Office Tools

This category contains articles that cover all subjects related to tools that help you increase productivity in the office and more.

Office workers using different devices for collaboration

May 30 2019

What Are The Best Slack Alternatives for 2020?

Judy Ponio Apps, Office Tools 0

(Published on May 30, 2019 | Updated on January 24, 2020)

When it comes to workplace collaboration, none does it better than Slack. It’s got an almost flawless interface and some really great features.

Slack is owned by Stewart Butterfield, the same person who founded Flickr. And despite its awesome features, the software has its downsides too.

For one, the desktop application eats up a lot of storage space. The number of messages can also be too overwhelming to a point that it becomes a distraction. Important messages get buried by all the new ones and most of the time, it’s almost impossible to find them.

Also, how secure is slack? Unlike other popular messaging apps, it doesn’t have an end-to-end encryption signal. This means that all its encryptions are controlled by its administrators. They can look at and go through your messages whenever they want to. So, obviously, passing on sensitive information is quite risky.

Slack’s Plus version which has features suitable for businesses requiring SSO and Compliance Exports costs as much as $15 per person per month. It’s not the most expensive there is but its certainly on the upper end of the spectrum. There are lots of other great project management software with similar features at less than half the price.

So if you’re on the lookout for other workplace communication tools, here are the best Slack alternatives for 2020 you should check out:

1. Google Hangouts

Screenshot of Google Hangouts interface, a great alternative to Slack.

This platform comes in handy when your team is already using various other collaboration tools by Google. You can easily integrate this with Google Drive, Docs and Calendar among others. It’s also compatible with ZenDesk, UberConference, and HipChat. Aside from instant messaging, it also allows video conferencing and in-app location sharing using Google Maps.

Google Hangouts is completely free. But if you’re planning to avail of the whole Google Business Suite bundle, be prepared to shed around $3 to $25 a month per user.

2. Microsoft Yammer

Screenshot of Microsoft Yammer interface, a great alternative to Slack.

If your team is fond of using Facebook, Microsoft Yammer’s interface will be familiar. It functions more like a social media site than a messaging app.

You can create individual groups within the platform which facilitates faster collaboration. Its instant messaging feature allows the archiving of conversations and secured file sharing.

Microsoft is offering it as a standalone product or as part of the Office 365 bundle.

3. Zoho Connect

Screenshot of Zoho Connect interface, a great alternative to Slack.

Zoho lets you connect with your teammates in real-time. Its interface looks more like a social media site with a live activity feed. Like Yammer, you can create distinct groups where members can participate in a live discussion. It also has a Calendar view which lets you manage and sync all your events. It’s currently being offered at $1 per user per month for the first 100 users.

4. Fleep

Screenshot of Fleep interface, a great alternative to Slack.

Fleep’s main advantage over other Slack alternatives on this list is that it lets you communicate with both Fleep and non-Fleep users from other organizations. Its email integration feature makes it possible. Apart from that, it also has a lot of built-in project management features that let you manage tasks more easily.

The basic version is available for free while the business version starts at €5.

5. Rocket.Chat

Screenshot of Rocket.Chat interface, a great alternative to Slack.

This is an open-source software which means its entirely free. You can also customize it to better suit your team’s needs. Unlike Slacks, Rocket.Chat lets you send voice messages and do video conferencing. It also has a help desk chat your teammates can make use of.

6. Flock

Screenshot of Flock interface, a great alternative to Slack.

If you’re looking for a Slack-like interface but with advanced features, Flock is for you. In addition to instant messaging, it lets you do audio calls or video chat both as a team or to individual members.

File sharing has never been more convenient too with its drag and drop interface. Retrieving shared files is also a lot easier as you can always search for them whenever the need arises.

A free version is available for small teams and includes up to 10k messages and 10GB file storage for the whole group.

7. Spike

Screenshot of Spike interface, a great alternative to Slack.

Watch your email transform into a real-time collaboration platform. You can message the team directly from your email and interact with them in real-time. Headers and email signatures are removed so you won’t have to deal with endless dizzying message threads.

It’s free for personal use but businesses have to shell out $5.99 per user per month.

