Emigration is not easy when it comes to international communication. What happens if you want to communicate with your people in the mother country? How do you overcome the issues of time zones and distance? Well, fortunately we are living in a technological era where communication across time zones and borders becomes increasingly effective and quick.

And the good news is that this technology will only improve with time. Although we do not have binoculars for a glimpse of the future, we have a few tips to simplify your communication with your loved ones across international waters.

Social media

Currently the easiest way to stay in touch with family and friends in other countries is with social media. The way social media platforms collect and display information and share these collective contributions in a digestible way with all users make it very effective. You can, for example, keep track of the activities of each loved one and choose settings that prioritise your preferred information or individuals.

World Time Buddy

If time zones are a problem for you, you can take a look at World Time Buddy. This website allows you to view several towns at the same time on a calendar so you can plan your week or month. You can also download their smartphone application which will enable you to use the functionality on your smartphone during the day.

Google

Google is undoubtedly a powerhouse in the online world. Therefore it is no surprise that this giant has the best information and document sharing applications available. It is the integration of multiple devices and platforms that makes Google so highly effective – you can share your email, photos, documents, downloaded internet content, spreadsheets and more with other people as well as among your phone, laptop and desktop. However, you will have to create a Gmail account and agree to the terms of use of the extra applications and backups such as Google Photos that automatically copy and store your photos and everything you download.

Your own family website

It has become so easy to create a website. There are thousands of online service providers that allow you to create free websites and these platforms are very easy to use. You must first choose your platform – you can, for example, use WordPress, Weebly or Wix, which are free platforms. Once you have chosen a name for your website, you can open pages as you like – whether it is a gallery for your photographs, a blog where you can share your thoughts or a family tree. You can share links to other sites, businesses and social media accounts, etc. If you want your friends or family to contribute to the site, you can give them a login password. You can also choose whether web search engines like Yahoo and Google should be able to find your website or not, thereby sharing the site only with people to whom you send the link.

Online accounts

If you need to manage accounts internationally, there are several platforms that will give you access to these accounts. There are online banking and online forums and most businesses allow you to sign in online, no matter where in the world you are. cashkows.com, a leading provider of financial migration services for South Africans all over the world, for example has a platform where customers can manage their services and preferences. All services are available from afar – which means you don’t need to visit a branch or office to manage your finances across borders. Do visit cashkows.com for more information.

Cashkows (Edms.) Bpk. is trading as cashkows.com and is a licenced South African financial services provider. FSP # 42872

* This article was provided to Worldwide by Cashkows.