This blog post probably wouldn’t exist 20 years ago (insert modern globalization cliché here), as more companies find employees that are spread all over the globe, the demand for a Time Zone management was formed. Here are Top 7 business tools for managing Time Zone differences for remote team members.
1. TimefinderLet’s start with the big picture, the Timefinder is a simple but handy app that shows time zones on the globe. The app lays out the countries of the globe. The handy tool bar on the left allows you to pick your cities. When a city is picked, the local time is shown on the tool bar and the map.
Boomerang helps you schedule emails so they could be sent out later. This is handy especially for team members abroad in case you send something urgent while they are off duty. Boomerang integrates with Gmail to help you send certain emails at certain times, simple enough.
Like a calculator or currency converter, this app is as simple as it gets, 2 clocks, the one on the left always displays local time. The clock on the right is where you enter a major city, it will give the local time in that major city, perfect for time zone emergencies and quick searches.
Ever get frustrated with planning a meeting with colleagues overseas while dealing with different time-zones? Well the World Clock Meeting Planner allows you to enter multiple locations so you get a clear view for the answer to “What time is it there?” Allowing easy planning for trans-national meetings.
Timezone.io allows you to keep track of the local time of your team members. Simply put your team members and their affiliated cities on the website so you get a clear view of all your team members and their local times. A useful visual interface.
Ever get frustrated with planning a meeting… wait a minute didn’t we go through this already? World Time buddy is similar to World Clock Meeting Planner in that you chose 3 or more cities to see what time it is in other locations compared to a certain local time. This app has Widgets and mobile app integrations too.
Feeling repetitive? You’re not alone, apparently there’s only so much you can do with Time zones. If you have an iPhone, simply use the World Clock feature to add specific locations to compare different time-zones.
If you're feeling flustered by all of these choices, don't fret just yet. FreeConference.com has our own time-zone management app to manage your international conference calls! You can find it under the Schedule function or in Settings – > Time Zones.
Getting a project off the ground requires a system of processes and talented individuals to get the work done. In basic terms, it’s no simple feat!
Relying on video conferencing to collaborate with multiple teams and individuals requires organization and efficient project management implementation across various offices, departments and chains of command. Cohesion, communication and centralization are key factors. Whoever you’re dealing with, be that a stakeholder, client or employee, there are many moving parts to take into consideration from conception to delivery. (more…)
Virtual field trips have been around even before the worldwide pause on travel. Keep in mind too that while the idea of a “field trip” sounds like something for middle schoolers, when made virtual, it can be for students and learners of all ages; teens, parents, grandparents, and adults too! Anyone who is learning can benefit from an online excursion.
It’s with the use of video conferencing technology that learners from anywhere in the world can go on a trip from their living room or classroom. Imagine being able to jump inside a volcano or dig deep into the earth to excavate precious gems. This is only the beginning of what’s available to explore. (more…)
The cooperation between people in the process of accomplishing a task is what gets work done effectively. When team collaboration becomes the foundation of any project, it’s truly amazing to see how the results are impacted. Any workplace or online workspace that encourages a collaborative spirit (whether teammates are remote or in the same location) makes for an environment that facilitates success.
Working together to apply collaboration skills and focus on teamwork training enables all members of the department, team or crew to work together powerfully. By removing the silos, the output of work becomes multi-faceted. Distributing the workload amongst resources or establishing how the flow of work will unfold as a collective enables improved teamwork to make things run more smoothly.
Power in numbers is the game. Just like the African proverb says, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” when we pool our experience and skills in business, collaboration becomes exponentially more powerful.
But what if we want to go fast and far? How do we build a workplace culture that fosters collaborative behavior for effective teamwork that gets things done?
Increasing collaboration between workers and departments starts with team communication that brings people toward the same end goal. When we talk about teamwork it’s more than just dealing with the task at hand, it’s about: (more…)
The use of web conferencing across a variety of industries has propelled the growth and scalability of how work gets done. With a free trial, anyone can try the platform to see how it integrates with your business. From anywhere in the world, teams can connect and collaborate together.
But, what if you could get web conferencing tools for free? What if a communication solution that connects people socially or professionally came with nothing to lose and everything to gain?
For starters, free web conferencing can be part of your communication strategy to enhance the livelihood of any industry. You can reach many participants or only a few with audio/video meetings that empower your message by hosting live meetings, one on ones, group meetings, and large conferences.
Let’s break down some of the exact uses:
When it comes to web conferencing software, there are plenty of options available that offer many communication solutions whether for work or play. To help cut through the clutter, here’s exactly what will come in handy in terms of hardware and software to have an effective web conference.
For starters, you will want to find a web conferencing solution that’s easy to navigate, effective in terms of offerings that are collaborative, and productive, and caters to the unique requirements of your communication needs both professionally and personally.
Let’s drill this down a little more. (more…)
Globalization is a process driven by international trade between numerous nations and cultures, and the cultural exchange that occurs in this process has had a significant impact on the last few decades of commerce and politics. For example, imagine playing The Beatles’ Abbey Road on your smartphone—you are playing music from 1960s England on a modern device engineered in the United States and manufactured in China! A more mobile professional workforce makes this possible, and part of this mobility comes from globalization, whether we like it or not.
What does this have to say about the way companies hire in the 21st century? Think about the sheer size of the talent pool that can be reached from video interviews, as opposed to companies sticking to their own country or locale. Bringing in talent from around the world offers more interesting ideas, processes, and experiences to companies, making for a more diverse and engaging workplace.
Many companies hire from all over the world through video calling services because they allow for a more natural interviewing experience than simply by email or phone call.
Taking care of a growing small business means your communication has to be delivered smoothly and come through loud and clear. If you’ve got international callers, you’ve got time zones, call quality, and conference call telephone numbers to take into consideration! Plus, you want to be polished and professional while keeping costs low.
So you need conferencing software that opens up the lines of communication to keep customers in the loop, employees connected and clients interested in your offering! Whatever you’re providing, whether that’s reaching out to your community or providing tutorials and webinars for students or workers looking to upgrade their skill set, there’s a solution for you! (more…)
It’s the same routine at the end of every old year and the beginning of the new one. Except for this year, we’ve got a new decade to look forward to! With a fresh start comes resolutions we promise we’ll keep. After all, every one of us has good intentions to live a healthier, stronger, more capable life, but the reality is that it’s harder than it looks! Or is it?
What if video conferencing could actually help you keep your new year’s resolutions longer than a month? According to a survey of over 1,450 Americans, the most popular New Year’s resolutions are: Exercise to get in shape, diet to lose weight, save money, eat healthier in general, adopt a self-care routine and travel. Perfectly normal habits and attitudes towards living a healthy active lifestyle.
