So, how do you use Plaky effectively as a remote team? Read on to find out.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/How-to-become-more-efficient-while-working-remotely-cover-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nWhy remote teams choose Plaky<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Working remotely can increase your productivity \u2014 if you avoid the common pitfalls of remote teams, like isolation, misaligned schedules, and no performance tracking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Plaky, you can say goodbye to these issues with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Customizable <\/strong>board views<\/strong><\/a> \u2014 Choose how you want to manage your team. Each view in Plaky is equipped with settings, sorting, and filtering<\/a> options to make sure you can fit your board to your remote workflow and your industry.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Activity log<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>\u2014 Gain insight <\/strong>into everything that happens on your board. This way, you can meet your project deadlines<\/a> and avoid scope creep<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Centralized workflows<\/strong> \u2014 Keep progress tracking, collaboration, and task management all in one place. Avoid tool fatigue with features that allow you to lead the whole project in Plaky.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- High security levels<\/strong> \u2014 Stay secure with Plaky\u2019s ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance, as well as SSO with OAuth 2, so everyone<\/em> in the team logs in through your secure identity provider. This way, you avoid one slip-up compromising your entire organization. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Plus, Plaky already helps many remote teams reach their project goals \u2014 like Jesse Tutt<\/a>, who leads a fully-remote digital marketing team, and says that Plaky helped them stay productive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Jesse-Tutt.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\u201cAs our organization grew, keeping up with constant changes and plans became too time consuming and impractical. Plaky has helped keep all of our projects, tasks, and projections in one place.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
\n\nBest remote team management software<\/h2>\n
Plaky is the ideal solution for remote teams looking to improve their collaboration and stay on top of their projects. Waste no time, and get a free account today!<\/p>\n\n
\n Sign up<\/a>\n\n Learn more<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n ![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/plaky\/banners\/default.png\")
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow to make a perfect Plaky board for remote workflows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So, what\u2019s the key to supporting any type of remote team with Plaky? Let\u2019s see how to create the perfect board, step by step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1 Create a custom board<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Remote work is widespread across many different industries, so Plaky lets you create fully personalized boards with custom fields<\/a>, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Status<\/strong> \u2014 for progress, priority, type, etc., <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tag<\/strong> \u2014 for resources, requirements, clients, etc.,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Assignee<\/strong> \u2014 for clear assignments and increased accountability,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Timeline <\/strong>\u2014 for tracking and aligning deadlines, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
This is perfect for remote managers who lead multiple projects<\/a>, as they often face issues with software limitations and keeping boards clear and unique. With Plaky\u2019s custom fields, you can create a distinct project workflow<\/a> for every board you manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Another issue remote teams face is a lack of clarity \u2014 and custom fields directly oppose this, too. All information in them is clear and accessible to the whole team, so there\u2019s no misinformation, unclear expectations, or lack of visibility.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Managing](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Manage-any-amount-of-different-projects-in-Plaky.png\")
Manage any amount of different projects in Plaky<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n
\n\nNeed help? Call Plaky!<\/h2>\n
To make setting up even easier, Plaky\u2019s support team is available 24\/7, no matter which plan you\u2019re on. So choose Plaky, and give us a ring anytime!<\/p>\n\n
\n Sign up<\/a>\n\n Contact support<\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n \n ![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/plaky\/banners\/landing-2.png\")
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n#2 Ensure accountability <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Once tasks are clear, expectations are clear, too. But, who are those expectations directed toward?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Accountability is a big issue in remote teams \u2014 it\u2019s easy for team members to evade it in the chaos of digital work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To avoid your tasks becoming a game of hot potato, take advantage of the Person<\/em> field in Plaky to ensure everyone knows who\u2019s responsible for which task. This helps you resolve issues quickly and improves teamwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can also take advantage of customizable field names to make it clear which Person <\/em>field is meant for which role \u2014 who\u2019s the assignee or the reviewer, who can be consulted, who\u2019s responsible for resources, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Adding](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Ensure-clarity-by-adding-team-members-to-custom-Person-fields.png\")
Ensure clarity by adding team members to custom Person fields<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Make teams accountable with Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
#3 Keep your team aligned <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now that you have tasks and fields, it\u2019s time to work on project collaboration<\/a>. But, wait \u2014 that\u2019s already set up for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Plaky, collaboration flows naturally. Every item card has a comment section<\/a>, where team members can freely communicate any task-specific information. Team members can also @mention people they want to contact regarding a question or a piece of info they share in the comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This way, everyone has access to the same information<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Say you run a design team. Someone from the team comments on their task card and asks which format they should submit the file in. Now, not only do you quickly reply to them, you also reduce communication overload because the rest of the team also has access to this info. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, if you simply @mention them, Plaky sends them a real-time notification<\/a>. This makes sure no message goes unseen, and there\u2019s no delay waiting for someone to notice you left a comment for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\ud83d\udca1Plaky pro tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
