How Google Docs Will Help Your Small Business

With the advent of Google Docs, small and medium sized businesses can now compete with this cost effective platform. Collaboration online in real time is now a reality for small business. We will look at the four different online Google Doc applications and how real time collaboration can make your small business grow.

Collaborating Documents Using Google Docs
Once a user creates a document, other users have the ability to access the file and either view or edit it. Google Docs allows a document to be shared by up to 200 users and as many as 50 users can edit the document simultaneously. A box at the top of the screen will tell you who the current contributors are.

Users will see all edits and updates in real time so that all users can monitor the document. Google Docs provides a chat box so that users can communicate with each other concerning updates to the document. This also allows instant feedbacks on any changes made to the document and avoid conflicts.

Collaborating Spreadsheets Using Google Docs
The collaboration function for spreadsheets works just as it does in Google Docs. Spreadsheets can be shared by up to 200 users and as many as 50 can edit them at the same time. Also as in Google Docs, the spreadsheets have a chat box at the top of the screen so that users can collaborate on updates. The difference in the spreadsheet chat is that each user is given a color and depending on what cell they are working on, it will surround the cell in that user's color. This makes it easier for people to identify who is working on what cell on the spreadsheet.

Collaborating Presentations Using Google Docs
In the Google Docs presentations, again there can be up to 200 users sharing it. However, only 10 users can edit the presentation rather than the 50 in the documents and spreadsheets. As with the Google documents and spreadsheets there is a chat box at the top of the screen and changes to the presentation are seen in real time as well.

Collaborating Drawings Using Google Docs
The latest application to Google Docs is Google Drawings. Not unlike Microsoft Visio, Google Drawings provides many of the same features. Up to 50 users can edit the Google Drawing and as with the above applications, there is a chat box to collaborate with other users.

One difference with Google Drawings is that online users will not see changes in real time. Only after the changes are made to the drawing and completed will the other users see it. If a user edits the drawing and then cancels it before completing it, none of the other users will see it.

Google Docs is a great tool for the small business. Not overly bloated as Microsoft Office, small businesses will find that Google Docs is more than adequate. Google Docs and its real time collaboration online sets the standard for any business.