8 hybrid work tools that rise to every challenge 

Hybrid work has become the norm for many businesses – with eight in 10 currently working hybrid or fully remote. But while this way of working comes with lots of benefits, like boosted productivity and better work-life balance, it’s not without its challenges. 

Today, I’m going to help you iron out the kinks in your hybrid work processes. After reading this article, you’ll have a better idea of where your hybrid team needs support and the best tools to overcome any hurdle. 

Here’s an overview of the best hybrid work tools that make life easier for your and your team: 

1. Filestage
2. Slack
3. FigJam
4. Asana
5. iDrive
6. Calandly
7. Connecteam
8. Headspace for Work

Let’s get stuck in! 

1. Filestage – best hybrid work tool for faster approvals 

When you create a new version of a design or piece of video content, you need to share it with your teammates or clients for review. But too often, teams lose valuable time giving feedback on projects before reaching final approval, all because they don’t have a single shared space to discuss work. 

Teams can get caught up in lengthy email chains with clients or stall projects altogether until everyone’s in the office to give feedback. If this sounds familiar, it’s time to get started with an intuitive review and approval platform like Filestage. 

Key benefits of Filestage for hybrid teams

Filestage has been designed to take the hassle out of your day-to-day project review and approval process by streamlining the way your teams share, review, and approve content. 

Here are just some of the ways in can help you give and gather feedback: 

• Review a wide range of different file formats (designs, documents, videos, PDFs, etc.) with one secure platform to create an effective approval workflow
• Invite unlimited collaborators to review and leave comments by sending them a link or automated email invite 
• Turn comments into to-do lists for more accurate, actionable feedback and faster turnarounds
• Compare versions and feedback to track the progress of your projects
• Give files the green light by marking them approved with a single click  

2. Slack – best hybrid work tool for effective communication

Source: slack.com

Communication gaps are one of the most common challenges people face in a hybrid work environment. 

When working remotely, teams often have to deal with information delays, misunderstandings, and missed memos. This can lead to poor productivity, feelings of isolation, and lower levels of job satisfaction. Yikes!

The good news is that organizations can tackle these challenges by keeping lines of communication open with the help of an online communication platform like Slack. 

Key benefits of Slack for hybrid teams

Slack is one of the most popular pieces of software for remote, hybrid, and in-office teams alike. The instant messaging platform makes it easy to communicate with teammates whether they’re in the same room or halfway across the world. 

But DMs are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to supporting effective communication in a hybrid workspace. Slack also allows teams to: 

• Create channels for different projects, topics, or departments to keep conversations organized and accessible for relevant members of the team 
• Share files, documents, and multimedia in Slack channels and direct messages 
• Start voice and video calls to brainstorm with remote team members using Huddles 
• Search for past messages, files, and conversations in any channel to avoid missed information for stronger collaboration 
• Add custom emojis for more engaging, personalized communications across the business 

3. FigJam – best hybrid work tool for real time ideation

Source: figma.com

Effective communication is a must for any hybrid team, but virtually putting your heads together to create quality work is what makes a successful hybrid business. The problem is, getting everyone to collaborate seamlessly can be a challenge when they’re not in the same space physically. 

Too much messing around with instant messages and screen sharing doesn’t do much for the creative flow. We need to be able to share and build on ideas in the moment, with minimal interruptions. Which is why a lot of hybrid teams use a simple remote collaboration tool like FigJam. 

Key benefits of FigJam for hybrid teams

FigJam is essentially an online whiteboard that lets multiple team members make suggestions, share ideas, and map out projects simultaneously in real time, regardless of their location. 

This kind of dynamic collaboration makes it easier to bounce ideas off one another while you’re in the zone to make the whole creative process faster and more enjoyable. 

Here are some of the ways that Figma makes real-time ideation easier for hybrid teams: 

• You can work on Figma from the comfort of your own browser without needing to download or open the app 
• Create, move, and group sticky notes together to organize everyone’s thoughts in a clear way
• Enjoy bursts of deep focus time by setting a shared timer with concentration music
• Vote, react, and comment on different posts for a smoother creative workflow 
• Use FigJam’s own AI bot to generate prompts, summarize ideas, and more

4. Asana – best hybrid work tool for managing multiple projects

Source: asana.com

Chances are, you and your team have more than one project on the go at any given time. And to make sure everything gets done on time with minimal headaches, you need to know what’s what so you can plan ahead. 

Project management is easier said than done, whether you’re working remotely or not. But it’s absolutely essential for internal teams and clients alike, as everyone needs to be kept in the loop on project tracking and progress. This is where a project management tool like Asana becomes invaluable. 

Key benefits of Asana for hybrid teams

Asana is one of those project management tools that makes it easier for your remote team to stay on top of their to-do lists at all times. 

Here are some of the biggest benefits of using Asana’s project management software: 

• Remote teammates and clients can request work easily so you can keep everything centralized and organized for clear project progress tracking
• Asana integrates with all other popular collaboration tools so teams can keep projects moving from one stage to the next with ease
• With Asana, you can automate tedious manual tasks to help simplify workflows, reduce the room for error, and save time to focus on making the best work  
• Create subtasks for each member of the team to tick off as the project moves along the pipeline 
• Plan out your week by assigning different projects to different days as needed 

5. iDrive – best hybrid work tool for sharing and storing files 

Source: idrive.com

These days, we’re creating more content than ever before. And with so much of that content being created and shared remotely, your company storage space can start to fill up pretty fast. 

