7 Best Productivity Apps for Remote Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic

With the worldwide implementation of the work-from-home scheme, many employees were pushed to innovate and discover ways to work efficiently while adjusting to their new work setup. Many employees are now utilizing productivity apps to help them work remotely.

Depending on the application, it can help you with various services from document management, dynamic note-taking, and interactive video-conferencing, to name a few. To help you maximize productivity, we listed seven useful apps you can take advantage of to improve your productivity while working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

#1: Google Workspace

Google Workspace, formerly known as Google Suite or G-Suite, offers numerous productivity apps to help you work from home efficiently. It fosters an office-like application ecosystem to support your daily work needs. 

Google Workspace features a cloud-based workstation that allows you to create, edit, and share documents and files on the go. It is also accessible from your browser, so you will not need a high-spec device to operate it. 

A full list of applications offered under Google Workplace can be found on their website. However, full access to Google Workspace requires payment, offering several packages for companies planning to integrate Google Workspace into their work system. 

You can access Google Workplace for free by using their applications separately. Such applications are Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Google Keep, to name a few. The free version connects it under your Gmail account with a cloud-storage limit of 15GB. 

#2: Serene (Mac)

Reducing distractions is one of the most effective ways to improve your productivity while working from home. Besides dedicating a room or table for your work activities at home, doing the same on your devices could also help you maximize productivity. 

Serene is an application that can help you achieve maximum productivity by focusing on your most important task for the day. The application has two essential functions to assist you as you work. These functions are:

• Requiring you to set daily goals and break them down into 20-60 minute work sessions.
• Blocks access from distracting websites and applications during work sessions. The application also silences your phone to increase your focus on the task at hand. 

Serene acts around the productivity method called the Promodoro Technique, which suggests that working in 25-minute sessions throughout the day is more effective in achieving your goal than working continuously. 

Serene is currently available under macOS for free, offering its full feature with 10 hours’ worth of sessions. You can subscribe to its services for $4 per month to unlock unlimited sessions. 

#3: Evernote

Meetings, webinars, and weekly reports are likely to require you to take vital notes here and there. With Evernote, you can write and organize your notes with ease while offering a dynamic note-taking experience. 

With its dynamic note-taking experience, you can integrate photos, videos, and even voice memos in your notes to ensure that you have covered everything from your meetings. You can also share your notes with your peers and allow them access to contribute and edit. Features like web clipper enable you to save pages you’ve found on your browser, while mobile scanner lets you digitize hard copy materials.

Evernote also supports different platforms, making it accessible on your browser, such as iOS, macOS, Android, and Windows. The app is downloadable for free and offers premium plans to utilize its full features. 

#4: Slack 

Slack is a messaging app that integrates all business communications, including emails, into one seamless platform. It’s a way for companies to keep track of their employees’ progress and activity, especially those who work remotely. Slack offers useful tools and features such as instant messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, etc. 

You can collaborate with multiple teams in your company through channels, a place where all of your members can message each other. Slack also integrates with third-party services such as Google Drive, Microsoft 365, and more for hassle-free translations of documents and files. 

Slack is available for free on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. They also offer enterprise packages that support companies of all sizes, prioritizing security and convenience for all. 

As an employer, it is important that you communicate effectively with your remote employees. With Slack’s wide range of communication features, you can ensure that your departments are continuously engaged with one another.

#5: Calendar

Calendar is a feature-rich alternative to your device’s stock calendar application. The application’s primary feature is integrating all of your calendars into one platform. It syncs your other calendars in one easy step, making them accessible under one account across multiple devices. 

Calendar also offers automatic meeting transcriptions, productivity analytics, synced calendars, and many more. It also highlights an efficient meeting scheduling feature without the need to send multiple emails. 

#6: Trello

Trello is a great platform where you and your teammates can align and prioritize tasks by offering an interactive checklist system. It’s a project management platform that provides boards, lists, and cards, enabling you to input tasks for each member and monitor them as you work. 

With a Built-In Workflow Automation with Trello’s AI Butler, teams can effectively increase their productivity by allowing their AI to sort, prioritize, and delegate tedious tasks based on the following:

• Rule-Based Triggers
• Custom Card and Custom Buttons
• Calendar Commands
• Due Date Commands

It also offers a board system where you can categorize each project separately under different boards. Trello’s board system allows you to interact with more than one team, allowing you to keep your teams virtually intact by maximizing communication. 

Trello is available for free on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows. Its free version allows you to use up to ten boards, unlimited lists and cards, and a limit of 10MB per file attachment. Trello also offers Business and Enterprise Plans for companies that plan to integrate their services into your company’s system.

#7: Todoist

Todoist is another task management application that offers a more personalized experience for every user. The application’s main feature is its ability to quickly add and sort tasks on the go so that you can easily keep track of your tasks. 

It also allows you to categorize your tasks depending on their priority, with sections and subtasks, allowing for a more detailed description. It also permits you to share them with your teammates to show your progress or assign different tasks. 

Todoist also features what they call Todoist Karma, which automatically compiles the data on your progress and productivity levels. With the collected information, Todoist offers tips and suggestions on how you can improve your productivity. 

Utilize Applications To Improve Your Productivity While Working Remotely

Taking advantage of technology and applications can help increase your productivity and overall work performance as you work remotely. However, it is imperative to keep in mind that self-discipline also plays a significant role in maximizing your productivity. Incorporating productivity apps into your work routine while maintaining self-discipline can help you foster a more efficient workspace at home.