What’s in Google Apps for You?

If you are running a small to medium business you are probably using some free cloud service like Gmail.com, you may even use Gmail on Google Apps, on your own domain. For many users Google Apps is an email solution and also a calendar, that all. If you ever clicked on the apps icon you may have noticed that there is much more in your package but you didn’t really know how to take real advantage out of it, how to increase your efficiency and maximize your ROI.

​​​Beyond Gmail and Google Calendar, Google Apps includes Google Drive, Google Docs, Forms, sheets and slides, Google Sites, Google Hangouts, Google Groups, Google Vault and Google+. In fact there are many additional apps like YouTube, Photos, Keep which are included in your Google Apps package under your domain management, but in this post I’ll focus only on the core services.

So what’s in Google Apps for you? it is important to know that all apps are integrated. For example, you can start a Hangout from your email or Google+. You can comment on a Doc within Drive and start an email conversation at the same time. You can send an email to meeting attendees from a Calendar event. Everything is integrated.

Google Drive can store all types of files and replace your file server. You can build your folder structure on it and set security permissions on folders per job role. If someone joins the company just add him/her to the right Google Group and he will get the folders permissions. If you are on the Unlimited price plan you have unlimited space for your files — say goodbye o your hard drive limitations and to your old Disaster Recovery Plan (if any…).

With Google Docs, Sheets and Slides you can create and edit text documents, spreadsheets and slides right in your browser — no dedicated software required. Multiple people can work at the same time, and every change is saved automatically. Google Forms is a great way to collect any type of data directly into spreadsheets. Office editing of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files is also possible without needing Office installed on your computer, saving the need to purchase, install and maintain Office Software on your device. You can save each file back to its original Office format, or convert it to Docs, Sheets, or Slides to unlock more features, like inviting others to edit with you, commenting, chat, and more.

With Google Hangout you can host video meetings with up to 15 people within or outside of your organization (the screen automatically focuses on whoever is speaking), you can also chat, share your screen and make phone calls.

Google+ is a social network, it allows you to share your thoughts with a specific community which can be is a private social network (group) within your organization. It can be very useful if for instance someone new is joining your organization and wants to catch up with all the necessary information.

With Google Sites you can launch an intranet for your company, a project site for your team or a portal for customers with our site builder. All the apps mentioned in this post are easily integrated into a site All without writing a single line of code.

Bottom line: Google Apps is much more than Gmail and calendar, Contact SimplyApp today to work out the business challenges and implement the right solution for your needs.