The Ultimate Guide to Remote Work Management Software
Insightful / Remote Work Management Software
Remote Employee Monitoring

Clear Visibility for Better Remote Worker Monitoring

Monitoring remote employees with Insightful makes it feel like they’re on the desk next to you. Time tracking, workflow management and productivity insights for more accountability.

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Remote Work Management

Go From Lacking Remote Visibility to Full Transparency

THE CHALLENGE
Remote Work Clouds
Visibility

Strategic decision halted leading to diminished growth and profitability.

Reduced visibility into daily operations leading to missed deadlines.

Managers’ inability to correctly allocate work and track progress.

THE solution
Insights that Foster Accountable Remote Work

Simplified insights into workflows, tasks
and activities.

Data-driven elimination of idle time and inefficient processes.

Increased accountability with real-time visibility leading to higher productivity.

No credit card required
More Productive Remote Work

Bring Trust & Accountability to Remote Work

Gain Visibility

Make Better Decisions

  • Real-time remote work activity data for fast, accurate decision making.
  • Identify and support disengaged, overworked or underutilized employees.
  • Pinpoint effective processes of top performers to coach employees on best practices.
Visualize top productive employees, teams, and productivity trends
Manage With Ease

Simplified Remote Work Management

  • Share time usage data with employees to coach them on better time management.
  • Ensure adherence to work schedules 
and tasks.
  • Clearly track project timelines and remove blockers to hit deadlines.
View Office vs Remote feature on the Dashboard
STAY FOCUSED

Foster Accountability

  • Share time usage data with employees to coach them on better time management.
  • Ensure adherence to work schedules 
and tasks.
  • Clearly track project timelines and remove blockers to hit deadlines.
View on the Dashboard scheduled shifts and timesheets for efficient time and attendance
BETTER RESOURCING

Precise Capacity Planning

  • Quickly identify overstretched or burnt out employees and offer support.
  • Identify areas where you can reallocate staff, hire new personnel, or redistribute tasks to balance workloads.
  • Improve resource utilization using detailed capacity management reports and data.
activity timeline, active/idle/manual/break time breakdown, activity logs, and productivity
success stories

We Help Clients Get Measurable Results

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GETTING WORK DONE 25% FASTER
"Insightful has made our work lives so much easier. Our productivity and morale have never been better."

Zoran Lazic

CEO of FatCat Coders

productivity tips work from home
''We wanted to make sure that people are as productive when they’re working from home, but we realized that Insightful can offer us much more in the future.''

Allison Lessard

Director of Organizational Development

productivity tips work from home
“Insightful is not just a remote product; if I had access to it 5 years ago I would have used it. It's very productive to know what staff is doing all day, whether in the office or at home.”

