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Creativity is at the heart of innovation and for something to be creative, it must be novel and useful. Likewise, innovation must be both novel and useful. Amidst all of the technical advancements in today’s age of digitalocracy, seamless integration stands out as a key attribute of innovation. Google has been a stark force in innovation for the internet and with Google Apps, integration is as smooth as a beautiful baby’s butt!
Subtlety in my alliteration is left to be desired. I have hope though. Google Apps includes Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar and Google Contacts. A point of clarification is needed before we move on in that Google has “Apps” but “Google Apps” is their suite of collaborating apps coupled with domain and user management for business, schools, and non-profits. The easiest way to think of Google Apps is it is Google’s answer to Microsoft Exchange and Apple’s MobileMe. While Google Apps are useful at the individual level, they are especially useful for businesses. A variety of businesses have made the switch to Google Apps.
I’ve already hinted at one of the things that sets it apart, integration. There is more to it than that. Each of these applications has valuable attributes in and of themselves. The incredible ways each of these applications integrates with the other is well…incredible but on top of that. Each one of these integrates with a number of devices and other software. So let’s take a moment to peruse some of the individual virtues of these apps and then delve a little further into the cardinal virtue of integration.
Gmail was one of the first apps to be released from Google. A hallmark of Gmail is the enormous amount of storage it offers. When it was first released to a limited number of users, Gmail did not have a delete button. This was one way that Google was able to boast of the large amounts of storage it offered. Instead of deleting or sorting messages, the powerful search engine in Gmail allows you to quickly access that one message you need at the precise moment you need it. Gmail does come with a delete button now but it is as powerful as ever offering 25GB of storage.
Another great feature with Gmail is its spam filtering. When it comes to spam, there’s not a speck of potted meat in your email. The integration that Gmail offers is also powerful. Pushing email to your iPhone is simple and easy. Outlook also easily syncs with Google Apps. Holding in consideration the storage, filtering, and easy access, it is clear to see the dynamic appeal of using Gmail.
The level of enterprise service that Gmail offers is usually only accessible to larger organizations that can afford the IT-beast that is Microsoft Exchange. If you use Exchange then you will most definitely save money. See how much here!
Seamless in its integration with Gmail is Google Docs. Collaborating and sharing information with clients, friends and family is simple and easy. Google Docs allows you to share files or folders with others. It also allows you to limit how much access others have to these files. Word documents, spreadsheets and presentations are all featured in Google Docs providing a cloud computing format for accessing, editing and sharing these documents without attachments. Google Docs’ formats are also compatible with many popular formats offering quick and easy exporting.
The calendar app is an extremely useful tool. It offers group calendaring as an easy way to manage scheduling of groups. It also offers a feature for employee individual calendar. This app makes it easy to schedule appointments, integrate with email, share project calendars, and has access with a number of mobile devices. It even allows you to publish calendars and embed them into web pages. It is no wonder then why so many businesses are taking advantage of these numerous virtues.
Google Contacts integrates with all of its apps offering a powerful and efficient way to connect your contact info with the number of other apps that Google features. It also syncs easily with the iPhone and gives you the ability to share group contacts.
The cardinal virtue of Google Apps is integration. The connectivity of information is mind boggling. From one source, all of this information is stored and interconnected in a user-friendly way. Access, usability and functionality meet with such seamless integration that the lines between the apps are blurred. Beyond its compatibility with itself, Google Apps offers compatibility with a number of devices and other software. These benefits have found their way into being actualized by non-profits and small businesses alike.
Google Apps have a number of benefits for non-profit organizations. For one thing, it’s free, free, oh and by the way, it’s free! The learning curve for Google Apps is more like a small bump. Typically, with functionality comes a trade-off of needing a lot of technical know-how. Google has managed to decimate this trade-off exchanging functionality with no money and techie knowledge needed. One other really cool feature for non-profits is that it allows you to send email from your name@domain.org without paying expensive fees.
Small businesses also have much to gain from switching to Google Apps. It is free for up to 50 users. As mentioned a number of times, it offers full and seamless integration with the iPhone. Having access to all of this information from anywhere offers you the ability to share and collaborate on documents on the go whether you are working from the office or even the coffee shop. Instead of spending all of your time trying to keep employees on the same page, Google Apps offer simple and easy sharing options that allow your employees to be connected to information with little sweat on your part.
If you haven’t considered Google Apps before then this is the horn blowing. Switch to Google Apps and start collaborating! There are a number of testimonials of businesses who have completely enhanced the way they do business by switching to Google Apps. This is innovation as it is rarely encountered. Experience it for yourself if you aren’t one of the many already encountering the virtues of Google Apps.
Deployment Guide: http://deployment.googleapps.com/
Case Studies: http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/customers.html
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