We are all currently managing an ever-growing part of our lives online. We work remotely, we stay connected with loved ones via messaging and video call apps, we collaborate on documents online, we plan and book trips via websites and apps, we manage our finances and do our bank errands via an app, and much more. In order for all of this to run smoothly for both individuals and businesses, web apps are playing an increasingly important role.
Web apps can be described as a more flexible and device-independent option compared to the traditional native installed apps. However, tools to effectively organize, manage and even find these useful web apps have not been keeping up with this development.
Regardless if you are tech savvy or fairly new to managing your affairs predominantly online, many people can recognize certain common and recurring issues, such as; constantly having too many tabs open, not remembering in what chat thread or email someone sent you an important link, complicated access controls for teams, long outdated lists of bookmarks or not having access to all of your resources across all your devices. Just to mention a few things.
We met with Rolf Larsen, CEO and founder of Desktop.com, to discuss the solution to the common problems mentioned above, the future of collaboration online and the productivity benefits of organizing your digital environment. Larsen also offered up some general advice on how remote teams can feel less remote and more connected.
Q: Tell me about Desktop.com – How did you come up with the idea and what is it?
The idea for Desktop.com came from my own pain points trying to manage my increasingly complex online life as an entrepreneur. In many of my startups we worked in a decentralised fashion with people from all over the world. That fact perhaps facilitated my own adoption of a number of web apps at an early stage, but in recent years the trend has been uniform. More and more services develop their software as web applications. They do this for a number of reasons such as cross compatibility of devices, the ease of maintaining a single code base and ease of deployment. In the end this process of moving to web based applications should mean logistical and efficiency improvements for the end user. However, my experience as an online centric business person was that it was becoming increasingly hard to manage the complexity of online businesses via a web browser alone. Thus the idea for the modern desktop, Desktop.com, was born to make it easier to organise, manage and share web based content.
Desktop.com will become your gateway to your online presence and business. We are creating a framework for you to manage Web apps, links and cloud documents in a single easily organisable interface. You’re able to create several desktops, so that resources relating to a specific project, group or interest can be sorted accordingly and distracting clutter can be kept at bay. You may also invite other users (such as colleagues, clients, family or friends), or even external guests, to share a desktop with you. With great access controls for admins, Multi-Factor-Authentication, Single-Sign-On, integrated App Store, a browser extension and many more exciting functions being launched soon, Desktop.com really creates a secure and productivity-friendly way to find and utilize all the benefits of the web.
Q: Studies have found that many workers that began working remotely during the pandemic would prefer to keep the ability to work remotely as opposed to going back to the office full time. Do you have any tips on how to best manage a remote team?
Yes, I do actually and thank you for asking 😉 Aside from making sure that you have regular check-ins and a number of communication tools set up to avoid team members feeling isolated or unseen, there are a few additional things to keep in mind. For instance, do you have a smooth onboarding and offboarding process? Do you have a system in place for what tools are used by what team, and is that system secure and manageable for more people than yourself or IT staff?
The key is to use a service (such as Desktop.com) at the top of your online infrastructure that allows you to manage and share all your web applications and documents in a central location. Having that will significantly ease cooperation and facilitate the sharing of resources, something that is fundamental in order for teams to be able to focus and be productive at any given time regardless of location or device. It also makes it possible for managers to onboard/offboard team members, or roll out changes to an entire team, with the click of a button. Similarly, resources can be efficiently shared with partners or freelancers, in a secure and organized way.
Multiple passwords is another common source of frustration when several web apps are used, which is why we allow custom SSO for a great number of apps which allows users to login to many online services with their desktop.com credentials.
In other words – organize, communicate and ensure accessibility at all times.
Q: So, looking at things from the other perspective – as a remote worker, be that an employee or a freelancer, what are the most important factors to consider in order to create the most productive environment for yourself?
Besides organizing your tools and resources to minimize distractions and boost productivity, which I previously touched on, you have to get the fundamentals in place. Having a tranquil environment to work in helps both you and the people that you collaborate with. You also need a great internet connection to eliminate lag during video meetings and ensure operability of your online apps. And naturally you also need a great headset. If you do not opt for the full microphone and noise cancelling speaker set 😉 Another aspect to consider is to prioritize your tasks so that you dive into the most energy demanding ones when your natural energy is at its peak.
Q: Internet safety and security is always an important aspect when you consider using web based tools for work. What would you say about the safety of using web apps?
There is a misconception that web based apps are less secure than natively installed applications. This is simply not the case. Desktop.com, for instance, is a progressive web application (PWA). This development framework standardises the way web applications are developed and mandates that PWAs are always served over HTTPS. At Desktop.com we use best in class secure authentication provided by Auth0 and on top of that we encourage our users to use multi factor authentication to further secure their content. By using our authentication protocols together with the extra layer of MFA, you can rest assured that access to your most vital apps and resources is protected.
Q: Nearly half of all Americans say that stress has a negative impact on their lives, and it’s commonly known that clutter and notifications are two huge stress generators. With the amount of apps on our devices and the constant flow of information, how can people reap the benefits of online tools while avoiding digital clutter and stress?
It’s a complex challenge that I think nearly all of us struggle with. In general I try to only subscribe to notifications from the tools I currently work with. I think you should approach work clutter in the same way. We do not need to see and scroll through ALL of our personal and business apps, documents and bookmarks at all times. Move and sort the apps and resources into separate desktops, so that you only see what you need to see at each given time. Keep all of it comfortably tucked away under a single icon (the Desktop.com icon, that is) on your phone, tablet or laptop. Having uninterrupted access does not equal having to see everything at all times.
About Rolf Larsen:
Based in Bordeaux, France, Rolf Larsen is a successful serial entrepreneur within the field of internet services and infrastructure, with more than 30 years of experience, 2 IPOs, 10+ M&As and more than 100m USD raised for his startups. He’s a strong believer in the importance of work-life balance and with decades of experience in managing remote teams, he’s passionate about creating the very best solution for organizing and managing web based resources.
Related Categories