Marco Fronto

Managing Director

reviews

Our 5100+ Clients Have a Habit of Saying Nice Things About Us

Excellent Customer Service
Customer service is excellent! Also, how they handled onboarding shows how much they care about their customers and service.The software accurately tracks time and calculates productivity, while other settings can be adjusted to meet customers' needs. There are various functions to add productivity labels for each team.
Assel S.
Operations Support Intern
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
Detailed Productivity Insights
It’s designed to keep all the critical operations in check and on time. It helps you to remain focused on the growth of the business. It helps you to analyze and optimize the performance and productivity of employees by providing behavioral insights. It allows you to analyze the project costs. It enables you to add multiple tasks and set a timer for each task.
Kaneesa A.
Senior Brand Marketing Manager
Enterprise(> 1000 emp.)
Great App for Remote Employee Time Tracking
Automated time tracking is great - guys adjusted it for us. Remote employee monitoring - great but I only used it to see what types of apps and websites our employees use. Projects and tasks added significant value for us. Overall it was the only software we tested in this industry that was simple to install and to use.
Mark E.
Marketing and Advertising
201-500 employees
An Essential Tool for Managing Today's Digital Workforce
Insightful has revolutionised how we’re able to work remotely and efficiently, and how we are able to manage staff while supervisors are out of the office. Insightful give a real view of how users are using the software assets and has enabled us to re-evaluate software product usage and license management of expensive software.
Andy G.
Civil Engineering
11-50 employees
Amazing Software
It works great for our remote workforce. We love the real-time productivity statistics and reporting. This ability to measure productivity has incentivised the employees to better time manage their day.
Juan V.
Software Engineer
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
Superb Productivity Monitoring
This is a tool that helps our organization establish transparency of work across team members, team leads & management. We feel the expanding team is more manageable now in a work-from-home / remote mode. And it’s a nice way to create an accountable ecosystem at work.
Yogesh H.
CEO, Swaran Soft OÜ
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
Great Product!!
Overall, I feel Insightful has assisted our company in determining what employees are more productive with their time than others. This software assists managers with creating employee productivity benchmarks based on usage analytics. I love the simplicity of navigating the system.
Marisol P.
Director Human Resources
201-500 employees
Truly Insightful Data
The ability to easily set up the software and bring the team online using a very user friendly interface has greatly impacted the ability to roll out the software throughout the organization The ability to have a live dashboard and to select screenshots to be taken every hour or the like is great - the ability to choose productivity models to best determine team success is outstanding.
Imran S.
Operations Manager
11-50 employees
Great Experience with Insightful
We have a really great experience with Insightful. It solved a lot of problems like tardiness, wasting of time, over breaks, and many more. I love how you can see what the employees are opening and how much time they spend on apps. Also, as an outsourcing company, it's one of our selling point to our client that they can monitor the people they hire.
Cliff Ian M.
Deputy General Manager
201-500 employees
Excellent Customer Service
Customer service is excellent! Also, how they handled onboarding shows how much they care about their customers and service.The software accurately tracks time and calculates productivity, while other settings can be adjusted to meet customers' needs. There are various functions to add productivity labels for each team.
Assel S.
Operations Support Intern
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
INTEGRATIONS

Connect Your Favorite Apps to Improve Daily Work

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FEATURES

Every Feature Needed to do
Remote Work Right

Activity Tracking
Project & Task Tracking
Streamlined Invoicing
Client Login
Remote Work Tracking
Security & Attendance Alerts
Screenshots
Real-Time Insights
Reports
Industries

Made for Remote Teams
That Care About Productivity

services and commercial
Service Providers

Deliver amazing service from anywhere.

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Agencies
Software & IT
finance and healthcare
Financial & Health

Manage a global workforce at scale.

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Financial Services
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Support

Offer around-the-clock support with full visibility.

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Data Entry
Customer Service
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An Award-Winning Software.
Loved by Customers.

leader 2023
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4.8/5
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4.8/5
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4.8/5

FAQs

What is Insightful remote worker monitoring software?

Insightful’s remote remote team monitoring software helps you better manage your remote team with more accountability and visibility. Features include remote time and attendance, productivity management, remote time tracking, and remote activity monitoring.

Why do remote teams need a remote worker tracking system?

Remote work monitoring software ensures your people are working as scheduled with the expected output. This keeps your productivity high wherever your team works from and enables you to continue to offer the WFH flexibility that modern employees want.

How does Insightful do remote work monitoring?

Insightful’s remote team monitoring tools capture activity, time on tasks and give you real-time productivity insights via an app installed on your employees’ computer. This remote employee monitoring functionality helps keep your remote workers accountable.

Does Insightful work for hybrid work too?

Yes. Insightful’s remote remote worker monitoring software is designed for fully remote and hybrid work. The platform’s hybrid monitoring software tools show you how location impacts performance and seamlessly measures productivity as your team comes and goes from the office. 

Does Insightful offer a free trial?

Insightful’s remote remote team monitoring software helps you better manage your remote team with more accountability and visibility. Features include remote time and attendance, productivity management, remote time tracking, and remote activity monitoring.

Do Great Remote Work with Insightful

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Learn More About Remote Work Management Software

The Ultimate Guide to
Remote Work Management Software

Are you finding it difficult to keep your remote workers productive and accountable?
Do you need better remote work systems to enhance oversight and streamline operations?
Are you looking for reliable remote work software to manage your team's tasks and workflows?

If you're ready to elevate your remote workforce management, you’re in the right place.
This guide will show you how a tailored remote work solution can provide full visibility into your team's activities and productivity.

Guide Topics

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answer all your custom needs.

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01: What is Remote Work Management?

But what is remote working? What is a remote worker?

A remote worker works outside a traditional office setting, typically from home or another remote work setup. Employees who work from home, work from anywhere, or in a hybrid setting can all be classified as remote workers.

