Computan uses Rocket.Chat for internal communications, Timesheet to clock project work timings, and Freedcamp for internal task management. Everything is integrated so that if a task is added to Freedcamp, it automatically gets listed in Timesheet.
We have multiple communication options with clients, such as Skype, Google Meet, Slack, Microsoft Teams, or any other the client wants to use. Here's a detailed overview of the communication tools we use.
Google Meet
Google Meet is video conferencing software developed by Google. It is designed for individuals and website development firms to host online meetings, webinars, and virtual events. Google Meet allows users to connect with others through audio and video conferencing and provides a chat feature for participants to communicate with each other during the meeting. It also integrates with other Google products, such as Google Calendar and Google Drive, making scheduling and collaborating on meetings and projects easy.
Pros of Google Meet
1. Large meeting capacity: With Google Meet, you can conduct meetings with up to 100 participants, making it perfect for small-to-medium-sized businesses and educational institutions.
2. Easy to use: The platform's user interface is simple to navigate, and you can quickly set up and schedule meetings with just a few clicks.
3. No additional software required: Unlike other video conferencing tools that require downloading and installing software, Google Meet is accessible from your web browser.
4. Screen sharing: Google Meet allows users to share their screens during meetings, making collaborating on presentations and other projects easier.
5. Real-time captions: The platform offers real-time captions, which can be helpful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing, as well as non-native English speakers.
6. Security: Google Meet offers multiple layers of security, including two-factor authentication, data encryption, and host controls, to protect your conversations and information.
7. Integration with other Google tools: Google Meet integrates seamlessly with other Google tools like Calendar and Gmail, making it easy to schedule meetings and invite participants directly from those platforms.
Cons of Google Meet
When compared to Zoom meeting software, Google Meet has limited seating capacity. Google Meet's Top Enterprise Plan only supports up to 250 participants.
In addition to that, Zoom has more features than Google Meet, such as a native breakout room for pocket meetings and annotating a shared screen.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a collaboration platform developed by Microsoft that offers chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and integration with other Microsoft Office 365 services. It allows users to work and communicate in real time as a team across multiple devices and platforms. Microsoft Teams creates a shared workspace where team members can collaborate and share files, documents, and other resources. Microsoft Teams offers features like conversation threads, channels, and bots to streamline collaboration and automate tasks. Website development service providers widely use it to communicate with clients and internal teams.
Pros of Microsoft Teams
1. Integration with Microsoft tools: Microsoft Teams can be used with other Microsoft tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This integration makes it easy to access and share files within the platform.
2. Customization: Users can personalize the interface, modify team settings, and use different Chatbots and apps.
3. Simplified communication: The platform also has translation capabilities to translate messages into over 80 languages.
4. Secure: Teams have enterprise-level security features that protect user data and information from unauthorized access.
5. Easy to use: Microsoft Teams is easy to use and can be accessed across different devices like mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers.
Con of Microsoft Teams
A downside of Microsoft Teams is its limited number of public and private channels. So, if your team is expanding and you are using only Microsoft Teams as your primary communication with clients and the internal team, you might find difficulty creating new channels.
Slack
Slack is a cloud-based messaging and collaboration tool designed to improve communication within teams and organizations. It allows users to send direct messages, create channels for specific discussion topics, share files, and integrate with other tools, such as Google Drive, Trello, and Zoom, making it easier to work together remotely. Slack provides a centralized platform for team communication, reducing the need for endless emails and improving efficiency. It is prevalent among web development companies and startups for its ease of use, ability to integrate with various tools and customization options.
Pros of Slack
1. Organized Communication: Slack organizes communication in a structured and organized way, ensuring that messages are streamlined and relevant information is easy to access.
2. File Sharing: Slack allows for easy and secure file sharing between team members. It also provides revision history features that enable users to track document changes and comments.
3. Integrations: Slack integrates with various third-party apps, including Google Drive, Trello, and Zoom. This allows for a streamlined workflow and easy access to necessary tools.
4. Customization: Slack allows for customization of the interface, such as theme, notifications, and Chatbots, to optimize the experience for the user.
Cons of Slack
Search and Storage are not optimal for free Slack users. However, upgrading your plan gives you better search and storage options.
Rocket.Chat
Rocket.Chat is an open-source software allowing users to chat securely on their servers. It is a team communication platform that helps communicate with others in real time via video conference and share files. Rocket.Chat can be installed on most operating systems, including Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, and Android. It provides public and private channels for users to communicate and supports several third-party integrations such as Jira, Trello, and GitHub. In addition, it features secure messaging, file sharing, video conferencing, screen sharing, and voice messaging. Rocket.Chat is highly customizable and can be tailored to meet specific communication needs.
Pros of Rocket.Chat
1. Customization: Rocket Chat offers a high degree of customization, allowing businesses to tailor the platform to their needs.
2. Security: Rocket Chat provides end-to-end encryption and secures connections for all data transfer, ensuring that business communications remain private and secure.
3. Integrations: Rocket Chat can be easily integrated with other business tools such as calendars, project management apps, and CRM platforms, providing a centralized location for team communications and project management.
4. Open source: Rocket Chat is an open-source platform, meaning that businesses can modify the code to meet their specific needs, and developers can contribute to the platform's ongoing development.
Cons of Rocket Chat
Rocket Chat doesn't offer customer support in its free version, and you must rely on the community when anything goes down in Rocket Chat.
Setting up Rocket Chat can be tricky if you want to set it up on your server for more security.
You have to set up the notifications in the free version manually. "You have to alter multiple system options to receive notifications, like allowing it to run in the background; that's a manual procedure to enable," says Ahmad Ali, Creative Director at Computan.
Skype
Skype is a telecommunications application that allows users to make voice and video calls and send instant messages and files over the Internet. It works on various platforms, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Skype was first released in 2003 and is a popular option for individuals and website development companies to communicate and collaborate remotely. Microsoft acquired Skype in 2011 and continues to develop and improve the platform.
Pros of Skype
1. Accessibility: Skype is available on multiple platforms, including desktop and mobile devices, making it easy to use and accessible for everyone.
2. Collaboration: Skype enables teamwork and collaboration, allowing multiple people to join a call or video conference from different locations.
3. Reliability: With enhanced security features and regular updates, Skype has established itself as a reliable and secure platform for communication.
4. Saving money: Skype is a cost-effective option for business or personal use as you won't have to pay for international or long-distance calls.
5. Screen sharing: Skype's screen sharing feature allows users to share their screen with others, making it useful for work, presentations, and education.
Cons of Skype
Slow internet and long calls can make it laggy. Also, Skype has not updated its interface for years now. Some users might feel that it should change that and add some features.
Bratislav Brankovic, HubSpot Project Manager, Computan feels something different about Skype calls, "Skype and Slack are the best for the website development service providers, in my opinion. On Skype, you can quickly upload or download files. You can schedule calls, and the quality of calls is good."
