If there are two things our team at Weekdone is well aware, it’s the joys and sorrows of working in a start-up team that is distributed across different areas. So it’s nice to sit down and chat, although this time just through Skype, with people that share the same faith.
There is no need to look too far to understand that the trend of working remotely has plummeted. It’s supported by the data and our own experience. According to the statistics by Global Workplace Analytics, the proportion of remote workers has grown by 80% from 2005. Taking into account our experience, we have seen more and more distributed teams sign up for status reports to improve collaboration processes with team-members from various parts of the globe.
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Therefore, it was great to get feedback from Richard Beeson, the director of client happiness enforcement at AgoraPulse, how they have implemented status reports in their everyday collaboration process. Here is how they handle the challenge of working from San Francisco, Paris and Singapore:
Thanks for taking the time to speak about how your remote team uses status reports. To start off, what does AgoraPulse do?
We’re an affordable, all-in-one Social Media Marketing SaaS tool for businesses. Our platform provides advanced apps, analytics, publishing, moderation tools, as well as CRM for Facebook and Twitter. It’s all built around CRM, designed to help businesses grow and engage their followers/ fan base.
Seems exactly something Weekdone would need to engage our social media audience. But how many of you work on this product?
We are a global startup with ten people dispersed around the globe. We have been around three years, enjoying the challenge of remote working.
And how do you divide the responsibilities in your team?
Our core functions remain the same, but most of us wear up to seven different hats, taking on new roles, helping each other in theirs. I could probably change my job title each week. We’re just getting things done.
I can relate to it. Team members in a global startup need to wear many different hats to get everything done. But why did decide to start using status reports?
Well, we were in the process of going remote. My company is based out of Paris, I am based in San Francisco, we have team-mates in other areas as well. So we were going remote and we were looking for a tool to collaborate and just get things done. I know my our CEO also tried various different tools, but Weekdone’s status reports were the ones he was happiest with.
So, everyone is using Weekdone in your team?
Yes, everybody is using it. We also have people working for us as part-time, who are using it as well. It’s really efficient when they come in and they haven’t been online for a while, but they know exactly what they are doing and what to take care of. So its super.
Once a year we also get together with each other, which is always great fun. But rest of the year we need to collaborate and communicate through Internet.
Hopefully this filling in the status report doesn’t take too much time and attention away from your everyday duties. Do you fill in your status report on a daily or weekly basis?
It depends on the week. Some weeks I fill the status report in as I go, some weeks I fill it in in the end of the week. But even if fill my report once a week, it still doesn’t take long. Its still very quick and simple.
Has anything improved while using Weekdone?
Well, let me put this in this way. The best thing about the tool is that it has allowed us to go remote. Before the status reports, we were using Google Docs to keep up with each other. That was just painful.
Overall, I can’t put my finger on what it has improved, but it has just made things possible. It really allowed us to go remote and be very efficient in doing so.
Working from different locations can be a challenge, so it’s great to hear we have been able to help your team to be more efficient. But there are probably other tools you use on a regular basis to collaborate and communicate with each other?
We are keeping it simple. We use Hit Chat to communicate and to send files, to stay connected in real-time. But as far as team collaboration goes, Weekdone is the only tool we use.
We have always tried to keep our status reports simple. On that note, what’s your favorite feature in Weekdone?
But are there any features you think our status report is missing?
You know, our CEO has written you several times to request new features, and your team has added them all! At this point it’s hard to imagine how it could be improved and we’re very grateful for the dedicated service!
How would you rate the usability?
It’s very, very efficient. I don’t think it could get any simpler. Honestly, I think its one of the things we love about it the most. When I do my report in the end of the week and it just takes 5 minutes and I am done.
It’s been great chatting with you, are there any last comments you would like to add?
Well, I wish I could have given you more details. But the truth is that it is just very simple and it works, which is the best part about it.
It is very simple and it just works.
Not everything in this life needs to be difficult. At least that’s how we have built our status reports. When you are already struggling with challenges at work, you need supporting tools that make your life easier, not harder. That’s how great global SaaS companies are built. Through wonderful ideas and people who are able to collaborate efficiently.