Many business owners as well as their staff start to experience the benefits of Google Apps for Business. This type of set-up, where everything is hosted online as opposed to a specific computer is usually called “working in the cloud”.

The advantages are that the right provider decreases your down-time, your systems are available to anywhere and from any computer as long as you possess the login details. Consequently your business becomes more productive and even portable!

This post provides you with an overview of the main Google Apps For Business.

Gmail for Business

Gmail for business is the Google email system. It’s available via a web-based interface, which looks exactly like the free Gmail. However, if you opt to make use of a mail client such as Outlook or MacMail you can do so too. Gmail for Business prides itself on supporting productivity, and you can setup various filter and label systems to suit your working style. While the free Gmail account is just accessible online, Gmail for business also offers the functionality to operate offline in your browser. It simply synchs and sends when your internet connection is back on again. Storage?

Google Calendar for Business

Google Calendar for Business is a terrific way to increase collaboration and sync schedules within your business and organisation. Each team member may have their own calendar, however, you may also create an overarching business calendar along with a calendar for resources, such as meeting rooms or projectors. As with traditional calendars, including Outlook, you can invite individuals to appointments. You can also share calendars amongst your employees and contractors so that they know what is available when.

Google Sites

Google Sites is Google’s website building tool. Minimum knowledge of html is required to develop a Google site. You can simply work in a WYSIWIG (what you see is what you get) interface, which makes the complete site appear to be a Google Doc with graphics. You can add users and collaborators using a simple invitation. The website can go live with the click of a button, and you may monitor users and changes easily in a single simple log. Before you can put in place an entire website in Google sites, you will have to buy and host a domain name.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a popular collaboration tool within Google Apps. It allows you to create Word, Excel and Power Point documents. You are able to share documents publicly or privately inside an organization or with specific people. You may either create documents within Google Docs or you can upload existing Word, Excel or Power Point documents from your computer and share all of them with others. Google Docs lets you easily review different versions of your document, including which user made changes and when. An advanced utilization of Docs lets you create online forms and surveys which may be shared internally and externally.

Google Groups

Google Groups is a superb method to simplify your inbound and outbound email communication. Groups is basically an e-mail distribution to a certain quantity of users. For example you can have a group called staff@yourorganization.com which includes your entire staff email addresses. The group can easily be updated when someone leaves by removing their email address contact information. Instead of typing 20,50, or countless email addresses whenever you send an e-mail you can just type in the group email.

These are only 5 of a variety of Google Apps for business services. All apps are aimed at improving the workflow and productivity within your team and organization.

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