March 29, 2021
5 Business Apps to Boost Productivity in 2021
trade-in and upgrade tablet, phones, laptop, smart watch

If you’re like the majority of businesses, most (if not all) of your employees are working from home these days. And it looks like remote work is here to stay. The percentage of global workers who permanently work from home is expected to double in 2021, according to an Enterprise Technology Research (ETR) survey. 

With team members dispersed across the city, state or even the world, it’s more important than ever to keep your staff connected, productive and happy. You’re in luck: There’s an app for that. Here are seven of the best business apps that will help you boost productivity in 2021:  

#1: Zoom

According to cloud provider Okta, Zoom was the fastest growing app in their network with 110% growth in unique workforce users in March 2020. Zoom had 300 daily meeting participants in April 2020 alone. 

Like Skype, Cisco Webex, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and other popular video conferencing apps, Zoom allows team members to connect online for face-to-face meetings, brainstorming sessions and even happy hours. No matter which platform you choose, video conferencing apps are becoming a necessity for remote teams. Not only do video calls improve communication and collaboration between employees; they also increase productivity. According to cloud communications solutions provider Lifesize, 90% of surveyed workers say video conferencing makes it easier to get their point across and 89% say it reduces the time required to complete projects or tasks. 

#2: Slack

Slack continues to rank among the most popular apps for businesses, and for good reason. This easy-to-use communication platform is a powerful collaboration tool for teams of all sizes. Often described as a messaging app on steroids, Slack allows users to create private and group chatrooms, receive real-time updates and notifications, share files, search messages and more. 

Plus, employees can access Slack across multiple devices, including their laptop, tablet, smartphone and smart watch. 

Every day, Slack is used by more than 10 million people in 150 countries. According to research by the company, 79% of business owners say the app has improved their organization’s overall culture, and Slack customers report an average productivity boost of 32% after deploying the app.

#3: Microsoft Office 365

It’s no wonder why Microsoft Office 365 continues to snag the top app spot, both by total number of users and monthly active users. Not only does this user-friendly office app include a ton of handy features, but it also can be used on a Mac, PC or any mobile device. 

Microsoft 365 includes the three big software apps: Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Everything runs from and is saved in the cloud, which means users can access documents any time and from anywhere. The app also includes OneDrive, which is available for online backups—an important step in keeping your data safe. Which leads us to our next apps…

#4: GlobalProtect & AnyConnect

As data protection continues to be a top priority for businesses across the globe, network security apps like Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect and Cisco AnyConnect are skyrocketing in popularity. According to Okta, GlobalProtect showed 94% growth in March 2020 and AnyConnect was not far behind at 86%. As more companies are moving data to the cloud, these Virtual Private Network (VPN) tools offer the ultimate security—which is especially important for businesses with a remote workforce.

#5: FreshBooks

This simple, cloud-based accounting service was designed with small business owners in mind. The app offers loads of features, including time tracking, invoicing, expense tracking, business reports and even an option to take credit card payments—all from your smartphone or tablet. Even better? FreshBooks can be integrated with other services, including PayPal, Basecamp and Google Apps. 

While these five apps can help increase productivity, it’s also important to equip your team with top-notch technology. For many businesses, trade-ins are the most cost-effective option for upgrading employee tech. Phobio can help! Let’s talk.