The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated that current and future technologies are capable of supporting remote work. Companies and organizations across the world have introduced some form of oversight into employee performance. While managers were previously skilled at observing the workforce and organizing tasks, things have changed.
Digital technologies such as high-bandwidth internet, faster computing, powerful smartphones, and reliable software products are all coming together to create an environment that has the potential to completely transform the way we work. Organizations that recognize this changing trend and utilize digital technologies for remote work management will have a competitive edge, particularly for hiring and retaining highly qualified employees.
So how do you, as a manager, get better at this? Well, in this article, we will provide you a list of some of the most impressive applications that can not only boost your skillset but also improve the quality of work and increase employee morale. Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
XNSPY is a smartphone monitoring app that is widely used across the business world for remote employee management purposes. The service offers a variety of tools that can help you improve transparency, boost productivity, and increase accountability. However, it is important that you install the app on company-owned devices to avoid privacy concerns, and obtain the consent of your employees before using it. You can use XNSPY to view all telephone communication data and record phone conversations to track customer support quality.
The app can also track web browsing history, and all sent or received emails. The social media and instant messaging tracker have limited use; though, it can be important if you have to make the right decision on conflict or harassment claims. For productivity management, XNSPY has an app blocking feature, a screen-time management function, and a GPS tracker that provides real-time updates.
The most impressive feature of the app is the instant alert feature. You cannot spend hours going through the data of each individual. XNSPY cuts down on this waste of time by automating the monitoring process. You can add words, locations, or contact numbers to three dedicated lists. The app will immediately inform you if it detects any activity related to the lists. This is a major advantage because you can focus on your work instead of monitoring each employee while simultaneously staying alert to exactly what you need to know.
There are plenty of other features, and some of them are quite intrusive, so we suggest you deactivate them for employee confidence. All the data and productivity tools are available on the XNSPY control panel. The panel is accessible from anywhere; all you need is a stable internet connection.
So how much does it cost? Well, the basic package costs USD 4.99 per month per user. On the other hand, the premium version, which offers a complete range of features, comes with a price tag of USD 7.49 a month. The app is compatible with a broad range of both iOS and Android operating systems. Smartphones are now an integral component of our work life, and XNSPY is a reliable and effective service in helping you monitor your employees.
TimeDoctor is a remote employee management app that can be installed on Windows, Linux, Macintosh, Android, and iOS devices. The app is primarily designed for time tracking and productivity management purposes. The app can be download on the device, and employees have to log in to their TimeDoctor account during working hours. The app then begins time-tracking, web browsing activity, application activity, and the time spent on a given task. The employees can also pause the tracking if they wish to take a break or do something else. Besides, TimeDoctor stops the timer if it does not detect any activity for a couple of minutes.
The app’s productivity tracker is not the best on the scene. This is because it can end up categorizing some required apps as unproductive and vice versa. Automated screenshots are taken at regular intervals to give an overall perspective on how the employee is performing.
The data on each employee is available on the TimeDoctor dashboard. You can also activate/deactivate features. The basic version of the app costs USD 7 per month per user. The standard package costs USD 10, and the premium one costs USD 20.
Kissflow is a renowned platform that offers a comprehensive range of features for businesses seeking to improve remote work. The platform is primarily oriented towards task flow management, process automation, and digital collaboration. For example, you can create formulas, so new tasks are assigned to the right person or a group. You can also set up a system of accountability by defining deadlines for each individual and/or task. Other features available with the service include surveys/polls, intra-organization communication channels, custom task cards, and detailed task and employee performance reports. However, all these features come with an expensive price tag. For example, the Kissflow starter pack costs USD 480 per month for a team of 30 individuals. The growing pack costs USD 680 for a team of 50 users. The full-feature enterprise package costs a whopping USD 1300 for a team of 100 users.
Connecteam is a very interesting service that is intuitively designed to make sure that even those with little experience with such apps can use it proficiently. Like other employee management apps, Connecteam offers features related to task management, employee communication, time tracking, task scheduling, and others. Communication can also be automated and scheduled for announcements and updates. Similarly, it offers a checklist function that makes workflow easier. Another impressive feature is dedicated training software that can help you integrate new employees or provide training for existing team members. Connecteam offers a free version, but it has a very basic range of features. Other than that, it has three packages that cost USD 29/month, USD 59/month, and USD 119/month. Please check their website for more details on these packages.
Litmos is a unique entry in this list because it is primarily designed as a training service. It provides dedicated training solutions for employees, customers, sales, suppliers, operations, contractors, partners, and even gig workers. Thousands of training courses and videos are available as well. We strongly suggest you check out their website for more information on these courses, and to get a quote on pricing.
Employee Navigator is a service that caters to the human resource management side of things. Features include automated employee updates, employee self-service tools, human resource data library, and a dedicated employee directory. Time-off, salary details, new hiring, workflow management tools, are additional features. Employee Navigator offers the most complete employee management tools and is perhaps the most advanced service on this list. However, it comes with a massive price tag as well, reaching up to USD 2100 per month.
YouTrack is a widely used app, particularly in the software development and management industry. This is because it is primarily designed as a bug and issue tracking tool. Each issue can be highlighted, and the time till is resolution is tracked as well. You can assign tasks, communicate with team members, add tags, and discuss matters on a discussion board. You can also view detailed reports on all activities. YouTrack is completely free of cost, but you have to pay USD 3.67 per user per month if more than ten individuals are using it.
You may have already read about Trello because it is very popular planning and productivity platform. Users can create dedicated task boards that neatly categorize progress report of each individual or a task. The current status of each individual is displayed, and communication is improved via the Trello cards function. You can also improve workflow through automation tools, though these are not as comprehensive as they sound like. You can purchase two subscription versions at USD 9.99/month per user or USD 17.50/user per month. There is a free version too, but we recommend you check out the features of each package before deciding on Trello.
So what do you think? We created this list to highlight the range of options currently available on the market. As previously stated, managers and companies that adapt to the trend of remote employees can draw significant advantages, especially when it comes to cost-cutting. Employees are known to be happier and efficient with flexible work schedules. Each of the aforementioned services specializes in a particular area. It is up to you to decide which service suits your needs the most. We advise you to take your workforce on board before purchasing so you get a comprehensive solution that creates a win-win scenario for all concerned parties.
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