Google Documents (Google Docs) incorporates powerful word processing, spreadsheet and presentations functionality. It provides a truly viable alternative to Microsoft Office™ with substantial additional benefits.
Within the Google Documents tool, all the essential word processing features are available and there are also some powerful features which make collaborative working a reality. Real-time editing is a fast way to work together on a shared document, spreadsheet or presentation. Alternatively, users can invite their colleagues to review and edit documents in their own time. Both methods remove the need for time-consuming reconciling of all comments as a full revision history is available. Consequently this avoids the confusion of multiple copies of the same document scattered around the network slowing down productivity (there are some file size limitations to be aware of).
 Google Docs - list of spreadsheets, forms, presentations and documents
Document, spreadsheet and presentation files (or whole folders of mixed files) can be shared with others within your domain on a read, collabroate or owner basis and can be accessible to work on from any location (subject to individual set-up by the customer). Admin users can still control the security settings of what is exposed and access can be linked to Active Directory credentials if desired.
The Google Secure Data Connector even allows Spreadsheets to define cell values based on existing corporate data in other systems inside the organisation. Forms can be easily created within the Spreadsheets tool which when submitted populate immediately into a Spreadsheet for display and optional notification to nominated users. See our showcase of this feature.
For many users, Google Apps will be sufficient for daily use reducing heavy licensing costs for Microsoft Office™, installation overheads and maintenance costs. |