Key tools for doing business globally

Whether you need to liaise with clients around the world or bring together a remote workforce, connectivity it key. A fast, stable and reliable internet connection is an imperative, however, it doesn’t stop there. Digital innovation moves rapidly and even 10 years ago, relying on digital tools to do business was an impossibility. Today, the ability to connect with employees and clients, whether they’re in the same building and city or half way around the globe, has dramatically improved. 

File sharing 

To send large files, naturally you need a fast internet connection. Beyond that however, there are several platforms available that help you get your files from A to B, C, D, or even Z. File sharing is often thought of as cloud computing, but to send the types of files that are used by marketing teams or people in creative industries, you need a middle step. There are many companies offering file sharing services, allowing business to send hundreds of megabytes and gigabytes around the world, providing a safety net that mitigates against the possibility of dropped connections when transferring directly and aren’t limited by file size caps like most email providers are. 

Video conferencing 

Video calling has been a reality since the 80s, but it was never reliable or useful. In 2018, video calls have entered the mainstream and everyone uses it to communicate with friends and family in far flung places. Video or tele-conferencing has been making waves in the business world too. Working remotely has become a legitimate way to conduct business around the world, with software such as Skype, Facetime Viber and more, at the forefront of the industry. These platforms allow meetings of any and every size to be conducted easily and conveniently, regardless of the physical distance between participants. 

Project management 

Coordinating staff and keeping everyone informed on a project has in the past meant that everyone needs to be under one roof. In the same way that video calling has become incredibly powerful and a vital business tool, project management has also been digitised and streamlined. Real-time updates coupled with intricate and powerful software means that managing a team isn’t geographically restricted any longer. The software available has developed from simple schedules and lists to fully-interactive and tightly integrated pieces of software that ensure everyone understands the direction the team is headed and their part in the plan.

Cloud collaboration

A major drawback of a disparate workforce was keeping close tabs on version control. Who has the most up-to-date version? Often, businesses attempted to solve this conundrum by using physical drives accessible through a network, but that led to other issues and never fixed the core problem of version control. Now there are many cloud computing solutions that allow multiple people to access the same file, at the same time, without losing anyone’s changes or worrying about who has the most current version. There are no concerns about whether someone has saved the file to their desktop, rather than the network drive, and all alternations and contributions can be tracked easily. 

A powerful package for cutting overheads

Taken individually, each of these cornerstones are a fine addition to a regular business. Staff in the office need to communicate and collaborate digitally, even if they are in the same room. However, bring each of these elements together and it starts to show how a remote workforce can be equally efficient and productive as one required to turn up to the office each day. The margins for entrepreneurs can be wafer thin so any chance to save money should be eagerly grabbed. Reducing the size of an office space and developing a remote workforce can save thousands of dollars a year in rent and overheads, which is money that can be used to improve other facets of the business.