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10 Must-Have Business Productivity Apps

It is no secret that the events of the past year have thrown a wrench in the works of businesses everywhere. Many of us are still adjusting to working from home and managing a growing business remotely. How have you pivoted to the new normal? For many, we have relied on our mobile devices more than ever before.


Here are 10 must-have productivity apps to keep your business running wherever your office may be.


1) Genius Scan PDF scanner

Device(s): iOS and Android Price: Free and Paid Versions

Thousands of small businesses save time and money by using this genius scanning app. Genius Scan is a document scanner app in your pocket. Scan your paper documents on the go and export them as multi-page PDF files.

Highlights:

  • Free document scanning service

  • Batch scanning

  • Document merging & splitting

  • Multiple page PDF creation

  • Email export

How does Genius Scan work?

Use your device’s camera to capture any document. The app automatically recognizes the paper against the background, crops it, and cleans up the result. You get a crisp, legible scan. The batch scanning also lets you scan dozens of pages in a matter of seconds. 

Visit https://www.thegrizzlylabs.com/genius-scan/ for more information.

2) DocuSign

Device: iOS and Android | Price: Free and Paid Versions

We are big fans of this software and excited to see it as a mobile app. DocuSign eSignature is the world’s #1 way to send and sign agreements from practically anywhere, any time. Millions of people around the world trust this eSignature solution. The free DocuSign mobile app allows you to streamline how business gets done.

Highlights:

  • Unlimited Free Signing

  • Send and manage files straight from your device.

  • Legally binding agreements—DocuSign’s complies with the eSign Act.

  • Complete audit trail to see who signed when and where

  • Encrypted Documents

  • Supports file types: PDF, Word, Excel, Images (JPEG, PNG, TIFF), and Text

How does DocuSign work?

Create your customized signature directly on your device. Upload documents easily via email, Google Drive, DropBox, Evernote, Salesforce, or photo scanning. E-sign your documents for free with no monthly limit. Import files to prepare and send out for signature directly from your device. Prepare your document with “Sign Here” tags that show where to sign, initial, or add information. Remind signers to sign with a single tap or void a document that was already sent for signature.

Is DocuSign right for you and your business? Find out more: https://www.docusign.com/products/electronic-signature/how-docusign-works


3) Forms.App

Device(s): iOS and Android | Price: Free and Paid Versions

Does your business rely on forms to collect data? If you are a fan of Google Forms then you know how disappointing it is that there is not a dedicated mobile app yet. Making surveys, quizzes, or event registration is easier with Forms.App. This app links your favorite tools for simple form creation and data collection.

Highlights:

  • Unlimited Form Answers Storage

  • Location-specific data collection

  • Features payment collection fields

  • Form Embedding

  • Choose when your form will be available and when it will be out of service

  • Integrate to your favorite tools like Zapier and Google Sheets

How Does Forms.App Work?

Forms.App is useful to conduct surveys online and to view responses on the go. You can create and customize your form in a single step. You can customize and edit both the design and general settings of your form according to the desired structure.

Start surveying today by visiting forms.app for details.

4) Microsoft Office Suite

Device(s): iOS and Android |  Price: Free and Paid Versions

How many Microsoft Office programs do you use every day? You can have the power of the Suite in your pocket! The Office app combines Word, Excel, and PowerPoint into one convenient app. It is designed for getting work done on the go with a tap of your finger.

Highlights:

  • Word, Excel, and PowerPoint combined in one app

  • Create, edit, and work together on Office documents with others in real-time

  • Snap a picture of a document and turn it into an editable Word file with the press of a button

  • Transform a picture of a table into an Excel spreadsheet so you can work with the data

  • Create enhanced digital images of whiteboards and documents with Office Lens features

  • Transfer files between your phone and computer or share with nearby devices

How Does Microsoft Office Work?

This app offers a simplified experience with fewer apps to download or switch between. It requires far less phone storage than installing individual apps while maintaining virtually all the capabilities of the existing mobile apps people already know and use. Visit Microsoft for all the details!


5) HP Smart

Device(s): iOS and Android | Price: Free with an HP account

Print, scan, and share files by using HP Smart with your HP Printer. HP Smart makes it easy to get started and keeps you going with features like Print Anywhere or Mobile Fax!

Highlights:

  • Print, scan, copy, and share files directly from your mobile device

  • Manage or print to your printer using any network connection

  • Order supplies, get support, and manage your HP account from the app

  • Edit and enhance your photos

  • Send secure faxes from the app with Mobile Fax

How Does HP Smart Work?

Once you’ve installed the HP Smart app and connected your mobile device to wifi with Bluetooth enabled you’ll be able to set up a new printer or connect to a printer that has already been set up. Then you’re ready to copy, scan, and print in a variety of ways. Learn more about your device’s capabilities here: support.hp.com

6) Asana

Device(s): iOS and Android | Price: Free and Paid Versions

Asana is the work manager for teams. But better. Asana organizes work so teams are clear about what to do and how to get it done. More than 75,000 organizations and millions of users worldwide trust Asana to stay organized and in control of their work.


