Over the past decade, we’ve witnessed the evolution of workplaces. The hierarchical system is becoming obsolete. Creative offices have been spawning everywhere around the globe. The conventional 9-to-5 schedule is slowly dissolving. Communication is more open, as transparency grows in various institutions. Workplaces become more and more fun. Last but not least, especially after the pandemic hits, the space for working has stopped being confined to a single place. 

These interesting trends also call for tools and apps that can facilitate workers and help them adapt to the ever-changing landscape of workspaces. At the same time, tech companies are quick to notice these trends and develop working tools that can provide assistance in various aspects of a person’s working life, from messaging to presentations. With that said, our team has researched several collaboration tools that can enhance your team’s working experience, especially considering the possibility that we will work from anywhere. Here are some of them:

1. Gather

While there are many options of virtual offices out there, Gather is one of the greatest platforms that your team can try out. On Gather, you could customize your office with a lot of things, from setting up personalized desks for each team member to creating a Zen garden where everyone can gather. Gather also has mini games for employees to refresh their minds during their lunch break, making a cool office much attainable. The proximity chat feature also helps employees who wish to have a meeting or go somewhere quieter to focus on their work.

2. Weekdone

Tired of using the same post-its? Your team might like Weekdone. It’s a project manager app that can be used to make plans, set objectives, and monitor contributions. A user on G2.com said that Weekdone is great for allowing both employers and employees to take a look at how much an individual contribution actually affects a company’s goal – which is something that often goes unnoticed in a conventional setting. Another review says that Weekdone helps create an open and transparent office culture while boosting productivity.

3. Microsoft Teams

If you’re opting for a slightly conventional option, Microsoft Teams might be suitable for your company. A cool thing about Microsoft Teams is that it reduces the dependency on offline software and google docs, as they have their in-app Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These in-app programs allow documents to be edited collaboratively and (a)synchronously, making the platform a versatile space for any kind of company. Managers can also assign tasks to certain individuals on Teams, and the app also facilitates virtual meetings.

4. Trello

Teams who wish to up their post-it game might want to try out Trello. Trello’s main feature is their board, where everyone can look at which tasks need to be done. One of the greatest things about Trello is its neat and simplistic design, which is combined with soothing color palettes. It’s certainly a great replacement for rigid-looking post-its and similar features of other task delegation apps. To complement its great look, Trello also has automatic task delegation, making things simpler for managers. Also, it comes with a relatively budget-friendly monthly fee.

5. Serene

Like how its name sounds, Serene is a great app for those who wish to focus on their tasks in silence. Regardless of our working place, distraction always finds a way to reach us. From random calls to sudden urge to browse about something, these distractions can be a nuisance, especially when we work from home. To assist individuals who struggle with focus, Serene comes with productivity planner, app blocker and phone silencer. If that’s not enough, they also provide focus music for audiophiles who love working while tuning into their favorite songs.