Remote work is increasingly becoming the preference of employees and many companies. So, why is remote work important? Does remote work increase productivity? How do companies monitor remote workers?

Why remote work is better: A well-implemented program to manage remote employees can boost remote employee productivity by 47%, cut costs, and expand access to global talent. It reduces commuting stress, improves job satisfaction, and enhances business resilience during disruptions. This is why remote work is better for companies who can offer the flexibility.

But how do you manage remote workers? Does it require a completely new approach?

[fs-toc-omit]How to Manage Remote Workers: Know the Challenges

Proper remote work management is key to reaping the benefits of working remote while tackling common remote work issues. Knowing how to manage a remote workforce keeps your people connected, efficient, and engaged—no matter their remote location.

      ❗Communication Gaps: Misinterpretations can arise without face-to-face interaction, slowing decisions and causing misunderstandings.

      ❗Productivity Visibility: Limited insight into how time is spent remotely makes it harder to track remote work productivity and accountability.

      ❗Team Cohesion: Remote work can lead to isolation, reducing morale, remote collaboration, and employee engagement for remote workers.

      ❗Time Zone Challenges: Scheduling across different zones can disrupt workflows and delay progress without adaptable remote team software.

      ❗Work-Life Boundaries: Blurred lines between work and personal life can increase burnout risk without proper remote employee management.

      ❗Data Security Risks: Remote access raises security vulnerabilities, especially with personal devices or unsecured networks lacking remote device monitoring.

      ❗Workload Imbalance: Without in-person oversight, workloads can become uneven, leading to underutilization or remote work burnout.

How do you avoid these pitfalls and address the elephant in the room: how to know if remote employees are working?

The best way to guarantee your teams are working is by monitoring remote employees with remote employee productivity monitoring software.

This software is the best-kept secret to overcoming remote work challenges. With proactive remote work strategies and a data-driven remote monitoring system, companies enjoy the pros of remote working without the obstacles.

[fs-toc-omit]What is Remote Workforce Management Software?

How to manage a remote team? Remote monitoring software is key. You can keep your team aligned, productive, and motivated without the need for excessive oversight.

Remote monitoring & management software creates a secure, unified platform where remote teams can collaborate seamlessly, track progress in real time, and manage workloads. This helps your remote workforce stay connected, accountable, and balanced.

Tools to manage remote employees help solve issues like:

  • How to supervise remote employees
  • How to track remote employees' time
  • How to measure remote work productivity
  • How to track remote employees’ productivity
  • How to support remote workers
  • How to build a remote work culture
  • How to make remote workers feel included
  • How to keep remote teams engaged
  • How to improve remote working

The best remote monitoring software offers features that extend beyond these capabilities to manage resources, protect against insider threats, and so much more.

Don’t let managing a remote team be frustrating and inefficient. When you harness the power of remote work solutions, you’re set to lead with confidence. You’ll keep projects moving and your goals within reach—no matter where your team calls "the office."

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02: How Remote Work Tools Work

Managing remote workers distributed across many remote locations can be tough without the proper support.

With the right remote monitoring and management systems, you gain real-time insights, keep communication clear, and make sure tasks are completed.

So how does it work? What is remote monitoring? Let’s start by breaking down the core features of remote monitoring and management software:

  • Live Remote Employee Tracking: Tracks tasks and projects in real time to monitor progress.

  • Remote Team Collaboration: Provides visibility into availability, project progress, and workloads to support team collaboration.

  • Time Tracking for Remote Employees: Logs hours automatically, eliminating manual entry.

  • Remote Employee Monitoring Software: Collects data on work habits, productivity patterns, and areas for improvement.

  • Remote Productivity Monitoring: Monitor remote workers' progress and analyze activities and output to assess performance.

  • Remote Desktop User Activity Monitoring: Tracks application usage, time spent on tasks, and general activity for productivity and security.

  • Reporting & Analytics: Generates insights on productivity trends and time usage to highlight best practices and areas for improvement.

  • Integrations: Connects with project management, HR remote people management, and communication platforms to streamline operations.


Most basic remote monitoring tools include these features. However, some remote employee monitoring platforms, like Insightful, offer a much wider feature set at a competitive price.

[fs-toc-omit]What does a day in the life with productivity tools for remote workers look like?

