Today, agencies far and wide are tapping into the power of a globally distributed workforce, unleashing a torrent of creativity and innovation that knows no boundaries. And with each passing day, the stories of remote agency success continue to mount, proving that location is no longer a deterrent to delivering exceptional results.
But, like any new frontier, remote work presents its own set of challenges. The remote lifestyle may seem idyllic from afar, with visions of digital nomads sipping piña coladas on tropical beaches while effortlessly churning out groundbreaking campaigns. The reality, however, is far more complex.
In order to make the remote agency model work long-term, it must rest on a foundation of discipline, organization, and collaboration—pillars that demand the right tools to support them. Without the proper toolkit, even the most brilliant agency can stumble in the face of distance and collaboration hurdles.
That’s why in this blog post, we’ll explore the digital tools that have become the beating heart of modern virtual agencies. So read on to discover the secret weapons of success for conquering remote terrain!
I. Resource Planning
When you’re managing a dynamic team of remote creatives spread across different time zones, working on multiple projects simultaneously, it’s all too easy for things to get muddled. Resource planning and management tools can make this process considerably less complicated. These virtual wranglers will corral your agency’s talents, ensuring they’re always optimally allocated and maximizing their potential.
#1: Resource Guru
You’re hustling to meet that all-important deadline, the pressure’s on, and then… a team member’s pre-scheduled leave throws a wrench into your plans. Sound familiar? Resource Guru helps prevent such scheduling hiccups from becoming productivity-destroying disasters. It’s a scheduling wizard that puts all your agency’s resources within one master calendar, giving you the power to create the perfect ensemble of skill sets and equipment for every single project.
No more overbooked team members, double-booked conference rooms, or unauthorized technology usage. Using Resource Guru’s powerful visual dashboard and drag-and-drop interface, you can effortlessly tweak rosters and schedules to get the job done on time, every time.
Winning Features:
- Absence Management Made Easy. Prepare yourself for the road ahead with daily employee time-off updates and a staff holiday planner that grants you an all-seeing eye into your team’s availability.
- Agency-specific Content Bank. The platform boasts a library of agency-specific wisdom covering everything from agency project management methodologies to managing client relations and beyond, supplying you with a wealth of info to sail your agency through any storm.
- Tailored Resource Utilization Insights. With Resource Guru’s custom fields and powerful filters, obtaining the exact numbers you need has never been easier. Customize and fine-tune your utilization reports to match your unique requirements.
Pricing:
Resource Guru knows that every agency’s journey is unique. That’s why they’ve concocted a range of pricing options to suit your needs and budget:
- Grasshopper Plan ($4.16/month per person)
- Blackbelt Plan ($6.65/month per person)
- Master Plan ($10/month per person)
II. Workflow Management
This category brings order to the chaos of virtual agency operations. Workflow management tools are like the conductors of the remote work symphony, ensuring everyone is in tune and hitting all the right notes. Tasks are organized, deadlines are met, and progress is tracked—all without having a physical team huddle around a whiteboard.
#2: Asana
Asana is a powerhouse project management platform that streamlines and simplifies the entire workflow from inception to completion. Equipped with a sophisticated set of features, it gives you and your team unparalleled transparency to monitor progress and stay on top of all the moving parts.
Asana facilitates task assignments, timeline tracking, automated notifications, and an array of collaboration tools that foster a spirit of camaraderie and accountability. Any project team can benefit from this kind of comprehensive oversight, but it’s especially useful for distributed teams.
Winning Features:
- Simplify Project Communication. Stay in the loop on all the latest project developments with Asana’s dedicated inbox, where you can instantly view updates and notifications about your project.
- Built-in Reporting Tools. Get a better understanding of your team’s progress with Asana’s clear visuals and intuitive reporting tools. Export data from Asana and share your reports in a few clicks.
- Rule-based Automation. Utilize Asana’s Rules to automate repetitive yet essential tasks and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
Pricing:
Asana’s free plan offers basic project management features for up to 15 members, while pricier plans unlock more advanced capabilities and support larger teams.
- Premium ($10.99/user/month)
- Business ($24.99/user/month)
#3: Unito
Unito is your remote agency’s answer to pain-free, user-friendly automation experience. Where most automation tools follow the beaten path of trigger-based automations, Unito takes it a step further with bidirectional data synchronization. Its revolutionary approach ensures that all the latest info from one app automatically syncs with any other connected app in real time.
For example, you can sync your Excel data with a corresponding Google Sheets document, and any changes made will be reflected in both tools instantly. No more manual updates, no more chasing information across platforms.
Winning Features:
- Interconnect Your Tech Stack. The platform helps you create automated pathways between your existing software ecosystem, so you can scale up your workflow without adding extra admin tasks to the plate.
- No-code Automation. Unito’s intuitive self-serve, no-code framework makes automating your workflow an easy and hassle-free undertaking.
- Create Custom Rules. You call the shots on what data gets synced, where it goes, and how it’s handled. Whether it’s tags, assignees, comments, or custom fields, Unito’s customizable filters give you total control.
