Are multiple tools letting down your remote team productivity? Here is all you need.

With remote work growing in popularity over the years, there has been a significant increase in software and hardware designed to make remote work easier and more efficient. There are hundreds of apps and tools that promise to increase productivity.

However, the number of tools you use isn’t really proportional to your productivity. On the contrary, it could even hamper your work efficiency. It may seem counterintuitive, but the truth is, you only need to use fewer tools for more productivity.

Still think you need multiple tools for remote team productivity? Read on to decide for yourself.

Challenges of Using Multiple Tools for Remote Work

1. Multiple tabs slow down work

How many tabs do you have open when you’re working? You probably have more than a handful if you’re using multiple remote working productivity tools. You’d have one for your cloud storage, time tracker, task management, messaging, file sharing, and several other functions. All these tabs consume bandwidth and memory that can slow your processor down. Consequently, your productivity decreases as well.

2. Switching between tools waste time

While it may seem helpful to have a dozen SaaS apps at your disposal, these disparate apps can lead to less productivity. You waste precious working time switching from one application to another. It’s great if the apps can be easily integrated together, but this isn’t always the case for many such tools.

3. Various communication tools can cause miscommunication

Communication is key to remote team productivity. However, having a handful of communication tools doesn’t necessarily mean that all information will be disseminated fast. On the contrary, it could lead to confusion and miscommunication. With too many channels to get information from, some key correspondences can be overlooked or forgotten.

4. Disparate tools can lead to mismanagement

If you have multiple task management tools, it can be easy to overlook certain tasks and mismanage a project. Having separate tools for scheduling, task monitoring, and project management may lead to inconsistencies, conflicts in schedules, or missed deadlines.

5. Inaccessible data sources cause delays

Most remote teams work in an asynchronous nature. Team members aren’t always communicating in real-time. If they’re using different tools for data storage and file sharing, information may not be easily accessible. One member might require access to a file but might have to wait for the person who created the file to go online. Situations like this can create delays in workflows.

How Unified Platforms Improve Remote Work Productivity

Now that you understand the challenges of having multiple tools for your remote team, your next step to increase remote work productivity is to find a solution that doesn’t require disparate apps. One of the best solutions for this is a unified platform. Why? Well, here are some of the ways a unified platform benefits your remote team:

1. Provides a central hub for all processes

In the 2021 State of Remote Work by Buffer, 16 percent of the respondents indicated difficulties with collaboration and communication as one of their biggest struggles with working remotely. A unified platform addresses this problem by integrating all work processes into a single centralized dashboard. It puts all the information and resources remote workers need in an easy-to-use interface. This reduces the time wasted on switching from app to app and facilitates smoother collaboration and communication.

2. Empowers users to create their own workflows

Unified platforms typically enable no-code or low-code workflows. This means that your remote team can easily configure workflows to meet your business objectives without having to rely on an IT expert. They can also adapt workflows to their own style and conveniently improve existing processes. This can help automate workflows and streamline project management. With managers spending an average of 8 hours each week on mundane, manual tasks, workflow automation allows companies to prioritize their time and efforts on more important things.

3. Synchronizes data across all platforms

Another advantage of unified platforms is their capability of centralizing your knowledge base. Unified platforms integrate all data sources and applications into a single dashboard. Aside from serving as a central repository for data, they also synchronize data across all platforms. This ensures that your remote team always has access to the latest and most accurate data needed for their tasks. This instantaneous data synchronization will be integral for business operations if you’re among the 58.25 percent of companies that are planning to combine remote and in-office work in the future.

4. Facilitates smart reporting

By making all data sources easily accessible, a unified platform facilitates faster and more accurate reporting. It consolidates multiple data sources, simplifies complex data, and utilizes cloud-based analytics to generate real-time reports across all platforms. It can be configured to monitor relevant KPIs and display metrics on an intuitive dashboard. This accurate and timely reporting enables users to make smarter business decisions that aid in work productivity.

5. Creates great user experiences

A unified platform significantly improves user experiences. By integrating all tools and apps needed into an easy-to-use interface, it helps reduce manual work and creates smoother workflows. Moreover, it provides access to the same user interface and real-time data across different channels. Users can access their dashboards whether they’re on their computers or mobile gadgets.

Digital Workplaces for Better Remote Work Productivity

Indeed, unified platforms address all the challenges that multiple tools pose to remote work productivity. For businesses to thrive in the future, having one in place will be essential. Kissflow digital workplace offers better remote work productivity and increases employee satisfaction. In fact, a report shows that 74 percent of employees working in digital workplaces rate their job satisfaction as good or very good.

With partially remote teams expected to be the norm in the future, now is the ideal time for you to utilize digital workplace. This digital workplace platform streamlines your processes and integrates all business functions into a single centralized dashboard that is easily accessible to all authorized users. It allows you to manage your team more efficiently and enables your team members to work and collaborate more smoothly. Ultimately, it leads to increased productivity and faster business growth.