The Best Tools for Async Standups and Status Updates (and Why a Google Doc + Briefmatic Combo Just Works)

Why Async Standups Are Taking Over

The classic daily standup was built for co-located teams but then along came remote and hybrid work and then everything changed. Now, multiple time zones, flexible schedules, and personalised “deep work” hours make daily meetings more disruptive than useful.

That’s why asynchronous standups have become the go-to for distributed teams. So instead of forcing everyone onto a Zoom call, team members simple share quick written or recorded updates that others can review when it suits them.

What Makes a Great Async Standup Tool?

Async tools should make it easy for people to share what’s important, and easy for everyone else to stay aligned. The best ones do three things well:

1. Prompt clarity - Encourage short, structured updates (Yesterday / Today / Blockers).
2. Integrate context - Pull in or push out tasks, goals, or notes automatically.
3. Stay visible - Updates should be easy to review, summarize, and search.

Top Tools for Async Standups & Status Updates

Here are a few popular options teams are going to be using in 2026:

Standuply

A Slack-based bot that automates daily or weekly standup questions and collects answers via DM.

Pros: Simple setup, integrates tightly with Slack.
Cons: Feels like another bot in your feed; context can get lost over time.

Geekbot

Another Slack-first tool that runs async check-ins on a schedule.

Pros: Templates, sentiment tracking, analytics.
Cons: Works best only if your whole team lives in Slack.

Range

Purpose-built for async team updates and check-ins with a social twist.

Pros: Rich summaries, goals, emoji reactions.
Cons: Yet another platform to manage and log into.

The Simple (yet Powerful) Alternative: Google Docs + Briefmatic

For small, distributed teams, especially startups or agencies, that value speed over complexity you don’t need another app, you just need a lightweight system that creates visibility without friction. Here’s a setup that works beautifully 👇

Step 1. Create a Shared Google Doc

• Title it something like: “Team Standups – Week of Nov 10”
• Add a simple recurring table:

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Step 2. Use Briefmatic to Bring It to Life

• Use the “Add Comment” feature inside Google Docs and quickly assign an action item to a team member which they can then see in their todo list in Briefmatic as soon as they log in - so your async update is never just a status, it’s actionable context that keeps things moving.
• Schedule focus blocks for key items directly from Briefmatic’s calendar view.
• Use Briefmatic to assign new tasks and followups directly so there’s no hold up while distributed teams wait for the next standup.

The result:
A simple doc becomes a living dashboard of what’s happening across the team - powered by real tasks and real time awareness.

Why This Combo Works So Well

✅ Lightweight: No new tools or logins for small teams.
✅ Familiar: Everyone already knows how to use Google Docs.
✅ Actionable: Briefmatic links updates to actual work.
✅ Asynchronous by default: Perfect for remote or flexible schedules.
✅ Scales naturally: Works for 3 people or 30 without over-engineering.

Example Workflow

1. Each morning (in their own timezone), team members add their update in the shared Doc.
2. The team lead scans the Doc and uses Briefmatic’s AI scheduler to block time for deep work or resolve blockers.
3. Everyone stays aligned - no 15-minute call required.

Final Takeaway

Async standups aren’t about removing human connection - they’re about protecting time and focus while keeping everyone on the same page.

For small distributed teams, a simple Google Doc paired with Briefmatic gives you all the structure you need, and none of the overhead. Because sometimes the best collaboration tools aren’t the most complex — they’re the ones your team will actually use.

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