As IT consultants for businesses of all sizes, we’re focused on technology and productivity. Efficiency becomes increasingly important as an executive, so we’ve reviewed a list of twelve productivity apps for powerful communication and collaboration when you’re not at your desk. From note taking to storage and video conferencing, including task management, these apps will help take care of the details so that you can focus on the big picture.
Evernote
Do you have a lot on your mind? Evernote can keep all of it in one place. Easily store video, transcribe audio and type documents (or memos) for later access online or through their many apps. Attention can easily be lost to keeping track of information and Evernote stores it all in one place. The service is free to use, with upgrades available for storage and functionality.
Slack
If your team is tired of endless emails, try switching to Slack. Slack allows real-time communication and collaboration for entire teams and individuals. More than an instant messenger, Slack recently introduced video calling for online conferences. The app and the service are both free, although premium features are available for enterprise use.
Skype
Skype, an invaluable tool for staying in touch with family, remote meetings with clients and video conferences with your team. The Skype app brings all of that productivity into the palm of your hand and fits on your phone, tablet, including your laptop. Best of all, it is free, available for every platform and operating system.
Google Drive
With the Google Drive app, you can bring all of your documents, photos and files with you anywhere. Available on multiple platforms and for all your devices, Google Drive will allow you to save up to 15GB of data for free. The Google Drive app has integrated media players and comes with a suite for editing documents, changing spreadsheets or making presentations while on the go.
IFTTT
IFTTT stands for “If this, then that”. Using IFTTT, you can automate tasks that are mindless, repetitive or time-consuming. You can wake yourself with your favorite Spotify playlist, get the weather for the day and have the garage door open when you are ready to leave. You can have special alerts for certain emails and have files created, changed or edited when you receive an attachment from prioritized co-workers.
Google Calendar
There’s a myriad of calendar apps out there but Google’s free offering is packed with features and functionality. Events are automatically synced between all of your devices and it has never been easier to schedule meetings or phone calls. Get reminders, keep appointments and remember to pick up groceries on the way home with Google Calendar.
OneNote
OneNote is brought to you by Microsoft technologies and allows you to store information, as well as keep your notes synced in the cloud for access from anywhere. You can even use handwriting on capable devices so your notes are instantly recognizable. With the increasing adoption of tablets within boardroom meetings, OneNote can be a valuable tool for note taking and brainstorming sessions.
Cortana
Cortana is the free assistant from Microsoft with built in artificial intelligence and integration with Microsoft services. Cortana is able to look at your calendar, check your emails for flights, alert you to changing weather and traffic conditions, and even play your favorite music on the ride home. You can use the voice interface to speak directly to Cortana and the machine learning improves speech recognition over time.
Dropbox
Dropbox was one of the earliest consumer cloud solutions and is still a great choice! With access from anywhere in the free app, you can view and change documents, or share them with friends and colleagues. Dropbox is free but larger storage plans are available for more data. The app syncs with your computer, all of your devices and Microsoft servers to make sharing easier than ever.
Internet browsing takes a significant chunk of productivity out of the day and Pocket is the solution. Rather than forcing yourself to make a choice between reading or not reading, you can save the article for later and come back to it after work. Save an article offline through the convenient browser extension and read it later on your phone (that automatically syncs). Pocket is a great productivity tool for reducing distractions during the day.
GroupMe
GroupMe is a perfect bridge for group messaging on the go. Using the app for mobile and desktop, you can easily keep in contact with an unlimited number of groups in an easy to manage way. This free service is especially useful while traveling or coordinating events and each member of the group receives access to all previous text messages. You can use the GroupMe app or even just group updates via text message if you don’t have a smartphone.
Wunderlist
Wunderlist is a free app for prioritizing your busy life! You can assign tasks, get reminders, collaborate with coworkers, share files and folders. Wunderlist is a to-do list designed for cloud storage, teamwork and can streamline productivity for personal and enterprise needs.
We hope that you are able to find our round up of productivity apps useful. We help companies run leaner and more productive organizations. If you have any questions or want to work with us, please use the form below to contact us or call.
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