Key takeaways:
  • What are the different types of hybrid work software? In this post, we focus on project/work management tools, workplace management tools, and communication tools.
  • What do organizations need from hybrid work software? Flexibility and customization are key to hybrid work software. Every workplace is unique, which means your tools must be adaptable.
  • What are the best hybrid work software options out there? In this post, we introduce Wrike, Envoy, Flydesk, Volley, Spike, plus five more bonus tools for hybrid workplaces.

Hybrid work is a popular setup, and it’s been that way for a while. It’s increasingly normal for companies to have employees splitting their working time between home and the office. That’s why you don’t need another article pretending it’s groundbreaking to use Microsoft Teams for remote meetings. That’s old news. Instead, here I’ve put together a list of hybrid work tools you might not have heard about. 

The list below is sorted into categories, so it’s easy to find what you need. I’ll give examples of software you can use to manage your hybrid workplace, as well as communication tools that are a little more outside the box than Zoom or Slack. But first, I’ll start with our own work management software, Wrike. It’s a collaborative, customizable platform that distributed teams all over the world are using to streamline workflows and keep projects on track.

Try Wrike for free

Project/work management for hybrid teams

1. Wrike

Whether your people are in the office or working from home, workflows move seamlessly when you use Wrike. It’s a one-stop shop for all project and work management, combining:

  • Efficient communication with team members
  • A rich visual snapshot of each project
  • A customizable interface tailored to your team’s workflow
  • Robust, enterprise-grade data security 
  • Automations and integrations that reduce manual work

Let’s take a closer look at each of these points.

Efficient communication with team members

product screenshot of wrike proofing on aqua background

Try Wrike for free

With Wrike, distributed teams can collaborate seamlessly and stay aligned on projects as they happen. For example:

  • Multiple team members can work on the same document together in real time.
  • You can send @messages to colleagues to tag them without having to send an email.
  • Shared calendars make it easy to coordinate larger projects across multiple team members.
  • You can invite guests to your workflow, such as external contractors.
  • Each project automatically creates a stream of notifications that keep stakeholders up to date.
  • Managers can add comments to text and images, making it easy to share feedback. 

A simple visual snapshot of each project

Wrike gives you several ways to get a visual overview of your team’s tasks. 

Setting these up is as simple as:

  1. Clicking + Add view on the toolbar
  2. And then clicking on the view you want

Here’s how you open up the Gantt chart view, for example:

Options for different views include:
  • Gantt charts: Choose this for overseeing project timelines, checking dependencies, and visualizing milestones.
  • Kanban boards: See where tasks are in the overall project flow, update task status, and move deadlines around as needed.
  • Table: View tasks and projects in a spreadsheet format, add custom fields, and edit project attributes such as the start date or project owner.
  • Timelog: See how much time your team has logged for each task in the project so far. 

A customizable interface tailored to your team’s workflow

Wrike is a highly flexible platform that you can tailor to your team’s specific needs. Like most other project management software solutions, Wrike will let you customize your:

However, customization on Wrike even extends further to request forms. Most other apps out there will only let you create a custom task using a request form. But with Wrike, you can create custom workflows or even entire projects from a single request form. 

Robust, enterprise-grade data security

product screenshot for wrike lock on aqua background

Try Wrike for free

Managers running hybrid teams will need assurances that employees and contractors can’t access sensitive data that’s not intended for them. Wrike’s intuitive roles and permissions system ensures the right people have access to the right level of information at all times.

We also have a robust authentication process which keeps hackers and spammers out, while remaining straightforward for your employees to use. Wrike itself is certified as SOC2, Type II, which is the highest enterprise-level data security certification in the US. 

Put all these elements together, and you can be confident that your data is as secure as can be. 

Automations and integrations that reduce manual work

edit task recurrence
Try Wrike for free

Wrike is full of user-friendly automations that save hybrid teams a huge amount of time. For example:

  • Task dependencies automatically adjust timelines when dependent tasks are moved, reducing the need for manual scheduling.
  • Tasks can be set up to recur automatically, which means that you won’t need to recreate tasks you do on a regular basis. 
  • Wrike’s AI offers ways to prioritize tasks and set deadlines based on previous work patterns. 

You can also set up many different types of project management systems from Wrike’s template library, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. As just one example, you could customize this approvals template instead of building an approvals system from scratch. Here are some more template examples:

And there’s no need to pass data manually between Wrike and the rest of your tech stack, since our integrations will do this automatically. We have more than 400 of them, including integrations with popular tools like Salesforce, Dropbox and QuickBooks.

Our pricing is competitive, starting from $10 per user per month. Check out our pricing page for more details.

Workplace management tools for hybrid teams

Workplace management tools help organizations manage their physical workspaces and in-office interactions with employees. Typical functionality includes:

  • Room booking
  • Desk reservation
  • Visitor management
  • Space management, including routine maintenance
  • Space utilization analytics

The two workplace management tools I’ll discuss are Envoy and Flydesk. 

