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Living Remotely – Best Tools, Tips and Services for a Life on the Road
Thanks to technology, today’s business landscape is completely different than it was a decade ago. Advances in technology and connectivity have made it possible for people to work from just about anywhere in the world. Because of this we’ve seen huge cultural changes in large companies that embrace telecommuting policies and many businesses and industries (like virtual assistance) flourish in the wake of the change.
As more and more individuals find themselves living remotely and traveling across the United States and abroad, we wanted to take the opportunity to point out some of the best tools, tips and services for living a life on the road. By employing these tips and services, you’ll have better peace of mind whether you are traveling to the Californian beaches, Rocky Mountains or across the pond to the United Kingdom.
Internet
It’s impossible to think of our life without the internet or complete connectivity to the big world that it has made so small? It’s become an essential in just about every individual’s life, but it is the life-blood of a business traveler. Luckily there are a number of solutions to keep us connected!
If you are traveling within the United States and carry a smartphone, most devices today allow you to use them as a Wi-Fi ‘hot spot’ to connect to the internet. As long as you have service, you have the internet. If you want something more dedicated, then and you can look at getting a MiFi wireless router from your carrier or try a mobile WiFi service like Internet on the Go or Karma.
If you are planning to go International, check out XCom Global and Tep Wireless. These companies have their Wi-Fi devices that work in many different countries.
Meetings and Presentation
Another essential for most business travelers and remote workers is the ability to take part in virtual meetings and presentations. While Skype for Business is a favorite application that allows you to see colleagues’ presence, start IM, have voice or video conversations, present documents and share desktops, there are a few other applications tailored to professionals and their work objectives that deserve taking a look at. Join.Me, AnyMeeting and Team Viewer are all solutions that let you collaborate online with multiple team members and share your screen for online presentations.
File Storage and Sharing
Another critical part of remote working and collaboration is the ability to access and share files. Thanks to cloud technology, this has gotten much easier. Just keep in mind, putting items in the cloud does require you to carefully think about what types of information you are saving and who you allow to access it to ensure the security of your information, and that of your company, clients and customers.
Microsoft’s OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox, Box and FilesAnywhere are all file storage and sharing applications that employ cloud technology. Each comes with varying amounts of storage and various pricing.
Staying Productive
Just because you are on the road, you shouldn’t lose any of your productivity. Thankfully tools like the new Microsoft Office, help people and businesses of all sizes work better – and easier – together. For example, if your team were to use the new version of Office (Word, PowerPoint or OneNote) to make revisions to a presentation or project, everyone would have the ability to edit the same draft at the same time. The best way to start taking advantage of the new Office is via an Office 365 subscription.
Staying Juiced
One thing that can quickly stop you in your tracks working remotely is a dead battery. Whether it’s your laptop, smartphone or mobile device, having juice is essential and you need to be prepared for those moments you aren’t near an outlet.
There are many lightweight external battery chargers designed specifically for travelers to help in these situations. Try the LinearFlux Lithium Card Pro, mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Pro or the Oxa Juice Box S2 External Battery to keep your smartphone or mobile devices charged and working.
Stay in Touch, Don’t Get Lost and Sleep Well
It’s important to stay close to those you love when traveling. Some great applications for doing that include social messenger service WhatsApp, which works both domestically and in most international locations, Facebook and WeChat.
You probably also want to keep a map app handy on your mobile device just to ensure you don’t get lost. Google Maps, Bing Maps and Waze are three great apps that offer GPS and step by step directions that can be downloaded to your device.
And to ensure you get a good night’s sleep, you’ve got to have a decent place to stay that caters to business professionals. Online travel services like Booking.Com, Expedia, and Kayak allow you to find the best rates on hotel rooms, rental cars and airline flights. Many also offer reward programs, so rack up those points and enjoy a few free night stays! If you are traveling for an extended period to one location, another great option to consider is Airbnb business travel. Here you can book apartments, condos and homes that provide you more of a ‘at-home’ comfort and flexibility.
Keeping up with business while working remotely doesn’t have to be stressful or a chore. Employing these great tools and tips will help you find peace of mind and possibly some extra time to enjoy your new surroundings.
The post Living Remotely – Best Tools, Tips and Services for a Life on the Road appeared first on SmallBizTechnology.
Ramon Ray, Editor & Technology Evangelist, Smallbiztechnology.com
http://www.twitter.com/ramonray | http://www.facebook.com/smallbiztechnology [email protected]
Small Business Technology Tour (Fall 2011)
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Source: http://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2016/01/living-remotely-best-tools-tips-and-services-for-a-life-on-the-road.html/
