Top Work From Home Equipment to Maximize Productivity

Flexible working and remote working are on the rise still, which means that more people are adapting to working from home in a more permanent setting. If you are working from home, or looking to transition to this setup, then there are different kinds of work from home equipment available that you can utilize to be more productive. Let’s take a look at a few.

Reliable Internet Connection is Non-Negotiable

Let’s start with the obvious, shall we? You will need a reliable internet connection if you have any hopes of working from home. You will still need a reliable internet connection if you are an independent home worker who cuts grass in the local area!

It’s fair to say that all types of home workers will need a reliable internet connection. While it’s likely that you currently have a solid internet connection, you may not be getting the best value for what you’re spending.

You should be trying to get as much speed for as little money as possible. Shop around and compare quotes to find the best internet provider that can give you a reliable internet connection.

A Working Computer is a Must

Now that your internet connection is set up, you will need the most important work from home equipment – a computer! This means grabbing a capable computer that can suit your needs and make use any software that is required by your work.

There are many different computer brands out there, from HP to Apple. The one that you choose to work with will vary on many different factors.

Ask your employer what they recommend or if they could even supply it if you don’t have one. You will find that most employers are happy to send you a piece of equipment if it helps you work!

Email Access

When working from home, you will absolutely need to use email. It’s fair to say that all industries and all businesses will utilize email in some form. From sales to just communicating with your colleagues, it will certainly have a role to play.

It’s worth pointing out that there are many different types of email applications that you can use. While you have probably heard of the most popular, such as Outlook and Gmail, there are other alternatives for you to consider.

Thunderbird is Mozilla’s free email client that you could make use of, but you will find it best to use the email client that matches your company. This will help you follow the house style and branding of the company, which is much more professional.

Document Tools

Likely, you won’t be able to complete much work when working from home without using various documents. Document tools will allow you to write reports, and generally allow you to get work done. When talking about document tools, it can mean documents for writing, PowerPoints, data usage, and more.

You need basic document tools, such as those from Microsoft Office, Adobe, or Google. To get the most out of them, use extra tools that can make your documents better. There will be various extensions and third-party tools that can be used here.

For example, you could use Grammarly as an extension on your Word document to fix spelling errors and make your writing sound more coherent. You could also use PDF tools to help compress and view your files in a more accessible way. Compressing your PDFs and documents allows you to save storage space, as well as enables you to send documents off via email with more ease. 

Smartphone

While it is unlikely that you will 100% need a smartphone for your work, it can certainly be used to enhance your work. You can use your smartphone for quick messages, business calls, and taking quick action when you need it.

In some workplaces and industries, your phone may be a primary tool you must use daily. In situations like this, it will be likely that you will actually be supplied with a smartphone that is only used for work purposes.

The type of smartphone you use may also vary. There is likely to be a big difference between some companies with what they prefer, most likely referring to what sort of system they are running.

For those who favor Macs and Apple, then it will be iPhones that are used for work purposes. For Android users, they will have more options available to them, such as Google and Samsung devices.

Work From Home Hardware

It’s also worth discussing the various hardware pieces you could use when working from home. Once again, for the most part, the hardware that you use will depend on what sort of business you’re operating. Not all businesses will require you to use a 3D printer, for example, while others may require it for daily use.

The type of hardware you need will vary, but there will be some absolute necessities. You will need accessories for your computer, such as a keyboard and mouse, microphone and headset, etc.

If you aren’t exactly sure what you need for yourself, you should speak to your colleagues to gain more insight into what work from home equipment they use and how they use it.

WFH Software

You should look into what type of software will be helpful to enhance your work from home operation. There will be software, such as project management apps and time-tracking software, that can allow you to work more efficiently at your own pace. 

Look into the type of software that is commonplace both within your workplace and the industry as a whole. It is likely that there will be different pieces of software that you and your remote workplace can make use of, you just have to know where to look.

Final Thoughts

Following the advice listed throughout this article should help you with your remote setup and allow you to get more work done. Of course, not all the advice listed throughout this article will be relevant to your situation, but it’s worth considering all work from home equipment.

What other work from home equipment do you find useful?