Your day starts with checking the dashboard for real-time updates on team activity and project progress. You see who’s online, what tasks are in motion, and which projects are nearing deadlines. During a morning sync, everyone updates their workload status, ensuring priorities are aligned.

Throughout the day, the remote work time tracker automatically tracks time and productivity, giving you insights into patterns without needing constant check-ins. If a team member struggles with a task, you can quickly identify it through performance data and offer support.

You use integration features to sync updates with project management tools, keeping communication seamless. By the end of the day, you generate a report highlighting remote working productivity trends and areas for improvement, ensuring tomorrow’s focus is clear.

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03: Benefits of Remote Work Management Tools

So, how does remote team management software actually benefit remote team management?

Remote work management software isn’t just about knowing who’s online. It’s about creating an environment where everyone can thrive and work efficiently.

How remote work benefits employers:

[fs-toc-omit]Visibility & Accountability

     ✔ Enhanced Visibility & Accountability: Real-time remote employee tracking lets managers monitor tasks, productivity, and engagement from anywhere, helping remote employees stay accountable without micromanagement.

     ✔  Proof of Work & Client Reporting: With features like activity tracking and screen monitoring, remote work management software provides clear proof of work, making it easier to report completed tasks to clients or stakeholders.

     ✔ Real-Time Resource Allocation: Remote monitoring and management software offers visibility into team capacity and resource usage so you can allocate tasks in real time, preventing overload or underutilization within remote setups.

    ✔ Enhanced Performance Insights: Remote work tracking software with in-depth reporting provides you with a clear view of productivity trends, helping you optimize team and individual performance over time.

    ✔ Improved Workflow Accountability: Remote monitoring solutions with detailed activity logs track app and website usage, allowing you to refine workflows and ensure that resources are utilized effectively.

[fs-toc-omit]Performance & Efficiency

    ✔ Data-Driven Management: Remote work productivity monitoring tools provide metrics that allow you to identify inefficiencies and make strategic adjustments, which supports performance improvements in remote settings.

    ✔  Scalability for Distributed Teams: Remote employee tracking tools scale easily with team growth across locations and integrate with existing tech ecosystems, ensuring effective management as remote teams expand.

    ✔ Flexible Adaptation to Remote & Hybrid Models: Remote team tools function well across both hybrid and remote work models, allowing companies to transition smoothly or mix models as needed without losing valuable productivity insights.

    ✔ Streamlined Collaboration & Communication: With integration capabilities, remote team collaboration tools ensure that productivity data syncs with communication and project management platforms, creating a seamless flow of information across dispersed teams.

    ✔ Increased Project Efficiency: A remote time monitoring app with time mapping allocates time accurately across tasks, which simplifies billing, improves resource allocation, and keeps project timelines on track.


[fs-toc-omit]Engagement & Wellbeing

    ✔ Support for Work-Life Balance: By tracking time usage and workload distribution, time tracking software for remote employees help you monitor overworking trends and adjust workloads.

    ✔  Boosted Engagement & Wellbeing: Remote worker engagement tracking helps identify signs of disengagement or burnout, allowing managers to step in early and provide support to keep employees connected and motivated.

    ✔ Optimized Onboarding & Training: Remote work software tools offer detailed activity insights so you can see how new hires engage with training materials, enabling consistent and supportive onboarding across remote locations.

    ✔ Enhanced Focus through Distraction Management: Remote monitor tools track app and website usage to help identify and limit distracting applications, promoting a more focused work environment and allowing employees to optimize their productivity.


[fs-toc-omit]Privacy & Security

     ✔ Customizable Privacy Settings: Monitoring software for remote workers allows for anonymized tracking, balancing productivity monitoring with remote employees’ privacy—especially important in remote environments.

    ✔ Compliance with Data Protection Standards: Remote PC monitoring software adheres to rigorous standards like HIPAA, SOC 2, and GDPR, ensuring data security across remote and hybrid setups.

    ✔ Real-Time Threat Detection & Alerts: Remote working software like Insightful offers automated alerts for suspicious behavior or policy violations to ensure that security threats are identified and managed immediately.

[fs-toc-omit]Software Utilization & Cost Efficiency

     ✔ Reduced Software Costs: By tracking software and application usage with remote IT management software, businesses can eliminate unnecessary subscriptions, reducing costs and streamlining their tech stack.

