The top 5 Best Startup Tools for 2020

Startups need to be fully equipped with the proper tools in their arsenal to survive in the highly-competitive industry. With limited resources (specifically money and time), startup founders seek help from security, accounting, and team management tools online. Luckily, there are plenty of tools that help minimize startup costs and help save a new entrepreneur’s precious time. 

Now, business owners can significantly enhance efficiency with just a few great tools. Below are the top 5 tools and resources you can use to help make your landing into the startup world a little smoother.

1. Slack

Work better at home or in the office by organizing all of your projects in one comfortable place. Slack is an incredible communication tool for both groups and one-on-one chat flows. The app is an all-in-one meeting space that helps keep teams organized. It’s incredibly useful when working remotely as well! Slack allows users to categorize their conversations in “channels,” making relevant information quick and easy to find. If you’re working on the go, Slack also has a user-friendly mobile app and integrates with other tools like Trello and Twitter.

2. Trello

Trello is a web-based project management tool that was built for improving workflow. It’s quickly becoming a household name among startups owners across the globe. This project management software allows project managers to organize multiple projects with specific tasks inside each project. This fast Kanban tool is for anyone who needs to capture, organize, and provide real-time insights regarding project status. Plus, it’s free! Trello is known for being ultra user-friendly, and the free plan offers all the tools and functionality a small startup needs.

3. Zoom

While Zoom may have gained worldwide popularity during 2020 because of COVID-19, it was actually ranked the #1 meeting tool by Gartner in 2018. The fast and reliable video conferencing software makes remote working a breeze. Startups and major corporations alike are relying on Zoom to conduct team meetings. To keep everyone in the loop, users can integrate Zoom with Slack to automatically share the recording with participants after the call ends.

4. BambooHR

BambooHR provides human resources software as a service. Brand new startups often ignore ‘corporate’ functions like HR - which is a big mistake. BambooHR is a handy online tool that makes hiring, transitioning, and recruiting a breeze. With onboarding tools and applicant tracking features, BambooHR users can easily keep track of potential applicants. The app also gives users the ability to track time-off, performance management, and e-signing.

5. Trustwire

Surely as a startup owner, you and your employees will need to send and receive multiple files. But did you know that cybersecurity risks are at an all-time high? Trustwire is an online tool to send and receive sensitive data safely. If you think sending files over email is safe, think again. Instead, use Trustwire to ensure no one other than the rightful receiver of a file will be able to open. All data is end-to-end encrypted, meaning Trustwire or any other third party can not access your data.

It Looks Like Remote Work is Here to Stay - Can You Use it to Your Advantage?

It wasn’t so long ago that remote work was out of the question for many industries. In 2020, things are taking a turn. Today, working from home or anywhere outside of the office is becoming the ‘norm.’ By the looks of it, this is the future of the modern workforce. 

According to a New York Times report, working from another location other than the office or a client site is on the steady incline. 

So, what exactly are the benefits of remote work - and could you make it work to your advantage?

Positive shifts in attitudes about work:

According to Bentley University, by 2025, millennials will make up around 75% of the global workforce. If there’s one thing that’s for sure when it comes to millennial work ethics, they’re very different from their boomer parents. Millennials are going to be shaping the work environment for years to come. This new generation of talent brings radically different expectations about the nature of work and how work should be done, when, and where it’s done. Not to say millennials don’t have a solid work ethic, they just have a different approach to working than previous generations. 

What’s going to happen when the boomers begin to retire, and millennials take over in management roles? According to a PWC study, a healthy work-life balance is their number one priority. Millennials want flexibility, and they’re willing to go to great lengths to get it. Remote work is essentially a dream come true for most millennials. They can still earn their paycheck and get their job done, all from the comfort of their own home. Today’s generation is so tech-focused that for many young workers being in an office for eight hours a day is actually counterproductive.

Remote work increases employee productivity lowers stress levels & boosts morale:

There is evidence that supports that employees working from home are more productive and work longer hours. One of the biggest woes anyone going to and from a job can attest to - it’s the daunting traffic jams and commutes back and forth five days a week. Eliminating a daunting commune, getting to sleep for an extra hour, and working alone are significant perks for many people. If an employee has a hard time focusing, working remotely should pose fewer distractions. Think about it, no talking, buzzing, and ringing noises that always seem to happen in any work environment. 

Remote work also lowers stress. Whether employees stress is caused by being in the presence of their boss, other co-workers, or anything else for that matter, 82% of remote workers reported lower stress levels. Remote workers are also reporting higher morale, and are taking fewer days off when working from home. 

By the looks of it, working from home has its benefits for both the employers and the employees. Business owners can have big bucks on office spaces and electricity, while employees can work in their pajamas. Is this a win-win?