With the increase in suspected cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Brazil, many companies are adapting to avoid crowds and reduce the chances of contagion.
Depending on the work routine, some companies canceled external face-to-face service, others adopted home office , others rotate employees between shifts and many still maintain normal standards, but with care in cleaning the environment and employees.
In this post we have put together 15 tool tips that will help companies with communication, access to documents, task management, videoconference meetings, security and productivity. These tools are useful to avoid personal contact both for those who chose remote work and for those who continue in the same environment. Your company cannot stop .
Communication
To start our tips, we first chose to define the basis of communication between all employees. This tool will serve as a kind of virtual office. Each sector can have its own channel to deal with different issues and exchange important documents.
These tools will save you from getting up and heading to a co-worker's desk every time you have a question. Furthermore, it improves your focus at work as it allows you to answer colleagues' questions at the most opportune moment.
Slack
Slack brings all your communication together in one place. On Slack, teams work in channels, a place that centralizes messaging, tools, and files. This way, everyone saves time and works as a team.
For small teams, Slack is free for an unlimited period. See prices .
Microsoft Teams
Work remotely without feeling remote. Microsoft Teams lets you fully leverage the upside of teamwork: the frictionless sharing that makes good ideas exceptional.
Your company can use Microsoft Teams for free, but with limited resources. See prices .
Workplace
Connect your employees to business goals, company values, and each other with Workplace's smart, familiar features.
Created by Facebook, Workplace can be used for free with up to 50 group members. See prices .
Storing files and documents in the cloud
These tools are used to securely share files and documents between employees, regardless of their location.
Google Drive
Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service that was introduced by Google on April 24, 2012. Google Drive now houses Google Docs, a range of productivity applications, which offers editing of documents, spreadsheets, presentations , and much more.
Microsoft 365
Office 365 is an online subscription version of the Microsoft Office suite of office/productivity applications, focused on simultaneous collaborative work of a large team and security, launched in June 2011 developed by the company Microsoft.
Drop box
Drop box is a service for storing and sharing files. It is based on the concept of “cloud computing”. It belongs to Drop box Inc., based in San Francisco, California, USA. The company that developed the program provides computer centers that store its clients' files.
Task management
Due to the Coronavirus we need to avoid personal contact. Therefore, it is very important that your company implements a tool to monitor the organization's or sector's tasks. With this tool, all employees can monitor the status of tasks, responsible parties and deadlines.
Trello
Trello is a project management app. With Trello boards, lists, and cards, you can organize and prioritize your projects in a fun, flexible, and rewarding way. See prices .
Pipefy
Pipefy is the Process Management Platform that empowers managers to organize and control their work in a single place. So everyone can automate and speed up any process on their own. See prices .
monday.com
monday.com is a cloud-based project management solution for small and medium-sized companies from different industries. This software helps companies manage multiple projects and facilitate information sharing among team members. See prices .
Meetings and video conferences
We know that many meetings can/should be avoided during this period. Sometimes, a simple message or email resolves the issue. But, if it is really necessary, these tools help with the conversation, as it brings everyone involved together in the same online room, communicating via audio and/or video.
Zoom Meetings
Zoom Meetings is a video conferencing tool aimed at corporate environments that supports meetings with up to 500 participants and 10,000 viewers in webinar mode. See prices .
Skype
Skype is the software that allows you to talk to the whole world. Millions of people and businesses use Skype to make free video and voice calls between two users, as well as group calls, send chat messages, and share files with others on Skype. You can use Skype on whatever device you prefer: on your cell phone, computer or tablet.
Skype is free.
Google Meet
Google tool for video calls via PC and cell phone. As a measure to reduce the risk of the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), Google announced that Hangouts Meet is available to all G Suite users.
Security and productivity
We know that the Coronavirus is changing the routine of companies. Many are adapting internally and others are releasing employees to work from home. But, to help with adaptation, they are all implementing new online work tools. And it is at this point that we encounter another danger.
There are many dangers on the internet such as malware, ransomware and phishing that can cause damage to company equipment or steal confidential information. Therefore, it is extremely important that the company adopts some tools to increase security and avoid maintenance costs or payment for data hijacking.
LastPass
LastPass Password Manager is a freemium password manager service. It is available as a plugin for Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera and Safari browsers. There is also a LastPass Password Manager bookmarklet for other browsers. See prices .
DNSFilter
DNSFilter is a cloud-based content filtering and threat protection service that can be deployed and configured without the need to install software. See prices .
Lumiun
Lumiun is a cloud-based service that protects your company from Internet threats, making your network safer and your team more productive. See prices .
Due to COVID-19, Lumiun is anticipating the availability of the Business VPN for current and new customers, regardless of the contracted plan. Until then, the feature would only be in beta for some Enterprise plan customers.
With Business VPN , employees who are working from home can access the company's internal resources, such as documents from the file server, printer, ERP system, among others.
Connected to Lumiun's VPN, the employee's equipment is safe from internet risks . Furthermore, the manager can monitor in real time which sites are being accessed and apply the necessary rules to avoid wasting time on sites outside the scope of work.
The company Lumiun also made some really cool material available on its website about the adoption of home office by companies .
Additional Tips
Although the tools are useful to help with the day-to-day safety and productivity of companies, the main ways to avoid the spread of COVID-19 involve each person's attitudes and common sense. According to the Ministry of Health , these are the guidelines to protect yourself and others:
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol gel;
- Cover your nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing;
- Avoid crowds if you are sick;
- Keep environments well ventilated;
- Do not share personal objects;
- And avoid sharing FakeNews .
Did you miss any other tools? Write your tip in the comments below.
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