Remote accounting teams need good communication tools to work well together. Here are the top 10 tools:
- Zoom: Video calls with clear audio and screen sharing
- Microsoft Teams: All-in-one platform for calls, chat, and file sharing
- Slack: Quick messaging and integrations with other apps
- Google Meet: Easy video calls that work with other Google tools
- Loom: Screen recording for tutorials and explanations
- Calendly: Simple scheduling without back-and-forth emails
- Jell: Daily check-ins and goal tracking
- Google Docs: Real-time document collaboration
- Miro: Online whiteboard for visual teamwork
- Evernote: Note-taking and information organizing
Quick Comparison:
Tool | Main Use | Cost (Basic Plan) | Team Size |
---|---|---|---|
Zoom | Video calls | $14.99/person/month | Any |
Microsoft Teams | All-in-one | $5/person/month | Any |
Slack | Chat | $7/person/month | Small-Medium |
Google Meet | Video calls | Free | Small |
Loom | Video recording | $10/person/month | Small-Medium |
Calendly | Scheduling | $8/person/month | Small-Medium |
Jell | Team planning | $5/person/month | Small-Medium |
Google Docs | Document work | Free | Small |
Miro | Visual collaboration | $10/person/month | Small-Medium |
Evernote | Note organization | $7.99/person/month | Small-Medium |
Choose tools based on your team's needs, budget, and size. Train your team on new tools and get feedback to improve how you use them.
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How to Choose Communication Tools
Picking the right tools for your remote accounting team is important. Here's what to think about when choosing:
Security and Compliance
Make sure the tools you pick are safe and follow the rules. Look for:
- Strong encryption
- Two-step login
- Regular safety checks
- Following industry rules
Growth and Working with Other Tools
Choose tools that can grow with your team and work well with other software you use. Look for:
- Flexible pricing
- Easy to connect with other tools
- Simple to update
Easy to Use
Pick tools that are simple to learn and use. Look for:
- Easy-to-understand design
- Quick to learn
- Can be set up how you like
What the Tools Can Do
Think about what your team needs. For example:
- Video calls
- Quick messages
- Sharing files
- Showing your screen to others
Cost and Value
Think about how much the tools cost and what you get for your money. Look at:
- The total price, including extra fees
- How much it can help your team work better
By thinking about these things, you can pick the best tools for your team.
Tool Type | What It Does | Safety | Works with Other Tools | Easy to Use | Cost |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Video Calls | Screen sharing, recording, online whiteboards | Strong encryption, two-step login | Works with calendars, customer tools | Easy to use, can change settings | Different prices, free trials |
Quick Messages | Fast chats, sharing files, group talks | Follows safety rules | Works with project tools, email | Easy to learn, can set alerts | Good value, grows with your team |
File Sharing | Online storage, syncing files, working together | Regular safety checks, two-step login | Works with work tools, customer tools | Simple to use, can make folders | Good prices, some free storage |
1. Zoom
Zoom is a popular tool for online meetings that helps remote accounting teams talk better. Here's what makes Zoom good:
Video and Audio
Zoom has clear video and sound, even when many people join a call. This helps accounting teams talk about money matters without confusion.
Works with Other Tools
Zoom connects easily with Google Calendar, making it simple to set up meetings. It also works with other tools teams use to get work done.
Safety
Zoom keeps information safe with strong protection and two-step login. This is important for accounting teams that handle private money details.
Working Together
Zoom has features that help teams work together from far away:
Feature | What it Does |
---|---|
Screen sharing | Show your computer screen to others |
Recording | Save meetings to watch later |
Online whiteboards | Draw and write ideas together |
These tools help teams share reports, talk about budgets, and work on projects together in real-time.
Zoom is a good choice for remote accounting teams because it's easy to use and has many helpful features.
2. Microsoft Teams
Works Well with Other Tools
Microsoft Teams works well with other Microsoft products, which is good for remote accounting teams. It connects with many tools, helping teams share information easily. For example, Teams works with Microsoft Office 365, so teams can work on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations together in real-time.
Keeps Information Safe
Microsoft Teams keeps information safe, which is important for remote accounting teams. It has strong safety features like:
This helps teams feel safe when sharing money information.
Helps Teams Work Together
Microsoft Teams has many features that help remote accounting teams work well together. Here are some:
Feature | What It Does |
---|---|
Channels | Sort talks by topic or project |
Threads | Keep talks on-topic |
File Sharing | Share and use files together |
Screen Sharing | Show your screen to others |
Online Meetings | Have online meetings with team and clients |
These features help remote accounting teams work together, share information, and work on money projects as a team.
