5 Apps to Maximize Your Productivity

Woman sitting on steps with laptop on phone.jpg

Increasing productivity is a fundamental goal for most individuals and businesses alike. With a widespread focus on making 2021 the year of recovery for many companies, it's not uncommon to view ambitious targets as an overwhelming objective, and remaining organized and focused can be challenging.

Finding optimal methods of streamlining tasks and projects can be a critical time-saving mechanism, ensuring teams stay organized and daily processes remain on track. From planners to password vaults, explore tech-savvy apps designed to make your work more efficient. 



Flow

From famed notebook manufacturer Moleskine, Flow seeks to be a comprehensive virtual notebook. Its elegant UI easily allows users to select pens, brushes, pencils, and other digital writing tools and set up a digital pen dock of favorites. While it may seem like a simple notes application on the surface, Flow offers abundant tools for sketching, note-taking, moving, and modifying objects. Flow is designed to feel as much like a physical notebook as possible, achieving this mission for its loyal subscribers. App Store subscriptions to Flow for iPhone and iPad runs for a reasonable $1.99 USD per month. 

Google Drive and File Stream

The days of having all of your files restricted to one device or on a thumb drive are behind us, thanks in part to Google Drive and File Stream. This popular software allows uploading, editing, and collaborating on documents, presentations, and spreadsheets. Google Drive is also available as a mobile app for smartphones and tablets, making file accessibility a breeze when you're on the go. Much like the desktop version of Google Drive, the mobile apps are completely free. For companies with paid Business accounts, Google File Stream enables further accessibility to files through a desktop app that mirrors My Drive and Shared Drive folders. Since the app is streaming the files instead of holding a copy, users do not consume precious storage space on local hard drives. 

Trello

Project management apps have seen a major spike in popularity with the continued trend of working from home, as well as with freelancers who utilize virtual offices. Through a user-friendly interface,  Trello allows teams to organize projects, set up tasks, track feedback, upload documents, and more. This virtual bulletin board is available for mobile devices as well as for desktops. A wide variety of templates allow admins to choose boards and timelines that best suit individual projects quickly and efficiently. Various levels of user permissions also provide flexibility for teams and external contributors to work together seamlessly. Operating on a freemium model with multi-tiered pricing options for larger teams, Trello is a trusted platform for businesses of all sizes. 

Ayoa

Ayoa stands out from other productivity apps through its Mind Map feature. This allows users to brainstorm and organize their ideas into a web from the Ayoa app. It's a perfect tool for innovators and entrepreneurs attempting to streamline new ideas and concepts. Ayoa's Mind Maps can be shared between users, facilitating easy team brainstorming sessions. In addition to the Mind Map, Ayoa also includes a digital whiteboard for collaboration. While the whiteboard is not as thorough as Trello's digital bulletin boards, the feature complements the Mind Map well. With a basic free plan and upgrade options for greater flexibility, Ayoa is a solid app with a 4.5/5 rating across the App Store, Google Play, and Capterra. 


LastPass

With the increased digitization of tasks, keeping track of endless lists of passwords is tiring and potentially risky. Account security for leading websites and apps rely on sophisticated encryption tools, but without safe password practices, the threat of personal account breaches is still shockingly high. Password vaults like LastPass help safeguard all of your login credentials in one place through one master password. The app, available on desktop and mobile, offers secure password generation, ensuring every password you use is unique and difficult to hack. A shared vault even allows multiple users to share password access. For even greater security, LastPass enables users to share direct login links to external team members, granting access to specific accounts without revealing login credentials. 

With the flexibility of subscriptions and customizations for both individuals and teams, digital apps will continue to play a vital role in daily activities, all competing to be among the best-rated apps for productivity. For individuals looking for virtual office setup or companies in need of fully serviced office spaces, Sentinel Business Centres offers a wide variety of custom packages designed to meet the needs of professionals doing business in Dubai and beyond. For more information on how we can help your productivity goals, contact a member of our team