8. Workzone

Screenshot of Workzone interface, a Slack alternative

Workzone is basically a project management app with collaboration tools thrown in. Apart from file sharing, users can also leave comments on the tasks posted. It has a calendar and to-do lists for the whole team which helps you easily monitor projects and stick to deadlines. It also got a one-touch button for instant messaging.

9. Glip

Screenshot of Glip interface, a Slack alternative

It’s much like Slack except that it’s got a lot of other additional features. With Glip, you can do both personal and group video chat, screen sharing and integrate third-party applications. You can also use it on any device which makes it more convenient if you’re out of the office most of the time.

10. Ryver

Screenshot of Ryver software interface, a Slack alternative

At $49 per month for up to 12 users, Ryver offers unlimited messages, video chat, and data sharing and integration with no ads. It’s an efficient collaboration software best recommended for large enterprises.

How about you? Do you have anything to add to this list of Slack alternatives? What do you wish you had known about Slack before using? Tell us in the comments!

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What Are The Best Slack Alternatives for 2020?

About The Author

Judy Ponio has extensive experience in both private and public firms where she learned the ins and outs of the corporate world. She now shares that accumulated knowledge in this blog.

Man facing computer trying to make a decision

May 16 2019

40 Quotes That Will Help You Make Decisions

Judy Ponio Office Tools 0

It is said that one of the most difficult things you have to do in life is to make a decision.

Indeed, your choices define who you are. The decisions you make, big or small, cause ripples that can affect your life and those of the people around you. That’s why those moments are as scary as they are empowering.

If you are on the verge of making a decision but can’t quite make up your mind, these quotes will help you:

“Never make a decision when you are upset, sad, jealous or in love.” -Mario Teguh

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” -Theodore Roosevelt

“Good decisions come from experience. Experience comes from making bad decisions.” -Mark Twain

“You are not the victim of the world, but rather the master of your own destiny. It is your choices and decisions that determine your destiny.” -Roy T. Bennett

“You can’t make decisions based on fear and the possibility of what might happen.” – Michelle Obama

“Sometimes in life, you have to make a selfish decision and do what’s best for you.” – Saquon Barkley

“We are not living in a world where all roads are radii of a circle and where all, if followed long enough, will therefore draw gradually nearer and finally meet at the centre: rather in a world where every road, after a few miles, forks into two, and each of those into two again, and at each fork, you must make a decision.” – C.S. Lewis

“It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.” -Tony Robbins

“You write your life story by the choices you make. You never know if they have been a mistake. Those moments of decision are so difficult.” – Helen Mirren

“A real decision is measured by the fact that you’ve taken a new action. If there’s no action, you haven’t truly decided.” -Tony Robbins

“When you make the right decision, it doesn’t really matter what anyone else thinks.” -Caroline Kennedy

“Think 100 times before you make a decision. But once that decision is taken, stand by it as one man.” -Muhammad Ali Jinnah

“Follow your heart and make it your decision.” -Mia Hamm

“There’s no wrong time to make the right decision.” -Dalton McGuinty

“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” -Erol Ozan

“I think it’s very important that you make your own decision about what you are. Therefore you’re responsible for your actions, so you don’t blame other people.” -Prince William

“Hesitation is often like procrastination. One may have vague doubts and feel a need to mull things over; meanwhile, other issues intrude on thought, and no decision is taken. Ask people why they procrastinate, and you probably won’t get a crisp answer.” -Robert J. Shiller

“Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free.” -Paul Tillich

“Often any decision, even the wrong decision, is better than no decision.” -Ben Horowitz

“Any decision I make is the biggest decision of my life.” -Carmelo Anthony

“Courage doesn’t happen when you have all the answers. It happens when you are ready to face the questions you have been avoiding your whole life.” -Shannon L. Alder

“God puts us in places. It’s for you to make the decision whether you go left or right.” -Tyga

“Keep your temper. A decision made in anger is never sound.” -Ford Frick

“Trust your heart if the seas catch fire, live by love though the stars walk backward.” -E.E. Cummings