    ✔ Streamlined Tech Stack to Minimize Distractions: With remote employee tracking software, you can retain only essential tools by analyzing software usage and its impact on productivity. This remote software management reduces digital clutter and enables teams to focus on high-priority tasks.

    ✔ Efficient Subscription Management: IT remote management software monitors app usage and suggests renewals or cancellations, ensuring that tech investments align with productivity goals and operational needs.


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04: Remote Work Use Cases

Remote work software tools flexibly support a range of work models, each with its own unique needs and challenges of remote working.

Here’s how they help keep productivity, remote team engagement, and accountability high, no matter where employees work:

[fs-toc-omit]Fully Remote Work

Visibility is key for fully remote teams. Real-time monitoring and time tracking clearly show project progress and productivity. Remote desktop monitoring software helps to maintain a sense of structure and support that remote work can sometimes lack.

A remote monitoring app can shed light on how productivity fluctuates across different home environments, so you can refine your hybrid/remote work policy based on actual data. And, with built-in and integrations, employees can stay as connected and in-sync as they would be in an office, sharing tasks and project updates seamlessly.

Take eSquared, a consulting firm, as an example. They made the leap to remote work and wanted to ensure their team stayed on track. With Insightful’s software to monitor remote workers, they boosted productivity to over 90%, and now 98% of their employees work remotely full-time.

[fs-toc-omit]Hybrid Work

For a hybrid remote work schedule, where employees split time between the office and home, a remote performance monitor offers insights into how different settings impact performance. Location-based productivity insights help you make data-backed decisions on which roles or tasks thrive remotely and which excel in the office.

Capacity planning and shift scheduling features allow you to coordinate who is working where, ensuring optimal remote and in-office staffing. Workload balancing and burnout prevention tools help keep teams productive without tipping into overload.

Discover how Fields Group, a private equity firm, adopted Insightful’s remote work tracking to manage hybrid teams and quickly achieve 100% employee adoption. It improved transparency, revealed skipped breaks in remote work, and helped foster healthier work habits.

[fs-toc-omit]On-Site or Office-Based Work

A remote worker app doesn’t just benefit remote setups. On-site teams also reap the benefits of remote time tracking software, simplifying payroll and attendance management for office-based work. Workload management and task balancing keep productivity on track by visualizing task distribution, helping to prevent bottlenecks in high-paced office settings.

Advanced reporting and analytics provide a detailed look at productivity trends within the office, enabling you to refine workflows and implement best practices that drive on-site success.

Find out how Day’s Motor Group used Insightful’s remote worker monitoring to keep an eye on how employees were spending their time in the office, making sure tasks got done on schedule.

[fs-toc-omit]Freelancers & Contractors

Freelancers and contractors often need streamlined invoicing and clear accountability. Remote time tracking billing and invoicing tools automatically capture billable hours, making payment processes straightforward and efficient, which is particularly beneficial in client-facing work.

Project-based time tracking and proof-of-work features allow clients to monitor deliverables and ensure that freelancers stay aligned with project goals. Additionally, real-time dashboards provide live updates on progress, adding clarity and trust in short-term or project-based work agreements.

See how Digital Estimating used Insightful’s tools for tracking remote workers to stay on top of project work, helping boost productivity from 78% to over 90%. It also made performance reviews fairer by cutting out guesswork and focusing on real data.

[fs-toc-omit]Distributed or Branch Office Teams

Maintaining cohesive workflows is essential for distributed teams across various branch offices. Remote team collaboration and seamless integrations connect locations, enabling teams to share resources and projects in real time and bridging the gap between different offices.

Remote work monitoring software with location-based productivity monitoring offers insight into how performance differs across branches, giving you data to make smarter staffing and resource allocation decisions. With capacity planning, these tools ensure balanced staffing and support across locations so no branch office is left under-resourced.

Discover how Impac used Insightful’s remote employee tracking software to streamline operations across distributed teams, improving productivity and saving on office costs. 

[fs-toc-omit]Industry-Related Use Cases

Advanced remote employee management software serves a variety of industries with a remote jobs environment. These tools offer industry-specific features that help streamline operations, optimize workforce management, and ensure data security where it matters most. 

