The iPad is an impressive piece of technology. It has come a long way since it was introduced in 2010, today packing in more features than ever, and sporting both hardware and software that are more powerful than anything else its predecessors had in the past. Today, the iPad is more than just for watching videos and movies. With the right apps, you can use your iPad to help you with time management and ultimately improve work productivity. How? Here are just a few ways.

Siri

Siri is Apple’s virtual personal assistant, which means you should be using Siri beyond checking the weather and calling your favorite restaurants for food delivery. For one, Siri can take voice dictation. This is an extremely helpful feature if you find the iPad’s onscreen keyboard to be a bit limiting. Of course, you can also use Siri to set up reminders and schedule meetings and other events. Siri works with your iPad’s Calendar, Reminders, and other apps as well, which can all be synced via iCloud. This means you can access everything through your iPhone when you need to.

Split View

If you need to view two apps side-by-side (for example, you need to look at a website for reference while typing an article), you can use Split View. To do this, open one app and then drag the second app’s icon from the dock toward the very edge of the display. Just make sure that the apps are already on the dock for Split View to work. Once you drag the second app’s icon toward the left or right of the screen, the view will be divided between the two apps. There will be an adjustable divider so you can allocate more screen space as needed. If you want a “screen within a screen” view, don’t drag the the second app all the way. Just “drop” it in the middle of the first app. To remove the mini screen, swipe the white bar on top of the app to the left or right.

Remote Desktop Access

If you have a desktop computer and you need to access it remotely, you can use your iPad to do so. Download the remote desktop client of your preference, and make sure that the computer is turned on. Through the app, you can use your iPad to control the computer, view its contents, and even edit and save files.

Document Scanning

Did you know that your iPad can also transform into a document scanner? That’s right! And you don’t even need a special app to use this function. All you have to do is open the Notes app, press the plus sign at the bottom, and choose “Scan Documents.” You will be able to identify the document or object you wish to scan,through the iPad camera view and using an outlining/cropping tool in the app. Once you’re done, you can save the scanned document in PDF format.  If you want to make a few edits to the document, you can do so using the Apple Pencil to sign or make some notes. You can also download third-party scanner apps if you prefer so you can access more features.

Video Conferencing

With the iOS 12 update last 2018, FaceTime became a powerhouse tool for video conferencing. How? The new update allowed video chats through FaceTime that can accommodate up to 32 people. This is extremely useful for large group meetings where coordinating schedules and a suitable venue can become a problem.

Variety of Office Suites

The iPad comes with its own office suite, Apple iWork. This comes with Pages, Numbers, and Keynote, which are the Apple equivalents of Microsoft Office’s Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Keynote is particularly useful for creating simple but impactful presentations. If you’d rather use Microsoft Office, the usual suite of applications are also available. In addition, you can also use Outlook and OneNote on the iPad. For those who need to collaborate in real-time, Google’s cloud-based tools like Google Docs and Google Sheets are also compatible with the iPad.

Today’s fast-paced world means you always have to be ready to adapt. Thankfully, versatile tools like the iPad are available to help you keep up and stay productive while still giving you ample opportunities for leisure. Nonetheless, these iPad apps can only do so much to help you keep track of your schedule. If you feel like you need more help, consider taking a course on time management now.