Pricing:
You can take advantage of Unito’s 14-day free trial to explore the platform and its capabilities. After that, you can select either of the following paid plans:
- Team ($30/month)
- Company ($247/month)
- Enterprise (Custom)
III. Communication and Collaboration
In a remote agency, you don’t have the luxury of walking over to a colleague’s desk for that impromptu brainstorming session or gathering in the conference room for a quick hash-out. That’s where communication tools come into play, allowing your team to replicate the office feel of lively banter and productive meetings, all while retaining the freedom of a distributed workforce.
#4: Slack
No remote office is complete without a virtual water cooler, and Slack fills that role with aplomb. Slack is a messaging tool that brings all your team communication into one place, giving your remote staff a virtual location to chat, brainstorm, and collaborate.
With Slack, you can easily create topic-specific channels for discussions, quickly search through the chat history for a specific message, and even do voice and video chats for more urgent conversations. On top of all that, Slack boasts an army of user-friendly bots, integrations, and customizations to make your agency’s Slack workspace truly your own.
Winning Features:
- Fort Knox-level security. With Slack, you can breathe easy knowing that cutting-edge cybersecurity measures are guarding your data from unauthorized access.
- Contextualized conversations. Give your discussions more context with file and link sharing, image previews, custom emojis, and more.
- Collaborate with external partners. Slack Connect lets you team up with up to 20 external partners to collaborate on projects and keep the conversations going.
Pricing:
The free version of Slack packs a powerful punch, offering plenty of features to get the job done. However, if you crave extra functionality or customization, they’ve got you covered with these paid options:
- Pro ($7.25/month)
- Business+ ($12.5/month)
- Enterprise Grid (customized to fit your needs)
#5: Zoom
Sometimes, even the most carefully-crafted messages fail to do justice to the ideas in your head. When that happens, you can rely on Zoom to carry the message. Zoom isn’t just any video conferencing tool—it’s the crème de la crème for remote agencies seeking the ultimate virtual meeting experience. Moreover, its built-in functionality allows users to easily record Zoom meeting, ensuring that important discussions and decisions are documented for future reference or team members who couldn’t attend
With its effortless setup, versatile meeting options, and ironclad security protocols, the platform ensures your team’s digital gatherings go off without a hitch. From quick ad-hoc team huddles to full-fledged video conferences featuring multiple guests from around the world, Zoom brings everyone together with crystal-clear audio and HD video.
Winning Features:
- Sluggish Connection Tolerant. Zoom keeps your meetings running smoothly, even on poor connections. It automatically adjusts bandwidth usage based on the strength of your connection, so you can keep chugging along without worrying about stuttering video feeds or choppy audio.
- Translated Captions. For agencies operating across diverse linguistic landscapes, Zoom’s built-in translated subtitles keep the conversations going strong, even when there are language barriers to contend with.
- Interactive Screen Sharing. Multiple video call participants can share their screens simultaneously and co-annotate them in real time. Zoom’s advanced whiteboarding tools also let you draw diagrams and maps to add a visual element to your conversations.
Pricing:
Zoom’s free plan gives you all the staples of a great video call experience, but if you need more, check out one of their upgraded plans:
- Pro ($15.99/month/user)
- Business ($19.99/month/user)
- Business Plus ($25/month/user)
IV. File And Document Management
In the hustle and bustle of remote work, you can’t afford to squander valuable minutes digging through disorganized folders or endless email threads just to find that one crucial document. What you need is a comprehensive document management solution that brings order to your agency’s digital mayhem, putting all your files, documents, images, and archives in one accessible location.
#6: FileCenter
FileCenter is a cloud-based file management solution that gives your remote teams all the bells and whistles they’ll ever need to tame the unruly mess of digital documents. Effortless scanning and meticulous file organization are at the core of FileCenter’s capabilities. Plus, with custom permission levels, you can rest assured that only the necessary eyes will be peeking at your agency’s confidential data.
And if that wasn’t enough, File Center seamlessly integrates with industry-leading platforms like Sharepoint, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox. So, no need to disrupt your workflow or create an extra hoop to jump through. FileCenter adapts to fit right into your work routine.
Winning Features:
- PDF Editing. FileCenter boasts a formidable, built-in PDF editor, rendering the need for pricey alternatives like Adobe a thing of the past. Edit, annotate, and transform your PDFs with ease, all within the comfort of your FileCenter sanctuary.
- Digitize Hard Copies. Easily convert your paper documents into searchable PDFs and archive your records to safeguard vital records against physical damage.
- Automate File Naming and Storage. With its rules-based intelligence, the software automatically assigns relevant names to your files based on their content and re-routes them to the right folders.
Pricing:
FileCenter’s modest one-time price tag of $100-$300 gives your agency long-term access to a powerful piece of document management software. Alternatively, you can opt for their monthly subscriptions starting at just $5/month per user.
Arm Your Remote Agency with the Right Tools for Success
As the remote agency model continues its rise to prominence, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the correct tools are vital to managing the unique challenges of a virtual workforce. With the proper resources at your disposal, you can build highly productive distributed teams that transcend geographical boundaries and set your agency on a course for success. So take the time to explore these tools, experiment with them in your own environment, and find the ones that best meet your remote agency’s needs.