  • Call Centers: Real-time monitoring, shift scheduling, and monitoring remote workers' productivity help maintain high-quality customer support and operational efficiency. Tools like Insightful additionally offer call center quality management software tailored to your industry.

  • Insurance & Financial Services: Compliance-focused tools, advanced security, and billing/invoicing capabilities streamline sensitive data management, claims processing, and customer service for finance and insurance teams. 

  • Healthcare: In healthcare, burnout prevention, time tracking for remote workers, and HIPAA-compliant security help manage workloads and capacity while safeguarding patient privacy.

  • Retail & People Services: Staffing optimization, productivity tracking, and multi-location insights ensure consistent customer experiences, whether in-store, remote, or across retail branches.


Overall, remote team management software empowers a broad range of industries to drive productivity, enhance security, and streamline day-to-day operations.

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05: Implementing Remote Work Management Software

Once you’ve decided on remote working, set up your remote work policy template and plan the implementation process. When choosing the best remote software, it’s important to look at both your company’s specific needs and how different tools stack up.

Here’s a simple guide to help you with the decision-making process:

[fs-toc-omit]1. Match Features to Your Goals

Start by revisiting your goals. If productivity tracking is the top priority, look for software with detailed activity monitoring and remote worker time tracking. If preventing burnout or workload balancing is key, choose tools with robust workload management and real-time insights. Aligning features with your goals ensures you get the most out of the tool.

[fs-toc-omit]2. Consider Industry-Specific Needs

The best remote workplaces understand and cater to their specific needs. For instance, if you’re in healthcare or finance, privacy and compliance are critical, so pick software that meets industry regulations like HIPAA or GDPR. For client-facing roles, tools that include billing and invoicing options can simplify payments and dispute resolution. Look for options tailored to handle what’s most important in your sector.

[fs-toc-omit]3. Evaluate Ease of Use & Integration

Look for remote worker monitoring software that’s easy to navigate and integrates with tools your team already uses, like project management, HR, or communication platforms. Seamless integration can save time and minimize disruption. Checking for features like customizable dashboards and reports also makes the tool easier to use daily.

[fs-toc-omit]4. Assess Privacy and Security Controls

Privacy is crucial for remote team management tools. Make sure the software has customizable privacy settings and strict security measures to protect sensitive data. Employees should have confidence that their information is managed responsibly and only used to improve workflows, not for unnecessary surveillance.

[fs-toc-omit]5. Compare Reporting & Customization Options

The value of a remote worker tracking tool is in its insights, so check for advanced reporting options. Software that lets you customize reports, alerts, and dashboards helps you zero in on the data that matters most to your team. This flexibility also makes it easier to adjust the tool as your goals evolve.

[fs-toc-omit]6. Explore Support & Training Resources

Good support can make or break the user experience. Look for providers offering training sessions, support documentation, and ongoing help to ensure your team is comfortable using the remote system monitor tool. A software provider with strong customer support can be a huge asset, especially in the early phases of implementation.

[fs-toc-omit]7. Request a Demo or Pilot Program

Most software companies offer demos or trial periods—take advantage of these. A pilot program with a small team allows you to test real-world use, evaluate ease of adoption, and gather feedback before committing fully. This is often the best way to see if remote employee software genuinely meets your needs.

Focusing on these considerations can help you make an informed choice about which remote work platform will best serve your specific needs, work style, and industry requirements. Matching software features to company goals, integrating smoothly with existing systems, and ensuring strong privacy and support can help make the transition seamless and valuable.

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06: Measuring Success with Remote Work Tools

What does successful remote working look like?

To see how well your remote work strategy is working, you’ll want to track key metrics that show how productive, engaged, and efficient your team really is. These metrics help you spot trends, identify issues, and make adjustments as needed. These insights can identify best practices, which can be shared across departments so everyone understands how to be a remote worker to their highest potential.

Here’s a look at the essential metrics to watch and how to get the most out of them.

[fs-toc-omit]1. Productivity Trends

  • What to Track: Keep an eye on overall work output by looking at hours worked, tasks completed, and major milestones hit. This lets you spot patterns and see if people are staying consistent over time.
  • Examples: Total hours worked vs. planned hours, completed tasks vs. assigned tasks, and daily or weekly productivity rates.