2. Envoy

If your team is hot desking, or your employees are only coming into the office for a particular day, Envoy will show them which desk they can sit at and which conference rooms are free. It will also show them who else is in the office on that day, which is really helpful for planning meetings with colleagues. 

One of the more unique features of Envoy’s app is the virtual front desk. This allows receptionists to welcome visitors to the office, even on days when receptionists are working from home. Visitors can check in, verify their identity, and even print an office badge, all without speaking to a receptionist in person.

The virtual front desk functionality is also great in situations where an employee has come to the office out of hours and needs to contact reception. Finally, if your whole company uses Envoy, you can use it to notify them of any emergencies that affect the building they work in. 

3. Flydesk

Employees can use Flydesk to tell the rest of the team whether they’ll be on-site, working from home, or taking time off. If they choose to come to the office, they can also use the app to book desks, meeting rooms, and other shared resources — even parking spaces.

Flydesk gives managers access to a huge range of data about your team’s workplace habits and the office occupancy rate, allowing you to allocate resources in a way that optimizes your hybrid work environment. Managers can also organize leave policies for hybrid workers remotely using the app.

One of the more unique features of Flydesk is its marketplace, which connects businesses to flexible workplaces worldwide, particularly coworking spaces. Thanks to partners like WeWork, you can use the marketplace to book office space for remote work anywhere in the world.

For users who would rather optimize their existing workspace than switch offices every few months, Flydesk’s software also comes with an online shop that sells office furniture. This furniture is also suitable for employees who want to create a home office affordably. 

Communication tools for hybrid work

When most hybrid teams think of communication tools, they think of the big names like Slack or Microsoft Teams. But sometimes the right communication tool for your team might be something a little more off the beaten track. In this section, I’ll share two lesser-known gems: Volley and Spike. 

4. Volley

Volley is video conferencing software with a twist. This tool is turn-based, meaning that you take a turn to record a video for your colleague, and then your colleague responds asynchronously. This gives you the conversational richness of a Zoom call, with the same flexibility of a tool like Slack to respond whenever is most convenient for you. It’s a neat way to replace a meeting; rather than sending an email, you can send a Volley instead. 

If you’re not in a position to record a video, you can also send voice messages or text-based messages. Any voice or video messages you send are automatically transcribed, which is great for employees who would rather read than watch or listen. All messages are automatically stored for up to 30 days.

Beyond messaging colleagues one-to-one, Volley also lets teams create spaces and channels. These function much like Slack, except that messages are video-based. 

5. Spike

Spike transforms your email into a chat-like interface, integrating chat, voice messages, collaborative docs, groups, and emails into a single platform. It’s easy to hop onto a video call from an email, without having to switch platforms or send a meeting room link. In cases where clients or contractors aren’t on Spike, you can also use Spike like a normal email client, thanks to its native integrations with Gmail and Outlook. Integrations with Google Calendar and Outlook also make it easy to invite third parties to meetings. 

There are three features of this tool that I think are especially good for teams that use a hybrid work model:

  • Shared inbox: Allows teams to manage email collectively, regardless of when or where they’re working
  • Read indicators: Great for remote employees who want to see that their boss has read their message, but aren’t able to ask that question in person
  • Status updates: Lets colleagues know when you’re working from home, when you’re in the office, or when you’re on leave

Spike’s Magic AI is also a novel way to brainstorm responses to messages. You can even set the AI up to take notes.

Bonus list: 5 more hybrid work tools

There are plenty of tools out there that can be beneficial for hybrid teams. Without going into too much detail, here are a few honorable mentions of software that’s worth checking out:

  1. Timetastic: Offering an easy way for your staff to book leave, allowing you to track who’s on vacation without using spreadsheets. 
  2. Krisp: An AI note-taking app that also cancels background noise from your mic and speaker. Perfect for remote meetings in cafes.
  3. Cold Turkey Blocker: The ultimate distraction-blocking app. Schedule blocks of productive time in advance so you won’t be sidetracked by the internet at home.
  4. Descript: AI video-editing tool that automatically removes filler words, improves sound quality, and ensures that you’re always looking directly at the camera. Great if you want to film a video and send it to your team. 
  5. Napkin: AI that will create a quick visual mock-up based on text that you give it, and then let you edit the visuals. Helpful for brainstorming ideas with remote colleagues. 

Wrike: the one-stop shop for streamlining hybrid work and projects

If you’re looking for one platform to help you stay on top of your hybrid work projects, take a look at Wrike. Our collaboration functionality makes it easy to keep projects on track, regardless of where your staff are based. Plus, our integrations and automations will save you heaps of time in the process.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up for a free trial today and see for yourself!

Try Wrike for free