Everyone knows that to do a job right, you need the right tools for the job. So, if you are running a home office, it is important your setup includes convenient tools that will make your daily tasks much easier to manage. In addition to basics like a laptop, a phone, a printer-and-scanner, and a good coffee-making machine, the following tools can help transform the way you run your home office for the better.
Document Conversion and Editing Tools
When running a home office, organization is key. Keeping your files and file types in order is one element that is of the utmost importance. But that can be challenging when you are handling files that come in various types of formats every day. For instance, while PDF files are great because they retain formatting and can be opened on any device, they cannot be edited without the correct software. So, you could often need to convert PDFs into other formats. A fast and convenient option is to use an online tool for editing PDF files and converting them. You can convert documents in seconds and then easily make changes to the content.
Time Tracking Tools
It can be difficult to organize your own time when you are working by yourself at home, which can lead to missed deadlines. Also, if you are working independently for clients, those clients will want to know that you are dedicating the time you say you are dedicating to their projects. So, a time tracking tool is a convenient way of monitoring the hours you work and ensuring you complete work on time. Toggl Track is one of the best time-tracking tools available. The free option contains most of what you will need, but you also have the option of upgrading to the paid plan where you get additional features like project time estimates and XLS export.
Collaboration Tools
Whether you are working for a company or as a freelancer, there are sure to be times when you need to collaborate with others online. For many home-workers, Google Docs is the go-to cloud solution that makes collaboration easy. You and others that have access to the online documents can store items, edit them, and make comments, to ensure all voices are heard on your project and any changes are easily made. Furthermore, it means everyone involved with a project has the latest version of a document, as shared files will not become buried in email threads, and everyone has the ability to access the documents anytime and anywhere.
Allo has created the best software for working remotely. As well as offering storage that everyone can access, it allows everyone to come together to share ideas. It can be used for video calls as well as data storage. It provides a place for everyone to come together on the same page to interact and have meetings daily, weekly or whenever needed. It is one of the most advanced with collaboration tools and its use has increased in many companies.
Communication Tools
Collaboration is not only about working on documents with others. There will be lots of times when you need to speak to project team members or clients outside of the written word. Therefore, you need a real-time communication tool like Slack. In addition to being able to easily speak to others face-to-face online as required, you can also create different channels based on topics.
Bookkeeping Tools
If you are running your own business from home, you will know how important it is to keep records of all your transactions. The records will be required for end-of-year tax calculations and you will also need them for periodic business reviews to ensure your operations are running smoothly. But it can be highly challenging to keep on top of all your transactions. That is where bookkeeping software comes in. Using software like QuickBooks or Avanquest allows you to retain and organize items like balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements, so everything is easily findable and usable when you need to access it.
