5 Software You Need When Running a Remote Team

Running an online business or a traditional business that hires remote workers is a great way to cut expenses and make your team more resilient. Sure, you have less direct control, but you also have a superior talent pool and reduced operational costs. Now, in order to make all of this work in your favor, you need the right help. Here are the top five software solutions you’ll definitely need when hiring a remote team for your enterprise.

 

  1. Accounting software

 

One of the most important things in the business world is having a reliable accounting system. Namely, when hiring remote employees, you’ll not just send money internationally; you’ll deal with different currencies, different labor rates, and many tax jurisdictions.

First of all, you need to keep all your books in order, and the easiest way to do so is with sturdy accounting software.

It is also important because you want to put a strong emphasis on equity compliance for your remote employees. You want to establish a work culture where everyone is treated fairly, no matter where they come from. Even if they’re not paid the same, they need to at least, receive an equivalent of their regional average for their position and experience. 

Now, the responsibility of handling these transactions falls on both the employer and the employee. This is especially the case when it comes to mobility employees, some of which may need to run pretty tight books in order to avoid getting double-taxed. According to the technology specialist Rhiannon Stone at Technopedia, the solution to this problem lies in finding the best home accounting software apps and taking charge of your personal finances.

As an entrepreneur, you can only control things on your end, potentially even give them some advice, but you have your accounting and tax responsibilities to tend to. 

 

  2. Applicant tracking system

 

Some would argue that the first step in hiring remote employees lies in tracking your applicants and managing applications. This will help streamline the hiring process, which is important for one major reason – the hiring process is never-ending.

People change jobs all the time. 

They find something better since, if you’re a small business, ambitious employees will quickly hit the ceiling of how much they can advance and how much you can pay them. If everything goes well, your business will grow, and you’ll have to hire more people. Overall, you need a repeatable hiring methodology.

Also, keep in mind that the biggest advantage of hiring remote employees lies in the fact that you get an unlimited potential talent pool. Well, how does this help you if you manually look for talent? It’s like having a raft that’s tied to the shore, only being able to sail the length of the rope. 

You also need to understand the importance of future hires. Let’s say you have one position and three amazing candidates. You can hire just one, but you shouldn’t lose touch with the other two. Your first choice may not work out, or you may soon be in need of more employees. With software, these resources will be simpler to handle.

 

  3. Project management platform

 

There are a lot of good reasons why you need a project management platform, and the simplest is to compare it to a digital office. This is exactly what a collaboration tool is. Would you hire people before you rent out your office space? Of course not, which is why you also have to get the right platform for remote workers. 

These platforms are great for file-sharing. Not only that, but it also keeps all your communication centralized. When you need a file, you know where to look for it, especially since they’re well-organized and searchable. You also get the satisfaction of knowing that they’re shared via a secured channel. 

This is a space that acts as a whiteboard, but it’s also a place where your employees can interact in real-time. It centralizes all their collaboration and activity, creating for a more productive environment for everyone. 

One more thing worth mentioning is that it’s harder to vet remote employees. Even in a conventional office, restricting access would be a priority, but here, it’s even more important. With the help of project management software, you can assign employees to projects where they can only see what’s within the project. 

 

  4. Learning management system

 

You need to understand that the tools for work in a digital environment tend to be much more sophisticated than their traditional counterparts. Half-a-century ago, if you knew how to use one typewriter and a copy machine, you knew how to use them all. Today, while most of these tools are similar (or operate on a similar principle within a category), they do have some differences.

This is why you need a good learning management system. This way, you can facilitate the onboarding process and speed up the rate at which your team gains proficiency. Previously, we’ve discussed the fact that the hiring process is neverending. Well, the only logical conclusion is that onboarding is then never-ending, as well.

The biggest part you gain this way is training uniformity. This way, you have the same learning materials for everyone, and you can make them available on demand. This ensures consistency of your remote team. 

In office, they would heavily rely on a mentor. While mentors are still important in remote workplaces, it’s really more about available learning materials that are available 24/7. An instructional video (especially an interactive one) can help you so much. 

 

  5. Virtual private network (VPN)

 

One of the most important things you need to keep in mind when working with people across the globe is that your internet doesn’t necessarily look like theirs. One’s location affects one’s search engine results, and there are a lot of geo-restricted tools and platforms. This helps you out immensely when it comes to VPN.

Another thing that a VPN is good for is extra protection. It keeps your location private, and it gives you extra encryption. This is exactly what you need as someone working on the move yourself. You see, hiring a remote team also gives you a chance to work without being tied to a single office space. This means that you’ll be more exposed to this risk. 

Moreover, the majority of your processes (like your accounting) will be on cloud-based platforms, which means that you’ll be accessing them online. With the help of a VPN, this will be both easier and safer. 

Just keep in mind that VPNs greatly differ, and that premium and free VPNs are not the same. This is a tool for work, which means that getting a premium service might be a business expense that’s worth your while. 

 

 

Software is a digital world equivalent of office and office equipment

When running a remote office, you need to have the right tools for work. This is what will determine the efficiency of your office. It will help you hire a remote team, train them properly, and enable them to work in your enterprise. So, make sure to craft your list wisely. This is the only way you’ll set your team on a path to success.