“If you always make the right decision, the safe decision, the one most people make, you will be the same as everyone else.” -Paul Arden

“Whatever you decide, don’t let it be because you don’t think you have a choice.” -Hannah Harrington

“You must be careful never to allow doubt to paralyze you. always take the decisions you need to take, even if you’re not sure you’re doing the right thing.” -Paulo Coelho

“Be wise today so you don’t cry tomorrow.” -E.A. Bucchianeri

“Don’t entrust your future on others’ hands. Rather make decisions by yourself with the help of God’s guidance. Hold your beliefs so tight and never let go of them!” -Hark Herald Sarmiento

“It is not as much about who you used to be, as it is about who you choose to be.” -Sanhita Baruah

Living a life somewhere else in your mind is nothing more than being a prisoner where you are.” -Shannon L. Alder

“Most of life’s actions are within our reach, but decisions take willpower.” -Robert McKee

“They say faith is taking the first step when you can’t see the whole staircase. Actually, wisdom is seeing the elevator behind it that would have taken you to the top floor.” -Shannon L. Alder

“There are times when something is asked of us, and we find we must do it. There is no calculation involved, no measure of the necessity of the thing itself, the action that must be performed. There is simply an acknowledgment that we will do the thing in question, and then the thing is done, often at considerable personal cost.” – Jesse Ball

“For a single decision can spawn a thousand others that were entirely unnecessary or it can bring peace to a thousand places we never knew existed.” -Craig D. Lounsbrough

“It’s very simple; just look at your life to see where you’re heading. You’re always in a momentum of something.” -Maria Erving

“If you don’t know what you value in life, then you won’t be able to make any meaningful decisions you can live with in the future.” -Shannon L. Alder

“Your decisions in hours of failure would determine whether you will forever be where you are or you will move out of that situation.” -Israelmore Ayivor

“Your little choices become habits that affect the bigger decisions you make in life.” -Elizabeth George

“It is our choices that tells us who we really are, far more than our abilities.” -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter character)

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A man working on his laptop with a vegan briefcase beside him

April 11 2019

Top Vegan Briefcase Brands To Up Your Office Fashion

Judy Ponio Office Tools 0

For vegans, choosing the perfect bag is not an easy task. A quick look at those displayed in major retail shops and they’ll tell you one sad fact. Innocent animals have to lay down their lives for those bags to be there.

But fashion should not always come at the expense of other creatures’ lives. In fact, ethical fashion is now gaining traction and demand for vegan leather is steadily rising. A lot of clothing companies are now turning to cruelty-free methods of producing their leather briefcases. Here are the top vegan briefcase brands you should check out:

Tokyo Bags

This Singapore-based, PETA-approved bag manufacturer is the go-to brand for vegan minimalists. Their designs are clean, sophisticated, timeless and fit a variety of personalities. Their products are handcrafted using ethical and sustainable materials like vegan leathers and Japanese canvas.

Osier

For luxurious faux leather bags, Osier is your best bet. Based out of Europe, this luxury brand combines ethics and elegance. Their collection includes tote bags, briefcases, backpacks, shoulder bags, and purses.

Good Mood Moon

This Ukrainian brand is slowly making its name in ethical fashion. Good Mood Moons bags stand out from the rest because of its playful use of colors in minimalist designs. They also donate 5% of their profits to organizations that care for abandoned animals.

Doshi

Doshi products are made from microfiber based vegan leather which makes them more durable. Their manufacturing process also uses eco-friendly techniques that consume less water and solvent. The company also helps 8 non-profit organizations in 3 countries.

Matt and Nat

The original idea behind Matt (material) and Nat (nature) is to achieve harmony between the two. So, they make use of natural and recycled materials in lieu of animal leather. 24 years after it was founded in Montreal, Matt and Nat products have made their way to over 6 countries.

Gunas

An American version of Osier, Gunas is a leader in New York’s vegan fashion scene. The brand focuses on women’s fashion and has received several awards and recognitions. Not just animal leather, the company also refrains from using silk, wool, fur, and even down feathers.

