Times are tough, but you and your business are tougher. Tech companies have rallied together to provide you with an arsenal of resources to navigate this difficult time. Bauen Solutions wants you to know we are for you and your company. We have created a list of ten tech resources to help you and your team navigate the COVID-19 crisis.

As our CEO Walter Silin said in a recent article, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis is showing how companies can interact differently with their internal and external clients. “People need to stay home, and cloud-powered services are giving them tools to maintain their productivity. It is just the beginning; the whole job landscape and the way companies interact are changing forever.”

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a desktop and mobile application that allows your team to work remotely without feeling remote. You can invite everyone in the office to chat, meet, call, and share information all in one place, digitally transforming traditional business practices.

Microsoft predicts that the coronavirus outbreak will forever change how we work and how we learn. The Teams app has proven that your staff can be productive and connected while they work from home. In response to the outbreak, Microsoft is offering a free 6-month trial of Microsoft Office 365 E1, including Microsoft Teams.

DeepCode

DeepCode is a platform that uses artificial intelligence to help developers analyze their code for bugs. It is offering its cloud and self-managed solutions for free for the next few months. Boris Paskalev, CEO and co-founder of DeepCode, reported an increased rate of usage. The increase caused them to temporarily expand their services to help as many developers as possible during this time.

Microsoft Bing Interactive Map

Microsoft launched an interactive map on Bing to provide information about the spread of COVID-19. The map shows the number of cases per day on a per-country basis. In the US, you can view it on a per-state basis.

The amount of cases is broken down by currently active, recovered, and fatalities.
When you select individual countries or states, the map will provide you with relevant news articles and videos. Microsoft is pulling data from the World Health Organization (WHO), the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the US Centre for Disease Prevention (ECDC, and Wikipedia.

Grasshopper

Grasshopper is a mobile and desktop application that helps people get into coding by learning in a fun and interactive way. Grasshopper focuses on teaching adult learners how to write real Javascript. Javascript is the programming language used by more than 70% of professional developers.

If you find that you have extra time on your hands during this period of sequestration, download Grasshopper, it is free, and always will be free. The Grasshopper team believes everyone should have the opportunity to learn code. This time may be your opportunity to sharpen your coding skills or start from the beginning.

Coursera

Coursera’s mission is to change lives through learning. It allows learners to take lessons on the go and download courses for offline viewing. Learners even have the option to earn a verified certificate upon the completion of a course. Coursera and their partners want to help during the COVID-19 crisis by allowing you to try it for free.

Coursera for Business provides businesses with the opportunity to upskill their organization with on-demand training and development programs. Reports show 87% of people learning for professional development report career benefits such as a raise or a new career opportunity.

Microsoft Minecraft, Education Edition

To help teachers and students around the world stay connected to the classroom, Microsoft extends access to Minecraft: Education Edition now through June 2020. The offer is valid for those with an Office 365 Education account.

Microsoft has also added a unique Minecraft remote learning toolkit, which includes more than 50 lessons, STEM curriculum, and project-based activities. The Education Edition intends to support students in learning communication and problem-solving skills together. During this time of isolation, it is providing parents and educators with a resource to keep their young ones learning and engaged.

Telemedicine

The integration of technology and healthcare has proven a most excellent tool in the fight against the coronavirus. The internet of medical things helps medical professionals treat and monitor their patients.

Telemedicine enables patients who are high-risk to stay at home and patients who have symptoms to get medical attention without taking the risk of spreading the virus. If you feel like you need to be seen by a professional, ask your insurance provider or physician if they offer telemedicine services during this time.

Microsoft Power Apps

The social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders are forcing businesses to think outside of the box. When it comes to connecting with customers, companies are searching for new ways to offer products and services. Creating an app may be the best way to share what you have to offer.

Microsoft Power Apps allows businesses to quickly design and deploy apps with pre-built templates and drag-and-drop simplicity. You can try it for free, or you can reach out to a Microsoft partner for guidance. A partner can help you plan a platform that transcends your vision.

MasterClass

MasterClass is an online education platform for creative professionals or anyone who wants to dive into their passions. You can watch lessons on your phone or computer while moving at your own pace. The instructors are not just your average Joe, but professionals at the top of their game.

You can learn how to cook from Gordon Ramsey. You can learn creative writing from Margaret Atwood. You can even learn tennis from Serena Williams. From now until April 19th, you can buy one annual membership and share one for free. MasterClass opens the door to learning about the passions you may have never had time to explore before.

Headspace

Headspace is a meditation app rooted in ancient history and modern science. Headspace is a free app that provides tools for meditation, sleep and waking up, and anxiety. Research shows that Headspace can reduce stress, job strain, and improve job satisfaction.

During the COVID-19 crisis, Headspace is extending a more substantial part of the platform that is free for everyone. The name of the module is Weathering the Storm. It includes meditations, sleep, and movement exercises. They have even created a Headspace for Work platform to support you and your team’s mental health during this time.