[fs-toc-omit]2. Task Completion Rates

  • What to Track: Measure how many tasks are finished on time to see if work is moving along smoothly. It’s a great way to understand if your workflows are set up right or if adjustments are needed.
  • Examples: Tasks completed on schedule, percentage of overdue tasks, and average time to finish a task.

[fs-toc-omit]3. Active vs. Idle Time

  • What to Track: Look at the time spent actively working versus idle time to see how work hours are actually used. It’s useful for understanding work habits and seeing if remote setups are supportive.
  • Examples: Average active hours per day, idle time per person, and the ratio of active to idle time during the day.

[fs-toc-omit]4. Communication & Collaboration Activity

  • What to Track: Track the frequency and type of communication, like messages, emails, and meetings. For remote teams, communication quality often correlates with project success.
  • Examples: Number of messages or emails, average response time, meeting frequency, and duration.

[fs-toc-omit]5. Engagement & Wellbeing

  • What to Track: Engagement indicators, like attendance and break frequency, help gauge overall team morale and wellbeing. Overtime or irregular breaks can point to stress or burnout risks.
  • Examples: Average work hours per day/week (including overtime), regularity of breaks, and attendance patterns like late starts or early finishes.

[fs-toc-omit]6. Efficiency of Task Transitions

  • What to Track: Keep an eye on how long it takes people to switch between tasks or projects. Frequent task-switching or long transition times can impact focus and productivity.
  • Examples: Average transition time between tasks, time spent multi-tasking vs. single-tasking, and frequency of switching between tasks.

[fs-toc-omit]7. Goal Alignment & Project Progress

  • What to Track: Tracking progress toward major project goals and milestones helps you see if remote employees are on target. It’s about making sure they’re not only busy but working on the right things.
  • Examples: Percentage of project milestones met on time, number of high-priority tasks completed, and rate of goal completion.

[fs-toc-omit]8. Error Rates & Rework

  • What to Track: Keep tabs on tasks that need revisions or corrections, as well as the frequency of errors. High error rates can point to communication gaps or areas where training is needed.
  • Examples: Number of tasks needing rework, frequency of errors in deliverables, and time spent on revisions.

[fs-toc-omit]Tips for Reporting Remote Work Metrics

  • Set Baselines & Benchmarks: Use historical data to establish baselines, so you know what normal looks like. This makes it easier to see when things improve or need adjustment.
  • Visualize Data: Charts and graphs help make complex data more digestible. Use visual summaries of task completion rates, active vs. idle time, and goal progress to quickly spot patterns.
  • Balance Frequency: Weekly summaries are great for quick insights, while monthly reports give a bigger picture. A mix of both lets you stay on top of things without overloading managers or teams.
  • Combine Quantitative with Qualitative: Add employee feedback or survey insights alongside numbers to get a fuller view of remote work’s impact.

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07: The Best Remote Work Software

Still struggling to know which tool is right for you? Curious which tool will unlock the true benefits of remote workers?

Try Insightful.

Insightful stands out as one of the best remote employee monitoring software because it goes beyond the basics to offer a complete, actionable view of team performance. While other remote workforce solutions like Time Doctor or ActivTrak cover standard remote work surveillance, Insightful brings you deeper insights that make a real impact on productivity and team wellbeing.

Along with core features, here’s why Insightful is the best monitor for remote work:

  • InsightsAI: AI-powered analysis for fast trend identification and actionable workforce insights.

  • Capacity Planning & Shift Scheduling: Forecasts staffing needs, optimizes shifts, and balances workloads efficiently.

  • Employee Burnout Prevention: Monitors overtime and workload distribution to flag burnout risks and suggest adjustments.

  • Remote Employee Engagement Monitoring: Tracks remote engagement activities to gauge motivation and morale.

  • Location Insights: Evaluates productivity differences across remote, office, and hybrid setups to support informed work policies.

  • Billing & Invoicing Tools: Automatically tracks billable hours, streamlines client invoicing, and aids in dispute resolution.

  • Software Utilization Insights: Analyzes software usage to identify redundancies, reduce costs, and optimize tech stacks.

  • Workload Management & Task Balancing: Visualizes workload distribution in real time, with automated alerts to prevent overload.

  • In-depth Forensics and Threat Detection: Offers advanced digital forensics and insider threat detection beyond basic security.

