There are only so many hours in a day which corresponds to making the most of your time-critical. While there exist only two ways you can increase your output: either put in more extended hours or learn how to work smarter. The latter seems to be the wiser choice.

Being productive doesn’t necessarily require you to have an advanced degree in psychology but it does ask you to be more deliberate in how you are managing your time. As small business owners, we all have dreamt of achieving more and stressing less- of course, whilst keeping our sanity intact.

Making most use out of available resources is all it actually takes. And the good news is that there are a plethora of apps available to help you do that.

Let’s drill down the features of the top 5 productivity apps to help you take your small business up a notch

1.  DejaOffice

DejaOffice is a full-featured PC CRM tool. It is a flexible customer relations management software that helps businesses manage their leads, have a track of their contacts, and get a real-time view of the transactional and communication history of their customers. DejaOffice offers mobile CRM apps on both android and iPhone, having local databases these apps sync with USB, WiFi, Bluetooth, and DejaCloud.

DejaOffice offers a cloud plug-in, this plugin even expands the functionality of Outlook turning it into a platform for CRM with its task and contact management functionalities. The built-in Calendar makes scheduling a breeze. On top of it, the profiles can be color-coded which makes dealings easier.

➔     Pros:

➔      Flexible compatibility with other CRMs

➔      Highly inexpensive; one-time payment plus a free 14-day trial

➔      Integrated contact management

➔      Smartphone Dialing

➔      Easy-to-navigate Interface

➔    Cons:

➔      Needs regular updates

2.  ASANA

ASANA is one of the most leading project management software currently available on the market. It is a go-to tool availed by teams to organize work that is clear and visible to all involved-ultimately accelerating productivity and efficiency. Furthermore, ASANA is a flexible app that promotes visibility and can manage a variety of workflows with innovative features.

ASANA’s ‘collaboration’ is a built-in messaging platform allowing discussion and brainstorming among teams. It offers customizable dashboards and multiple workspaces. For project segmentation and prioritization, ASANA has a focus mode allowing custom-calendar, individual task lists, regular notification, and reminders. Although ASANA is web-based, it is supported on Android, Linux, and IOS.

➔     Pros:

➔      Free plan and trial

➔      Great storage security

➔      Variety of Integrations

➔      Versatile, easy-to-navigate interface

➔      Top-notch collaboration tools

➔      Customer Support

➔      Cons:

➔      Limited exporting functionality

➔      Cannot track time spent by the members working on their tasks, need third-party tracking software

3.  OneNote

Venturing on a new business idea? A handy note-taking app is all you need. Trust OneNote to keep your thoughts organized and get the most done.

Microsoft OneNote is a personalized information management app designed to help you take digital notes of all kinds in one place. OneNote allows you to share, sync, and save your ideas one Onedrive from your android devices. One of the top features, ‘Sticky notes’ go anywhere on your screen giving you real-time access to saved useful information. You can customize your notes template according to your needs which can later be used for recurring projects as well.

Custom tags, version history, and internal links ensure quick accessibility. OneNote provides office translation to decipher content into multiple languages. The cherry on top, OneNote comes with a built-in Math assistant as well.

➔    Pros:

➔      Excellent organizational system

➔      Perfectly syncs with phone and desktop

➔      Highly user-friendly interface

➔      Version Tracking

➔      Integration with Microsoft Office products

➔     5 GB free storage

➔    Cons:

➔      No integration with Google calendar or Gdrive

➔      Needs improvement in web clipping features

4.  Basecamp

Basecamp is yet another phenomenal cloud-based online project management tool. Basecamp with its internal communication feature allows businesses, specifically small businesses to get a better hang of the overall business structure by creating self-sufficient and efficient teams.

The latest version, Basecamp 3, is a system that combines all the tools that teams need to have a smooth collaboration throughout a project. The to-do list features allow users to see what needs to be done, one can assign tasks to other users with due dates. Basecamp has a Message Board Feature that provides a channel to have organized conversations, allows customizable post types, and embed images. The Check-in tool provides status updates at regular intervals.

Basecamp helps keep everyone in the loop. With a single location for messages, files, to-dos, and timeline, everyone is kept on the same page Every project has an individual schedule that shows outdated to-dos and events. Basecamp supports campfire which is a real-time group chat. It has apps for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC platforms

➔     Pros:

➔      Up to date involvement and customization

➔      Automatic check-in questions

➔      500 GB free file storage + 30-day free trial

➔      Wide range of integrations including mobile and desktop apps

➔      Fantastic customer support including multiple how-to guides and extensive basecamp manual

➔      Cons:

➔      Doesn’t offer Gantt charts

➔      No time tracking

5.  Focus@Will

I had to put Focus@Will in my top 5 productivity apps for several reasons. Being a music lover and a productivity freak, Focus@Will is nothing less than a sent-from-heaven tool for me.

Focus@Will is a subscription-based platform that is packed with music specifically composed, designed, and written to help you increase your focus and concentration. You can listen to relaxing music online or you can transfer these tunes to your devices. The best part is, Focus@Will is supported on all devices so whether you want to put music on iPod without iTunes, or you are looking to transfer songs into your android phones or iPhones, it has got you covered. 

Focus@Will claims that the scientifically tested technology behind it alters brain activity by shifting it towards a more focused zone hence sharpening your attention span. The best part is that all these huge claims actually work.  

➔     Pros:

➔      Perfect for public and open-office settings

➔      Exclusive tailor-made music for each user

➔      15-day free trial

➔      Built-in productivity tracker

➔      Supports on Android and iPhone

➔       Cons:

➔      Paid app

➔      Free alternatives are available