Highlights:

  • Unlimited storage

  • One shared space to coordinate plans, projects, and tasks with your team

  • Automatically transcribe voice memos to tasks

  • Convert photos of whiteboards, charts, or diagrams to tasks

  • Sync work between the app and web

  • Work offline

How Does Asana Work?

After downloading, invite your team via email to join the platform. Organize all your team projects and tasks, share files, leave comments and feedback in one location, and make it easy for everyone to get everything they need to turn ideas into action faster. 


7) Dashlane

Device(s): iOS and Android | Price: Subscriptions From $3.99-$199.99

Dashlane is more than a password manager. It’s the app that makes the internet easier. 14+ million users across the globe trust Dashlane with all their passwords, on every device.

Highlights:

  • Store an unlimited number of passwords and access them anywhere

  • Sync your Dashlane data to every device automatically, even if your phone and computer run on different systems

  • Create secure passwords with Password Generator

  • Share passwords safely and conveniently

  • Import your passwords easily from Chrome

  • Get alerted about breaches and hacks that affect your data—and learn how to take action

How Does Dashlane Work?

Dashlane fills all your passwords, payments, and personal details wherever you need them, across the web, on any device. So you can get right to what you want to do. Sync your Dashlane data to every device automatically and it auto-fills forms, logins, and more with the click of a button. This program keeps data secure while making life easier.

Your Dashlane account starts with a 30-day free trial of the Premium plan. Find out if Dashlane is right for your business: https://www.dashlane.com/business

8) Slack

Device(s): iOS and Android | Price: Free and Paid Versions

Slack brings team communication and collaboration into one place. Get more work done, whether you belong to a large enterprise or a small business. Check off your to-do list and move your projects forward. Slack is available on any device so you can find and access your team and your work, whether you’re at your desk or on the go.

Highlights:

  • Communicate with your team and organize your conversations by topic, project, or almost anything else

  • Message or call any person or group within your team

  • Share and edit documents and collaborate with the right people all in Slack

  • Integrate tools and services you already use including Google Drive, Salesforce, Dropbox, Asana, Twitter, Zendesk, and more

  • Easily search your team’s past conversations and files


How Does Slack Work?

Download Slack’s desktop and mobile apps. Create or join a Slack workspace. Set up your profile. Find and join relevant channels in your workspace to get all the info you need. Once you find your channels, you’re ready to send and read the group or private messages.

Make your working life simpler, more pleasant, and more productive. Learn more at https://slack.com/

9) Calendly

Device(s): iOS and Android | Price: Free and Paid Versions

Take the work out of connecting with others so you can accomplish more. Calendly can connect with up to six of your calendars to automatically check availability and help you connect with your best contacts, prospects, and clients.

Highlights:

  • Google, Outlook, Office 365, or iCloud calendar integration

  • Set buffer times between meetings to give yourself a breather

  • Supports 1-on-1, round-robin, and collective availability meetings

  • Seamless timezone detection for your invitees

  • Automate tasks with Zoom, Google Meet, Salesforce, GoToMeeting, and more

How Does Calendly Work?

Let Calendly know your availability preferences and it’ll do the work for you. Copy and paste your Calendly links into an email, text, or other apps to save time while you’re away from your computer. The recipient picks a time and the event is automatically added to your calendar.

Learn more at Calendly.com.

10) Pushover

Device(s): iOS and Android | Price: Free 30-Day Trial then $4.99

Do you use more than one device to run your business? Pushover could keep all your accounts connected and coordinated. Pushover is a simple push notification service that integrates with web apps to send alerts to your devices. It consolidates push messages for all of your devices into one place. This app assists you in handling everything that’s happening with your business at once. 

Highlights:

  • Unlimited push notifications on all of your devices from dozens of websites, services, and applications

  • Integration capability into your web app, network monitor, shell script, and more

  • Individuals can use Pushover with no subscription fees

  • Users and their devices are managed from one central dashboard

How Does Pushover Work?

Simply install the app on your device and it will walk you through creating a Pushover account and registering your device with their servers. You'll get a new User Key e-mailed to you which is randomly generated to allow other apps to send Pushover notifications to your devices. Copy and paste the User Key into any application that supports Pushover and it will instantly be able to start sending notifications to your devices.

You can start a free 30-day trial with unlimited usage. Beyond the 30-day trial requires a one-time $4.99 in-app purchase. Visit https://pushover.net/ to find apps, plugins, and services that support Pushover.


What You Can Do Right Now

Entrepreneurs like yourself are always looking for ways to improve how they operate and manage their businesses. Ensure your success by researching and experimenting with tools and apps made to help your business succeed. 

Have you tried any of these apps? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below. We would appreciate the feedback and tell us of any other business apps you swear by.

Holden Moss CPAs is dedicated to aiding businesses in this difficult time. If you have any questions regarding your financial security, give us a call at (919) 556-6216. Contact us via email at admin@holdenmoss.com. We look forward to working with you.

All information included in this article is sourced directly from the referenced application listings in the Google Play Store and Apple AppStore. Holden Moss CPAs does not claim ownership of their content nor is responsible for use of mentioned applications.

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