3. Slack
Works with Other Tools
Slack can connect with many other apps to help teams work better. This means:
- Teams can do more without switching between different tools
- Work gets done faster and with fewer mistakes
For example, Slack can:
- Create tasks from messages
- Send alerts for new clients or meetings
Helps Teams Work Together
Slack has features that make it easy for remote accounting teams to work together:
Feature | What It Does |
---|---|
Chat channels | Sort talks by topic or project |
Search | Find old chats or files quickly |
File sharing | Share and work on files together |
These tools help teams:
- Keep talks organized
- Find information fast
- Make better choices
Keeps Information Safe
While Slack isn't made just for safety, it does have some features to protect data:
- Encrypts data
- Uses two-step login
But teams should check if Slack meets all their safety needs, especially for rules like GDPR and HIPAA.
4. Google Meet
Video and Audio Quality
Google Meet offers clear video and sound for online meetings. This helps remote accounting teams talk without mix-ups. Teams can also share their screens, which is good for showing work or training others.
Works with Other Google Tools
Google Meet works well with other Google apps:
App | How it Works with Google Meet |
---|---|
Google Calendar | Set up meetings easily |
Gmail | Get meeting reminders |
Google Docs | Work on files together during calls |
Google Sheets | Share and edit spreadsheets in real-time |
This makes it easy for teams to plan meetings and work together.
Keeps Information Safe
Google Meet keeps meetings safe:
- Uses strong protection for data
- Can record and save meetings safely
- Follows important rules like GDPR and HIPAA
This makes it a good choice for accounting teams that need to keep information private.
Helps Teams Work Together
Google Meet has tools that help remote accounting teams work well:
Feature | What It Does |
---|---|
Real-time chat | Send messages during meetings |
Screen sharing | Show your work to others |
Q&A | Ask and answer questions during meetings |
These tools are helpful for team meetings, training, and showing work to clients.
5. Loom
Works with Other Tools
Loom is a Chrome add-on that lets you record your screen easily. It works well with Chrome, so you can make videos quickly while you work.
Helps Teams Work Together
Loom is great for training and team talks. You can:
- Make videos when it's best for you
- Save videos where everyone can find them
- Watch videos when it fits your schedule
This helps cut down on long meetings and emails, making it easier for remote accounting teams to work together.
Keeps Information Safe
While Loom doesn't say much about its safety features, it helps teams share information securely through videos. This is important for accounting teams who need to protect sensitive data.
How to Use Loom Well
Here are some tips to get the most out of Loom:
Tip | How It Helps |
---|---|
Make video messages | Instead of long emails or meetings |
Save videos in one place | Everyone can find them easily |
Use for training | Team members can watch when it's best for them |
Try different features | Find what works best for your team |
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6. Calendly
Making Meeting Planning Easier
Calendly is a tool that helps set up meetings without a lot of back-and-forth emails. This saves time for remote accounting teams and helps them get more work done.
How Calendly Works
With Calendly, you can:
- Send a calendar invite to anyone
- Let them pick a time that works for them
- Add the meeting to your calendar automatically
People don't need to make an account to use Calendly, which makes it easy for everyone.
Good Things for Remote Accounting Teams
Here's how Calendly helps remote accounting teams:
Benefit | How It Helps |
---|---|
Less time planning | More time for real work |
Fewer mix-ups | Everyone knows when the meeting is |
More work done | Less time wasted on emails about meetings |
Better teamwork | Easy to set up meetings with clients and coworkers |
Calendly is a good tool for remote accounting teams who want to make setting up meetings easier and work better together.
7. Jell
Jell is a tool that helps remote accounting teams work better together. It lets teams have quick daily meetings to talk about their work and goals.
How Jell Helps Teams Work Together
Jell makes it easy for teams to:
- Share what they're working on
- Talk about any problems
- Make sure everyone is working towards the same goals
This helps teams in several ways:
Benefit | How It Helps |
---|---|
Better talking | Less confusion |
Everyone knows what's happening | People take responsibility for their work |
Working together | Getting more done |
People feel good about their work | Teams get more work done |
With Jell, teams can have short meetings to check in on important work. This helps everyone stay on track and work well together, even when they're not in the same office.
8. Google Docs
Working Together
Google Docs helps remote accounting teams work on documents together. It's easy to use and lets people work at the same time, no matter where they are.
Editing and Sharing
With Google Docs, team members can:
Action | Benefit |
---|---|
Edit together | See changes right away |
Share documents | Control who can edit or view |
Work from anywhere | No need to be in the same office |
This means less time spent emailing files back and forth.
Suggesting Changes and Keeping Track
Google Docs has two helpful features:
-
Suggesting changes: Team members can suggest edits without changing the original document. This helps teams talk about changes before making them final.
-
Version history: Google Docs keeps track of all changes. Teams can:
- See who made what changes
- Go back to older versions if needed
These tools help teams work better together and keep their documents organized.
9. Miro
Working Together
Miro is a tool that helps teams work together online. It's like a big whiteboard on your computer where everyone can share ideas.
Miro Templates
Miro has many ready-made layouts you can use. These help you:
- Plan your work
- Come up with new ideas
- Make marketing plans
You can find a layout that fits what you need or use one that's close to get started.
