calendars, and views, team conversations in three continuous consecutive years. In the same year, an Android application also came into force. In further years, security measures by authorization and authentication were included.
And thanks to these progressive, futuristic features, Asana was named the Editor’s Choice 2017. A genuinely remarkable application meeting all the needs, indeed!
5. Time Doctor
Time Doctor allows you to set time-based deadlines in order to complete your tasks. This application lets you track the time you need to discharge your duties, measure and analyze it. Moreover, with the to-do lists equipped in the interface, it helps you maintain balance in your daily goals. If you’re looking for an app that eliminates distractions and helps you manage your time, Time Doctor is just for you.
Time Doctor is still evolving. Innovative features of this app help in effectively drawing your attention away from social media. Its interface is a gentle, relaxing green that signifies repose. Impending priorities take an organized space in your life with Time Doctor. And these very features make the application ensure productivity.
4. Dropbox
Dropbox was ranked 2 in the Forbes Cloud 100 list in 2016. Despite being subjected to criticism in the early years, Dropbox outgrew from the charges and accusations.
The cloud-based system of storage, Dropbox offers excellent and promising services. Folders can be created with authority and authentication sign-in in Dropbox. This, thereby, will limit the access to the owners and contributors only. The modifications made are saved in the server. Users of the application are entitled to avail storage of 2 gigabytes of storage. Moreover, Dropbox is now an application with countless features. It also won the Crunchie award in 2010 and the Editor’s Choice for Best Internet Application.
3. Google Drive
Most widely used and of trivial knowledge, Google drive is an unforgettable name in modern technology. Following a synchronization model of generous storage, the Drive is a secure platform operating on a multitude of devices, on the website, mobile, and computers. Offline services, download, and storage are extensively used by masses all across the world. A G-Suite, paid or otherwise, is accessible only to the owner and the shared persons only. And its easy interface is what makes Google our favorite!
2. Canva
Canva brings your ideas to life through pictures and graphics. Making designing easier, Canva makes use of the drag-and-drop facility that makes the utility very enjoyable. Unpaid or paid, a wide variety of facilities are available to the users. With a massive base of fonts, colors, shapes, templates, and tools, Canva is a beginner’s game as well as a professional’s piece of cake.
Until a while ago, Canva was operable only through their website and account. But now it has entered the mobile platform and designers couldn’t have been happier, creating and sharing with their teams!
1. Google Docs
Writing and sharing made easier. With spell checks and over a hundred font styles and related features, Docs also offer features to share the documents in a Docs format or a word document. And the sharing is done in three forms. The user has the ability to edit, view or comment in the document. And this very facility enables effective communication and improvisation in the plan. No wonder Docs are a happy place to settle for a sail in technology.
And here ends our list of the ten tools for productivity, curated for virtual teams. The next time, add the following to your choices and start exploring the same!