With remote work, collaboration across departments is at an even bigger risk \u2014 people can\u2019t simply take a stroll to another department. Learn how to improve cross-functional collaboration with this helpful article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- How to Use Cross-Functional Collaboration to Propel Teamwork<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"Comments](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Boost-teamwork-with-Plakys-comments-and-@mentions.png\")
Boost teamwork with Plaky’s comments and @mentions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n Keep collaboration flowing with Plaky<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
#4 Keep file sharing organized and accessible<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you\u2019re running a remote creative team (e.g. design, architecture, marketing), you\u2019ll have lots of files to share. In Plaky, file sharing<\/a> is a breeze \u2014 simply drag and drop the files (PDFs, PNGs, JPEGs, mp4s, etc.) on an item it\u2019s relevant to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Similar to comments, now your whole team has access to the file. They can add, preview, and download them (of course, as long as they have the right board permissions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This also means all files are organized and sorted by the tasks they refer to. No more time wasted on \u201cWhere\u2019s the design for our campaign social media post?<\/em>\u201d questions. Instead, team members intuitively know the design is in the Files tab of the appropriate Plaky item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This clear file organization also ensures you\u2019re not working in silos<\/a>, or struggling with cluttered file storages.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"File](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Avoiding-silos-with-Plakys-file-sharing.png\")
Avoiding silos with Plaky’s file sharing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\ud83d\udca1Plaky pro tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to know why Plaky is a good fit for creative teams (and not just remote ones!), check out this article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- How to Solve Creative Project Management Challenges With Plaky<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
#4 Track deadlines and align schedules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Remote teams often deal with scheduling issues, caused by working in different timezones, miscommunication, or poorly set timelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can avoid this easily though \u2014 with Plaky\u2019s Gantt chart view<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In it, you get full control over the project timeline<\/a>, helping you make sure no tasks overlap and cause bottlenecks. Plus, you can organize tasks so that there are no gaps in your timeline, causing unnecessary delays and drops in productivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And, with a clear visual overview, you\u2019ll know exactly which tasks to focus on. But, Plaky doesn\u2019t stop there. The Gantt chart settings let you adjust this view, choosing which custom fields to group by, color by, or show. For example, you can color by a priority<\/em> field to make sure crucial tasks are not delayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Or, say you\u2019re using Plaky for a marketing team<\/a>. With a hectic workflow and tight deadlines, you\u2019re trying to make sure no team member is struggling with work overload<\/a>. In Plaky\u2019s Gantt view, you can easily avoid this \u2014 group tasks by Assignee<\/em>, and check if a team member is working on too many tasks at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n
\n![\"Gantt](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/Checking-out-gaps-and-overlaps-in-team-members-schedules-with-Plakys-Gantt-view.png\")
Checking out gaps and overlaps in team members’ schedules with Plaky’s Gantt view<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n \n\ud83d\udca1Plaky pro tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Need templates to create a project timeline? We got you \u2014 check out this helpful article:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- 11 Project Timeline Templates (Customizable & Free)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
#5 Track the time it takes to complete tasks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The larger your company, the harder it is to track and ensure your teams\u2019 productivity. The solution \u2014 track the time your team members spend on tasks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thanks to Plaky\u2019s time tracking integration with Clockify<\/a>, your remote teams can easily input this information. Or, alternatively, simply start a timer through a button located on every task.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once everyone is tracking their time, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Keep an eye on productivity<\/strong> \u2014 With timesheets, you get a detailed insight into your team\u2019s time spent working, tracking productivity across the board.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Improve future planning<\/strong> \u2014 Once you know how much time specific tasks take, you know how to estimate schedules for similar tasks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Budget easily<\/strong> \u2014 Clockify<\/a> lets you generate invoices and calculate payrolls easily according to time tracked.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Now, no matter the size of your project, you can stay on top of your team\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Improve future planning<\/strong> \u2014 Once you know how much time specific tasks take, you know how to estimate schedules for similar tasks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Keep an eye on productivity<\/strong> \u2014 With timesheets, you get a detailed insight into your team\u2019s time spent working, tracking productivity across the board.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- 11 Project Timeline Templates (Customizable & Free)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
- How to Solve Creative Project Management Challenges With Plaky<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Tag<\/strong> \u2014 for resources, requirements, clients, etc.,<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Activity log<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>\u2014 Gain insight <\/strong>into everything that happens on your board. This way, you can meet your project deadlines<\/a> and avoid scope creep<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/plaky\/banners\/default@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Illustration\"](\"https:\/\/plaky.com\/learn\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-learn\/src\/images\/plaky\/banners\/landing-2@2x.png)
\n <\/picture>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n