8 Awesome Tools Every Modern-Day Traveler Needs to Know

Imagine that you’re traveling for business and you lose your luggage. Or, your smartphone dies. You’re stuck at the airport and the meeting is at 3:00 p.m. In addition to an external battery pack and tracking gadgets, these are some of the most essential tech tools that every traveler needs.

External Battery Pack

Most of the major airports have been providing charging stations at some of their gates and terminals. Having an external battery pack can save you from looking around for one, especially if you’re not familiar with the area. Some options include a solar-charging battery pack or a power core portable charger. The great thing about portable chargers and battery packs is that they’re lightweight enough to carry anywhere.

They are referred by different names: back-up charging devices, battery packs, fuel banks, pocket power cells, portable chargers, and power banks. But they all share a similar purpose. Battery packs are extremely easy and convenient. Charge them before your trip, throw them into your carry-on bag or purse, and connect it to your devices whenever you need a full battery. You’ll never worry about having a low battery ever again.

Make sure you have a battery pack that’s versatile to fit your lifestyle. They come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and styles, such as smaller devices that choose your smartphone right in your pocket, or larger sizes for multiple devices or to charge your laptop or tablet. Some come with multiple cables or outputs to charge more than one device at a time. Pick a heavy-duty power bank or a sleek and small portable charger to charge anywhere.

You can choose the perfect battery pack by determining the size of your device’s battery. The size of the battery is featured on the front which tells you the amount of mAh or milliamp-hours it has. Size ranges include 2000 mAh to 10,000 or 12,000 mAh or more. A larger amount means more power for your smartphone or larger devices that demand more power, such as tablets and laptops.

How many devices do you need to charge at once? This is something else you may have to take into consideration when choosing your battery pack. An external battery pack can be ideal for charging many smartphones at once, especially if you’re traveling with a large group of people. Or, you can charge different devices at once, if you prefer.

There is no one-size-fits-all battery pack. If you need one before your trip, make sure it’s ready to use before you buy it. Some need to be charged for several hours before they can be used. Some battery packs come with an LED indicator, which lets you know how much power it has left.

Cloud Conferencing App

If your traveling for business or pleasure, you’ll need to keep in touch whether you’re in the hotel or taxi. Some great options are available on the Cloud, which means your conferences won’t get lost. If your organization provides a company line, use iMeet Agenday, which allows you to connect to any conference with just a few clicks. Some of the best cloud conference apps come with video conferencing and screen sharing.

There is a large variety of free conferencing solutions with screen sharing. Most businesses rely on conference calls to discuss projects, share information, or connect with current customers or potential clients. Cloud conferencing apps can also improve customer support or tech support. With online whiteboard tools, screen sharing, and video conferencing, your conferencing calls will no longer be boring.

Some of the most popular cloud conferencing apps include Cisco WebEx, Google Hangouts, Join.me, RingCentral Meetings, and Skype for Business. You may prefer to use RingCentral Meetings since it has a simple interface with functionality that performs better than the others. Join.Me is another great solution if you don’t want to download software. Most businesses prefer to use Skype for Business based on its reliability and trustworthiness.

IFTTT

IFTTT is otherwise known as “If This, Than That.” It allows you to use the apps you love without wasting time on them. You can do some of the most routine tasks automatically while you’re away on travel. For example, you can save a handwritten note to Evernote. Just take an ap picture of it and IFTTT will save it to Evernote, where you can even share it with your team.

IFTTT works by keeping you connected to all of your apps and devices. When you create a free account, you can include Applets that allow your devices and apps to work automatically to do specific things they otherwise wouldn’t do on their own. For example, you can save photos you want to post to social media to Dropbox, turn your lights on when you return home or create a Slack reminder about an upcoming business meeting.

Since IFTTT contains millions of Applets, it can be confusing and overwhelming for beginners. You need to create a free account in order to make use of this tool. Then browse the website to find an Applet that appeals to you. Click on Apple to activate it. Then choose services that are relevant to them so they can run on your behalf.

Focus on one Applet at a time so you can get used to this tool and see how it can benefit you on vacation. It increases productivity and helps you run your business as you relax and embark on your travels. Applets can also be created by various services and users within the IFTTT Platform. You also have the ability to create one that’s not on the list.

Microsoft Office Mobile Suite

Download and install the free Microsoft Office suite for each of your mobile devices. This provides back-up in case you break your laptop on vacation or allows for ease of use if you know how to create documents on your tablet. Each of the apps makes your Office 365 experience even better by allowing you to create, edit, and view documents that use the Office interface on your smartphone and tablet. This is a great option if your organization prefers to use Office.

Once you install the Microsoft Office Mobile suite, Office 365 automatically updates so you’re always update. It comes equipped with mobile features such as advanced editing, co-authoring, and formatting on each of your devices. The great thing about this software is that it keeps you connected to all of your important files – in one place. Everything is stored on the 1 TB OneDrive cloud storage, which can be accessed from anywhere.

Enterprise-Class Cloud File Sharing

It’s likely that your business already uses a file-sharing application, but the enterprise version is likely prone to security breaches while you’re away. One solution to this problem is Box.com Business which allows file sync and share and provides your enterprise with IT helpdesk support. The great thing about this tool is that everything is stored to the Cloud, which means you’ll never lose access to anything. Find out more information about this savvy tool here.

Wi-Fi Finder App

This is especially helpful when you’re traveling overseas and you want to avoid roaming fees. A Wi-Fi Finder app can help you spot Wi-Fi locations in over 144 countries. It’s a smart way to get work done as you go about on your travels. Most of these apps are available for Android or iOS smartphones.

Tracking Gadgets

You no longer have to worry about losing your laptop bag or luggage. If you lose any of these items, your business trip can become a failure. Tracking gadgets allow you to track down sensitive items, including your backpack, carryon bag, handbag, laptop, luggage, smartphone, and tablet. Some of the best options include Nokia Treasure Tag and Tile, both of which come with Bluetooth technology and sensors.

Language Translators

If you’re visiting another country, you can skip the language learning apps and use a digital translator instead. There are plenty of language translators that allow you to communicate with confidence in a foreign destination. You can even use Google Translate on any device. You’ll no longer feel embarrassed about asking for directions. – Travel Feeder