For companies that want more than just monitoring, Insightful’s remote monitoring and management tools deliver the full picture of productivity and team health—making it the clear choice for optimizing remote work.

Ready to take full advantage of remote work? Sign up for a free trial of Insightful today!

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08: Managing Remote Employees: Best Practices

Once you have the right tools, the next question is how to make remote work successful. Managing a remote workforce effectively requires a mix of clear communication, intentional structure, and flexibility.

Here are some hybrid/remote work best practices to keep teams' productivity in remote work high and get the most out of remote work benefits:

[fs-toc-omit]1. Set Clear Expectations & Goals

How do employers monitor remote employees’ progress on goals? The first step is to clearly define team and individual goals, deadlines, and deliverables. Clear expectations create a shared understanding of success and reduce the need for micromanagement.

  • Set Clear Objectives: To ensure clarity, use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound). Align individual goals with team and organizational priorities.

  • Document Deliverables & Deadlines: Clearly outline what’s needed and when, breaking down larger tasks into manageable milestones for productive remote work.

  • Use Remote Tracking Systems for Support: A remote monitor app like Insightful provides real-time visibility into workloads and progress, helping to identify support needs and prevent burnout. Share data transparently to build trust and allow employees to self-manage remote work.

  • Revisit Goals Regularly: Use check-ins and one-on-ones to adjust goals as priorities shift or challenges arise. Invite employee input during goal-setting to foster ownership and remote workforce collaboration.

[fs-toc-omit]2. Establish Reliable Communication Channels

How to support remote employees? Use a mix of remote work software tools to fit communication needs—video calls for in-depth discussions, messaging for quick updates, and project management tools for tracking tasks. Establish norms for each channel, like response times or preferred methods for specific topics, to ensure everyone is on the same page. The best remote working software will seamlessly integrate with these tools and help you track remote employees’ communication trends.

[fs-toc-omit]3. Focus on Results, Not Hours

Rather than tracking remote workers' productivity via hours, focus on productivity and outcomes. Define key metrics that align with goals and track task or project completion with remote process monitoring to gauge performance. This approach builds trust and gives team members the flexibility to manage their schedules effectively.

[fs-toc-omit]4. Maintain Regular Check-Ins

Offer remote worker support through regular check-ins. Schedule one-on-ones, team meetings, and quick check-ins to stay connected and address issues early. Regular check-ins provide accountability, allow for feedback, and keep communication flowing. These should be structured but flexible to avoid overwhelming team members with excessive meetings.

[fs-toc-omit]5. Encourage Remote Work Collaboration & Social Interaction

Remote work employee engagement can be tricky as remote work can be isolating, so creating opportunities for collaboration and social connection is essential. Use collaborative tools to work together in real-time on projects, and set up casual virtual hangouts or team-building activities to maintain team spirit.

[fs-toc-omit]6. Support Employee Wellbeing & Prevent Burnout

Encourage regular breaks, set clear boundaries for working hours, and monitor workloads to prevent remote work burnout. Regularly check in on team wellbeing and encourage open conversations about work-life balance. Consider using remote platforms that help track remote work engagement activities and identify early signs of burnout.

[fs-toc-omit]7. Offer Continuous Feedback & Recognition

Provide timely, constructive feedback on tasks and projects, recognizing achievements both big and small. Regular feedback helps team members stay motivated and aligned, while recognition and remote work perks strengthen morale and show that remote contributions are valued.

[fs-toc-omit]8. Invest in the Right Tools & Technology

Equip your team with the best remote work apps tailored to remote work. The right technology makes workflows smoother, keeps everyone connected, and minimizes frustration with remote processes.

[fs-toc-omit]9. Foster an Inclusive Remote Work Culture

How to improve remote work culture? Make sure all team members, regardless of location, feel included in conversations and decisions. Create an open remote work environment where everyone’s voice is heard and where diverse perspectives are encouraged. This inclusivity boosts engagement and strengthens team cohesion.

[fs-toc-omit]10. Be Flexible & Adaptable

Remote work isn’t one-size-fits-all, so be prepared to adapt policies and practices based on feedback and changing needs. Stay open to experimenting with new approaches, and be willing to pivot if something isn’t working.

These best practices create a structured yet flexible approach to managing remote teams, so your business can fully realize the benefits of remote working