What’s more, the nature of hybrid working means teammates need to be able to access their files at any time and from anywhere. And these files should be backed up so that nothing gets lost or deleted. So, while a single hard drive might have done the trick back in the day, remote and hybrid working calls for a more capable storage solution.

Cloud-based storage platforms and file sharing tools are a popular choice because they offer an affordable way to save and backup files for easy access. If this all sounds like music to your ears, then you’re sure to love iDrive. 

Key benefits of iDrive for hybrid teams

iDrive has earned its stripes as a reliable cloud storage software that gives businesses some serious bang for their buck. 

Here are some of the reasons why iDrive is so popular for remote workers:

• iDrive gives users 10 GB of free storage space with extra discounts for new customers that need more 
• You can sync files to your account so they’re accessible on any of your chosen devices 
• Use the ‘Offline View’ option from your mobile devices to view files even when you don’t have internet access
• Enjoy full control over your files by setting and changing access rights to each file whenever you need
• Protect your data and keep files secure with advanced end-to-end encryption 

6. Calendly – best hybrid work tool for scheduling meetings and events

Source: calendly.com

When you’ve got remote employees working from different places with different schedules, it makes coordinating your time together that bit trickier. 

Whether you want to organize a company-wide meeting or find out if there will be a desk available in the office tomorrow, knowing your team’s availability is key to a streamlined hybrid workflow. Sure, you can always send an email or drop a message into your team channel, but this takes up too much precious time and effort on everyone’s part. 

Thankfully, scheduling tools like Calendly provide a centralized platform where team members can see each other’s availability and schedule meetings without the back-and-forth communication.

Key benefits of Calendly for hybrid teams

Calendly is a scheduling software that takes the hassle out of organizing meetings, events, and appointments. This can be a game changer for remote teams working across different projects, schedules and time zones. 

Here are some of the ways that Calendly can streamline your hybrid work processes: 

• Calendly automates time-consuming tasks like appointment booking and rescheduling, so you can get on with everything else
• Connect up with digital calendars like Google Calendar and Outlook to cross-check your appointments and prevent any clashes or conflicts 
• Get automated reminders and cancellation or rescheduling notifications to stay in the loop at all times 
• Say “bon voyage” to time zone confusion, because Calendly syncs up with everyone’s individual time zones when scheduling virtual meetings
• Calendly integrates with video conferencing platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Webex so you can join every meeting with a single click

And if you’ve got too many meetings for even Calendly to help, check out our five tips to reduce meetings.

7. Connecteam – best hybrid work tool for HR management 

Source: connecteam.com

Effective HR management is crucial for creating a happy hybrid work environment. Without a proper workforce management system in place, you’ll run into problems with project coordination, onboarding, employee satisfaction, and overall business performance. 

Workforce management tools like Connecteam let you look after your teams, no matter where in the world they are. The tool works by giving you a single space to train, collect feedback, and communicate with everyone in the business. No matter the size of your business, Connecteam can make it much, much easier to manage. 

Key benefits of Connecteam for hybrid teams

Connecteam is a powerful workforce management tool that supports a transparent and productive hybrid work environment for everyone involved.

Sound like something your business could use? Let’s look at some of Connecteam’s key features:

• Set automated reminders for deadlines and important events to help everyone stay on track
• Create casual community chat groups to support communication between teammates and managers 
• Connecteam has a range of employee engagement tools like employee milestones and digital rewards
• The HR platform is easy to use with an intuitive mobile app for hybrid workers
• Teams can keep learning and growing their skills with mobile training and courses

8. Headspace for Work – best hybrid work tool for employee well-being

Source: headspace.com

While some people thrive in a remote work environment, it can be a challenging adjustment for others. From social isolation to struggles setting boundaries, there are lots of factors that can impact your hybrid team’s well-being. That’s why it’s important to support their mental health wherever you can.

Using the best collaboration tools and promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment play a big role when it comes to employee satisfaction and overall well-being. But there are other tools designed to help your team look after themselves. Headspace for Work is a popular app that gives teams access to different resources for mindfulness and meditation in the workplace. 

Key benefits of Headspace for Work for hybrid teams

Headspace for Work uses science-backed meditation and mindfulness techniques to ease stress and improve productivity. 

Here’s how Headspace for Work could support your hybrid team: 

• By incorporating mindfulness techniques into their daily routines, team members find it easier to concentrate and stay focused on tasks
• In-app team challenges help teammates lift each other up and grow a more open and supportive hybrid work environment 
• More space for mindfulness in day-to-day work can reduce employee burnout and sick days
• By promoting relaxation and mental clarity, Headspace for Work can boost creativity and innovative thinking within teams 
• Your team can use Headspace on the go whenever they need to take a moment to reset and recharge 

Final thoughts 

I hope you’ve enjoyed learning about the different remote work software to support your hybrid workplace. 

Hybrid work can certainly present some challenges. But with the right tools and proper processes, you and your team can reap all the benefits of hybrid working, without needing to worry about things like broken communication or slow, sluggish approvals. To see how Filestage can help your hybrid team create and approve their best work, start your free trial today.