What are some best practices to keep a remote team engaged, connected, and productive?

Thank you for your invite. The effective reporting systems can keep all of the remote team connected, engaged and productive.

Provide them with KPI's that can be measured by success metrics, Provide online training and ask for reports form time to time as well for more frequent skype calls for follow-up.

Thanks 

I support Mr. Awad's answer 

To get remote team engaged, connected and productive, here some of the tips I recommend:

1) Clearly explain the roles and responsibilities for each team member and what is expected from each of them.

2) Share the Plan (tasks with start/finish dates) ahead of time so that remote team can prepare themselves and complete it on time.

3) Ask for Daily Report or Weekly Report  as per the requirements.

4) Communicate Remote team with the latest Project Updates/Status and Risk related information.  Have Teleconference.

5) Motivate team by sending "Note of thanks" upon every achievement.

6) Ask for feedback, suggestions, and any other requirements regularly.

Clear Documentation

Assign a Product Success Hero

Conduct Design Sprints

 Real-Time Audio Transcription

 Set clear goals and track progress

 Stay connected and updated

 Be available for your team

Daily Report or Weekly Report

Reward to the best employee and create competitive workplace

Using the K Pi's system to make sure your team in progress 

Making meetings with the team by video conference

As far as IT teams are concerned, I have found it most useful when they are kept in the loop using Skype calls and video conferencing with the group. In this manner, they feel themselves to be a greater part of the group.

There are a couple of things but the most important is communication, frequent communication can help people feel actively involved, however don't overdo it as it can also have negative consequences. Depending on the the type of work, KPI's can be set to evaluate the performance or weekly reports if the nature of the work allows that. Keep everyone in the loop so that everyone feels a part of the team, have everyone on a communication software where you can use the general channel to send out messages to everyone.

Thank you for your invitation and I agree with the answers of my distinguished colleagues

Daily reporting

Meetings

Direct communications

Sharing daily events

 Are the best ways to keep remote engaged and connected