Google's G Suite service of intelligent business apps now has over 6 million customers, an increase of 1 million from the prior year.
Competing with Microsoft 365, G Suite offers a range of applications from email to calendars and office software. Google Meet conferencing usage has surged since the pandemic and includes features that Zoom doesn't.
But what exactly is G Suite? And how can it benefit your company compared to other services?
This article examines G Suite for business owners by outlining its pros and cons.
Read on to learn of G Suite's full feature list. Discover the advantages it has over Microsoft Office. Then learn how to implement Google's offering into your own company with Jumpstart.
What Is G Suite?
G Suite began life in 2006 as Google Apps for Your Domain. The goal was to offer top-quality cloud-based computing solutions to companies around the world.
Cloud apps work on any device with an Internet browser. Unlike older or legacy software where you need a CD to install it, G Suite Apps work without any fuss.
G Suite was recently rebranded into Google Workspace and has three distinct offerings:
- Communication tools
- Collaboration tools
- Productivity tools
The service works in a rolling contract, where you pay a monthly licence per user/employee.
The basic price starts at under £5.00 per user per month while the standard package sits at under £10.00. For that, you get full access to the G Suite features covered below and up to 2TB secure storage per user.
If your business already uses office applications and email, why should you consider moving to G Suite?
G Suite Features
Google has managed to cram an enormous amount of applications into its Workspace service to cater to small businesses.
We've grouped them together and highlighted their main features. Each tool works together as one cohesive unit and your staff can access them directly from their user account.
Business Email
Gmail owns 29% of the total email client market share, putting the service ahead of Outlook and Windows Live Mail.
The reason is simple. Gmail offers an unprecedented email service with nearly foolproof spam protection. Phishing attacks get blocked and unlike the free Gmail service, G Suite contains no adverts.
You can also use Gmail with your own domain name so that customers see e.g. [email protected].
Calendar and Tasks
Google Calendar replaces your paper diary by offering multiple calendars that all of your employees can access at once.
It includes most of the features of MS Outlook, like scheduling and task reminders. The search works instantly and you can set-up recurring meetings within a few clicks.
Naturally, Google Calendar works on your mobile phone as well as your laptop and computer.
Office Apps
A major issue many companies face when wanting to move from Microsoft is the Office suite.
MS Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are part of most company's daily lives. However, one of the benefits of G Suite is its rich office apps.
- Google Docs – word processing that can open and save MS Word documents
- Google Sheets – spreadsheet application that works like Excel
- Google Slides – online version of PowerPoint
Google realised that collaboration is key in today's modern workplace. That's why your staff can work in real-time on all their applications.
Data Storage
Google Drive is an online cloud storage system where you can save and backup your data remotely.
It includes versioning which means you can save multiple drafts or versions of your files for future retrieval. The system works like Windows File Explorer so you can create folders and move files around with ease.
Communication Tools
Google Meet video conferencing and Google Chat let your staff communicate together at almost no expense.
Unlike Zoom, you don't need to download and install any software. The Meet app is accessible online and you can open it on all your devices. Chat integrates with Gmail so your team can message each other while they email.
Additional Features
G Suite tools host many more features like Sites for building websites, Keep for saving snippets, and security apps.
The Endpoint system allows you to dictate exactly what appears on your mobile workforce's phones. That's great for auto-installing apps and restricting those you don't want.
Benefits of G Suite for Business
Apart from the abundance of G Suite tools, Google also brings:
- 99.99% uptime
- Affordable and feature-packed service
- World-class security
Google's servers rarely go down so you can rely on their app suite for business use. You can also grow with the service which can scale as required.
Pros and Cons of G Suite
How does G Suite for business compare with Microsoft 365 for business? What about traditional open-source software apps?
Read on to discover the pros and cons of G Suite and if your company should invest in Google.
G Suite Pros
If nothing else, use G Suite for its Gmail app.
Gmail syncs perfectly with all Android and iOS devices. It's simple to set up and its powerful tagging and search facility makes it easy to manage mail.
As most small businesses send 127 emails per user per day, Gmail's worth the price tag alone. However, don't forget about G Suite's real-time collaboration and communication functions.
Your teams can work on the same project together. That means no more sending drafts to and from their inboxes.
G Suite manages everything for you allowing you to better build your brand.
G Suite Cons
The biggest issue G Suite faces is that it's not Microsoft Office.
Microsoft 365 also offers collaboration and communication tools but with a familiar interface. Google Docs and Sheets aren't as feature-driven as Word and Excel and don't always work as they should.
Yet, if you don't feel tied to Office, then Google Workplace is a perfect choice.
Implement G Suite Tools With Jumpworks
Google Workspace or G Suite offers a complete solution to running a business in the modern world.
From online office apps like Sheets and Docs to Gmail and Calendar, G Suite delivers everything you need. Backed by the power of Google, you can be certain that its systems won't break down. And the service won't cost you a fortune either.
Jumpworks promotes the use of G Suite for business owners.
As experts in applications like CRMs, we know what products work best for small businesses. We also deliver website creation and management along with SEO, PPC advertising, and email marketing.
Get in touch today to see how Jumpworks can help you take advantage of these G Suite tools.
