The Top 6 Productivity Tools for Small Businesses

Small businesses become adept at doing more with less. The overall efficiency of the smaller workforce matters enormously with small companies. One way to achieve this is through the use of productivity tools to assist employees in speeding through their work. Here are the top six productivity tools for small businesses.

1.      Google Workspace

Workspace is the new name for Google Suite that was rebranded by Google for clarification purposes. The subscription product comes with a range of familiar Google products with business versions including additional features. The range includes the likes of Google Sheets, Docs, Slides, Calendar, Drive, Gmail, and Chat. Setting up a small business to take full advantage of this product is not for tech novices. There is some behind-the-scenes work involved. Many companies choose to use a Google Workspace consultancy to smooth their way to full integration.

Hiring a Google Workspace consultancy is worthwhile to reduce the time to switch from an existing email and Office-type solution to the new one. Dial A Geek can have your organisation up and running in less time than if you tried to figure it out yourself. This includes remote workers using their PC too.

2.      TeamViewer

TeamViewer has long been a reliable standby tool to connect two computers at a distance. This remote connection software can be installed on a computer where it acts as a host and will allow a connection from another computer that has the correct access information. The use of TeamViewer can permit IT, teams, to connect to a remote worker’s PC and reconfigure the settings to solve a software or operating system issue. They can also perform updates at arm’s length or install new software using administrative privileges too.

Furthermore, employees can take a tablet or Chromebook with them and still connect to a more powerful office PC to access files or data on that device. When finishing off a report or presentation in the hotel the night before, being able to access the work laptop elsewhere is a lifesaver.

3.      Trello

Trello is designed as a productivity app for certain types of workflow. The idea is that the app sets up a series of boards. Each of these represents a stage for the work. In one setup, that might include a board for items to be started, another for those in progress and, lastly, one for completed tasks. However, these can be reconfigured and added to in support of the different types of business operations.

Tasks are given an individual digital card, a little like an index card, and then assigned to a board. Their progress is tracked through various boards as the task is being worked on. Multiple people can be assigned responsibility for a task. Also, projects with dependent tasks and multiple employees assigned within it are possible too.

Trello supports small workforces well. It also can be used to manage the workflow for a single project or from the perspective of the entire company.

4.      LastPass

LastPass is one of the oldest, most reliable password managers on the market. It supports mobile, tablet, and desktop access, so employees can use it across multiple business devices. The tool can save username and password combinations, but also notes relating to website access, and more. Wasting time not being able to remember your password for an infrequently visited website and going through the password recovery process is unnecessary. With LastPass, you only need to remember a master password.

Also, for people who already use Dashlane, it’s equally proficient for small business use too. It can similarly support business teams.

5.      Salesmate

Salesmate is a CRM software that’s better for smaller businesses that don’t want something overly complicated or require extensive staff training to begin to use it. While managing projects is included in Salesmate, its primary focus is to help the sales and marketing team to perform better in their roles. This includes marketing automation tools, keeping a sales-oriented calendar, and tracking new leads from initiation to sale completed.

For companies wishing to improve their sales game and ensure no two members of the sales team are pursuing the same new customer contact, this software is worth a try. Also, it has both an online demo and the ability to try it for free for a limited time.

6.      Cloud Storage

Cloud storage makes it possible to access the same business files using multiple computers and other devices. For employees with the appropriate access, they can use shared files within the team.  Business cloud services often include extras such as larger data storage ability, search functions, multiple versions of the same file, and more. Personal cloud storage is far more limited.

Small companies need to look carefully at all their options for productivity apps. This way, they use only the ones that will be beneficial in their industry. Also, avoid overlapping functionality between apps because that can be confusing.