Miro Talktrack
Miro has a new tool called Talktrack. It lets you record what you do on your Miro board. This is good for:
- Showing others how you did something
- Explaining your work to your team
Miro Activities
Miro now has Activities (used to be called Smart Meetings). This lets you turn your Miro board into a presentation during a meeting.
Feature | What it does |
---|---|
Templates | Give you ideas for setting up your board |
Talktrack | Records what you do on the board |
Activities | Turns your board into a presentation |
Miro has become very popular since more people started working from home. It can make your online meetings more:
- Visual
- Team-friendly
- Interesting
Try using a Miro board in your next online meeting to see how it works for your team.
10. Evernote
Works with Other Tools
Evernote helps remote accounting teams by working well with other apps. Its Web Clipper lets users save web pages, articles, and images straight to Evernote. This is helpful for accountants who need to gather and organize financial info from many places.
Helps Teams Work Together
Evernote makes it easy for team members to work on notes together, share info, and give tasks. Here's how:
Feature | What it Does |
---|---|
Shared Notebooks | Let others see and edit specific notebooks |
Work Chat | Talk and give feedback in real-time |
These tools help teams work well together and make sure everyone knows what's going on.
Keeps Information Safe
Evernote takes safety seriously. It offers:
- Two-step login
- Data protection
- Backups
This helps keep sensitive financial info safe and follows important rules. The Business plan also lets team leaders control who can see and change things.
Safety Feature | How it Helps |
---|---|
Two-step login | Adds an extra step to keep accounts safe |
Data protection | Keeps information private |
Backups | Makes sure data can be recovered if needed |
These features make Evernote a good choice for remote accounting teams who need to keep their work safe and organized.
Tool Comparison
When picking tools for remote accounting teams, it's important to look at what they do, how much they cost, and how many people can use them. Here's a table that shows this for the 10 tools we talked about:
Tool | What it does | Cost | Team size |
---|---|---|---|
Zoom | Video calls, screen sharing, chat | $14.99/person/month (basic) | Small to big teams |
Microsoft Teams | Video calls, chat, file sharing | $5/person/month (basic) | Small to big teams |
Slack | Chat, file sharing, works with other tools | $7/person/month (standard) | Small to medium teams |
Google Meet | Video calls, screen sharing | Free (basic) | Small teams |
Loom | Video recording, screen sharing | $10/person/month (basic) | Small to medium teams |
Calendly | Setting up meetings | $8/person/month (basic) | Small to medium teams |
Jell | Team planning, setting goals | $5/person/month (basic) | Small to medium teams |
Google Docs | Working on documents together, sharing files | Free (basic) | Small teams |
Miro | Online whiteboard, working together | $10/person/month (basic) | Small to medium teams |
Evernote | Taking notes, organizing, working together | $7.99/person/month (basic) | Small to medium teams |
This table shows the main things about each tool. By looking at these, remote accounting teams can choose the best tools for them.
When looking at these tools, think about:
- What they do: What does your team need? Do you need video calls, screen sharing, or chat?
- Cost: How much can you spend on these tools? Are you looking for free or cheap options?
- Team size: How many people will use the tool? Do you need something for a big team or a small team?
Tips for Using New Tools
When adding new tools for your remote accounting team, it's important to help everyone learn how to use them. Here are some tips:
Training and Onboarding
Teach your team how to use the new tools. You can do this with:
- Video guides
- Online classes
- In-person training
Show them how to use the main parts of each tool and the best ways to use them.
Pick a Tool Helper
Choose someone on your team to be in charge of the new tools. This person can:
- Help others
- Answer questions
- Make sure everyone is using the tools well
Set Up Ways to Talk
Make it clear how team members can ask for help with the tools. You could:
- Make a special chat group for tool questions
- Set up an email address for tool help
Check How It's Going
Keep an eye on how the team is using the new tools. Ask them what they think. This helps you fix any problems and make things better.
Good Ways to Start Using New Tools
Here's how to help your team start using new tools:
Tip | What to Do |
---|---|
Start small | Add one tool at a time |
Be patient | Give people time to get used to the new tools |
Keep helping | Offer training and help often |
Ask for ideas | Let team members share what they think about the tools |
Wrap-up
Good talking is key for remote accounting teams to do well. With the right tools and plans, teams can work well even when they're not in the same place. By picking good tools and using them well, remote accounting teams can get their work done.
When choosing tools, think about what your team needs and likes. Also, think about how much teamwork and work you need to get done. There are many tools to pick from, like:
Tool Type | What It Does | Examples |
---|---|---|
Video calls | Talk face-to-face online | Zoom, Google Meet |
Quick messages | Send short notes fast | Slack, Microsoft Teams |
Work planning | Keep track of tasks | Jell, Trello |
The main thing is to find a good mix of tech tools and people talking. By using good tools and helping people work together, teams can do well even when working from home.
To help your team use new tools:
- Teach them how to use the tools
- Pick someone to help others with the tools
- Make it easy for people to ask for help
- Check how the tools are working and ask for ideas
By doing these things, you can help your team work better with new tools.