EcoSusi

Whether you love to rock a vintage look or don a more comfortable preppy ensemble, EcoSusi has just the product to match your OOTDs. They use faux leather, nylon and polyurethane materials.

Corkors

Deviating from the usual vegan leather, Corkors made a name for itself in making accessories from (you guessed it) corks. More than just bags, the company also produces wallets, belts, and footwear. They also support non-profit organizations such as Animal Equality International and even PETA.

Setton Brothers

For men who are price-conscious but wants to go into vegan fashion, Setton Brothers bags are the answer. Prices start at only $39 for briefcase bags. Not only are they budget-friendly, SB bag collection also features classic and timeless pieces to match a wide range of personalities.

La Bante London

With a design and production team that consists mostly of women, La Bante London knows women fashion like the back of their hands. Their chic and sophisticated designs catapulted them to fame. Unlike other companies in this list, La Bante London products are manufactured with vegetable leather.

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half body shot of man carrying backpack wearing jeans and boots

April 4 2019

The Best Laptop Backpacks for Professionals

Judy Ponio Office Tools 0

It’s a well-known fact that workplace attires are changing. Crisply ironed suits and leather briefcases gave way to a more relaxed ensemble of shirts, pants, and backpacks. Practicality is slowly becoming the name of the game.

Also gone are the mountains of paperwork. It’s not unusual to see corporate professionals going to work with only their laptops. Indeed, it has become so important in today’s world of work that it’s almost impossible to do anything without it.

For this reason, we understand your dilemma in choosing the best backpack for your laptop. Since your job – and even your life – depends on it, the backpack must offer durable protection. It must also score high in the aesthetics department. Not to mention that it has to be within your budget range.

To give you a list of the best laptop backpacks that’s as free from bias as possible, we looked up people’s reviews. Here are the top six most highly-rated laptop backpacks for professionals we found:

Yorepek Extra Large Backpack ($55.99)

With its more than 20 organizer pockets, this backpack is perfect for those obsessed with keeping things in order. It can fit up to 17-inch laptops and has a USB charging port. It also has a headphone hole at the top which makes it easier to listen to music while walking. The compartments are made of breathable mesh which promotes air circulation and prevents overheating. Heavily padded shoulder straps make it more comfortable to carry even for extended periods of time.

XDesign Travel Laptop Backpack ($19.99)

For those who prefer a modern minimalist look, this is the backpack for you. It’s got a large capacity yet doesn’t look bulky which is its main selling point. It’s made from a thick, waterproof and anti-scratch material to better protect your laptop and other electronics. Other features include a luggage strap, USB charging port, and an audio port.

Matein Travel Laptop Backpack ($31.99)

This backpack has three compartments for electronic devices. So you can carry a 15.6-inch laptop, a 14-inch Macbook, and your iPad without risk of them scratching each other. It’s got a clean urban look with a hidden anti-theft pocket on the back. It also features a USB charging port, a luggage strap and a body made from water-resistant material.

Everki Titan Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Backpack ($165.72)

Great for travel, work and play, this backpack fits up to 18.4” laptops. It also has plenty of compartments in all shapes and sizes. It even includes an accessories pouch. The laptop compartment is strongly padded and has an inner soft pelt to protect it from scratch. You won’t have to worry about removing your device at the airport security inspection too. The main body opens up to 180 degrees so you just lay it flat open and allow the scanner to do its job.

LAPACKER 15.6-17 inch Business Laptop Backpack for Women ($39.99)

Its purple color exudes elegance – a perfect fit for the working woman who wants fashion and functionality in one. The laptop compartment can fit up to 17-inch slim laptops. It’s got two expandable side pockets and adjustable shoulder strap. There’s also a hidden zipper pocket at the back for your valuables like passport, cash, and card.

SwissGear 1900 Scansmart TSA Laptop Backpack ($59.99)

Swissgear is known for their durable products. This particular backpack is a testament to that. It’s made from weather-resistant polyester that can withstand heavy use and harsh conditions. For traveling professionals, this makes a great companion. Its TSA friendly and has enough room for everything you need on the go. It can fit up to 17″ laptops, has a water bottle pocket and even a carabiner to hold your keys.

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