With COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect and hit businesses in the world, one thing is for sure: going digital is one of the key elements to survive. The pandemic has introduced us to the ‘new normal,’ where social distancing is a must, and the use of digital tools is advised.

To help you transition to the new normal, here are some digital tools that can help you in managing your business during and after the pandemic.

Communication

1. Skype

It’s the longer running video platform that allows you to video call up to 50 users at once. It can be used on any phone – Android or Apple, – it can also be used on tablets, computers, laptop, and even on smart TV.

This tool can help you in conducting virtual meetings with your employees or business partners. For the free version of Skype, you can talk to up to 25 users at a time.

2. Zoom

Zoom became the most essential platform during the COVID-19 outbreak. Its CEO Eric Yuan even made the platform free for K-12 schools.

For the basic free account of this video conferencing tool allows you to chat with up to 100 users for 40. For more users or a longer chat, you will need a paid subscription ($14.99/month).

3.  Google Hangouts

To help businesses and schools during the COVID-19 crisis, Google offers the premium version of its workplace video chat, Google Hangout, for free until July.

This means you can set up a call up to 250 participants, live streaming for up to 100,000 viewers within a domain, and the ability to record meetings and savethem to Google Drive.

4. Loom

To reduce back-and-forth typing or emailing, Loom helps you send your message across quickly and clearing using the power of video.

You can use this when explaining complicated tasks, sharing revisions, troubleshooting customer issues, and onboarding clients or new employees.

With this application, you can create a shareable video in less time than it would take to type an email.

5. Slack

Slack allows you to collaborate and communicate with your team seamlessly. It’s like a chat room for your whole team or company which is designed to replace email as a primary method of sharing or communicating. You can organize your communication through channels and select people who will be part of it.

For teams working on coronavirus pandemic research, response, or mitigation, Slack is offering free upgrades to paid plans.

Marketing

6. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is a social media management platform that helps you to curate content and schedule post across different social media platforms.

If you’re too overwhelmed handling different platforms, you can use Hootsuite to manage your social media accounts seamlessly. They are providing free access for Hootsuite Professional to small businesses and non-profits until July 1, 2020.

7. MailChimp

This software allows you to manage your mailing lists, newsletters, automated campaigns, etc. It provides a wide range of tools that can help you with your email marketing
efforts.

In response to COVID-19 pandemic, MailChimp is offering a free standard account to eligible groups sending critical public health information about COVID-19 until June 30, 2020.

8. Canva

Canva is a graphic design platform that you can use to create visual content like social media graphics, presentations, and posters. This platform allows users who have little to no graphic design skills to create content quickly as it provides templates that you can easily use.

Project Management

9. Trello

Managing crucial projects or tasks for your business can be a bit challenging during the COVID-19 crisis. But with Trello, you can efficiently monitor the progress of your projects together with your team or employees. This project management tool allows you to stay organized with an easy drag-and-drop functionality built into the app.

10. Dropbox

Dropbox is a cloud storage service that allows you and your team to store and access files on any device anytime and anywhere.  It also helps you in transferring important files to a new computer. This tool also makes collaborating with team easier as you can share files easily. With its free plan, you can have a 2GB of storage space.

11. Google Drive

Alternatively to Dropbox, you can use Google Drive to store and access your files online. It offers a free 15GB of storage space that you can use to store important documents or files.

Using these tools can help you in navigating the new normal efficiently and effectively. Remember, going digital is a must now so you have to embrace and maximize these digital tools for your business to thrive amid the COVID-19
crisis. 

Image source: Freepik