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Store and share files in the cloud with Google Docs - via Official Google Enterprise Blog
Let's say you're about to make a very important presentation to a prospective client on the other side of the country. Before you depart on your business trip, you download all of your presentation materials and InDesign® hand-outs onto your trusty thumbdrive. Just in case, you also email the files to yourself.But while you're in the air, your colleagues back at the office are making last minute edits to the files and your copies are now out of date. Worse yet, when you arrive at your destination, you realize you left your thumbdrive at home.
Sound familiar? The good news is that things are about to become a whole lot easier.
Over the next couple of weeks, we are rolling out the ability for Google Apps users to easily upload and securely share any type of file internally and externally using Google Docs. You get 1 GB of storage per user, and you can upload files up to 250 MB in size.
Now accessing your work files doesn't require a connection to your internal office network. Nor do you need to email files to yourself, carry around a thumbdrive, or use a company network drive – you can access your files using Google Docs from any web-enabled computer.
Combined with shared folders in Google Docs, the upload feature is a great way to collaborate on files with coworkers and external parties. Instead of using cumbersome email attachments, you can upload files to a folder and share it with coworkers, who can then access and edit the files from a single place. You can even have your sales team securely share contracts with external clients for review.
And of course, by using Google Docs, you can quickly and easily search across all your files from one place, getting access to the right file when and where you need it.
Google Apps Premier Edition users can also use the Google Documents List Data API to upload files to Google Docs in batch, or purchase applications offered by third parties that enable you to migrate and sync your files to Google Docs:
Memeo Connect for Google Apps is a new desktop application that offers an easy way to access, migrate, and synchronize files to Google Docs across multiple computers. (PC and Mac) Syncplicity allows Google Apps users to synchronize, manage, and backup files across desktops and servers, making it easy to use Google Docs seamlessly with existing applications and files. (PC) Manymoon is an online project management platform that makes it simple to organize and share tasks and documents with coworkers and partners, including uploading files to Google Docs.
We're always looking for ways to make it easier for you to access and organize your information online and we hope you find the ability to store, share, and collaborate on files in Google Docs helpful. In the coming months, we will enable Google Apps Premier Edition customers to purchase additional storage for $3.50/GB/yr (or €3.00/gb/yr in the EU). If you'd like to be notified when additional storage can be purchased, please fill out this form and we will contact you as soon as it's available. As always, we’d love your feedback and if you have any questions, please check out our help forum.
The choices today for business collaboration is such that it's almost criminal not to be using such a system as Google Docs, Box.net or Drop.io etc
Sharing and collaborating on content is key for improving business productivity by making workflows simpler and working across locations and device platforms easier.
Get in touch for help in understanding how collaboration tools such as Google Docs can benefit your business.
Adding Tasks to a mindmap on MindMeister
MindMeister is a great tool for collaborating on ideas and projects. For the project side, this is a short tutorial for using Tasks as part of your mindmap.
Avoiding lost productivity to #uksnow
In southern England this morning at least there is some fairly heavy
snowfall. Based on recent experience this will mean many businesses
seeing staff working from home and meetings cancelled. This is often
equated to lost productivity.
productive. Here's a quick list of a few tools that may be very
helpful in keeping your appointments and goals for today on track. Presentation - If you were due to deliver a presentation today but
cannot physically get there take a look at one of the following for
giving the presentation remotely: Present.io - drop.io has dead simple rich web-presentation
functionality. no registration, no downloads, no installs. You can
upload your presentation files (documents, pictures, video, audio, and
more) and be giving your demo or walkthrough in seconds. With a free
conference call line and rich chat functionality, you have just what
you need http://present.io Google Docs - Viewing a presentation together is a breeze, as anyone
joined in a presentation can automatically follow along with the
presenter. http://docs.google.com Collaboratively finalising an asset such as a design graphic or
document proposal Box.net - Turn any folder of content into a shared online workspace
and invite others to view, edit, or add their own files. Exchange
feedback using the commenting and discussion features. Create
wiki-style web documents to share meeting notes, ideas, and manage
projects. Keep workflow organized by assigning tasks to approve,
review or update files http://www.box.net/strawberryway Drop.io - Use drop.io to privately share your files and collaborate in
real time by web, email, phone, mobile, and more. Create each drop in
two clicks and share what you want, how you want, with whom you want. http://drop.io Google Docs - Coworkers can share the same online copy of each doc,
spreadsheet or presentation. All revisions are saved and recoverable. http://docs.google.com Cummunication - need to stay in touch but your colleagues aren't at
their desk phones? Skype - Any size of company can use Skype to change the way they
communicate, collaborate and compete. Real-time communication tools
allow your business to work better, smarter and more efficiently.
Skype is a global solution that's easy to implement and manage all
your communication needs - employees work more productively, customers
can easily reach your company and your business stays ahead of the
game. http://skype.com TinyChat - Your webcam & microphone will just work, no fuss.
`Gathering friends for a meeting has never been easier. Enjoy high
quality live audio & video. Try it, you'll like it. http://tinychat.com So there you go, a few services which is by no means an exhaustive
list but these are possibly the quickets and easiest to pick up and
run with if you were to only use for today because of the snow. By doing so there really shouldn't be any lost productivity. NB I do see the making of snowmen as highly productive and so where
possible please step away from the internet and make one ;)
Using Drop.io? Try the Manager...
I use Drop.io for it's real time, collaboration features on projects. If you are using it too then take a look at the Manager product which gives some great functionality for managing all of your drops.
Processes and systems for project management
This post is inspired by @seanprice who recently asked:
"How do you manage projects either single projects or mulitple at the same time either personal or professional ones?" (Twitter: http://twitter.com/seanprice/status/7314573214) Firstly, systems. For me Drop.io and Box.net jump to the front of my mind. As background, both Drop.io and Box.net are designed for simple sharing and collaboration. Drop.io is built around drops which are realtime repositories of content which can then be shared, embedded, commented, downloaded and much more. Box.net is visually more analogous to a traditional files and folders system with much the same features as Drop.io but via the OpenBox eco-systems of integrations allows for use within structured business workflows. For example with Box.net it is possible to collaboratively author an agreement which, from Box, can be issued digitally via Echosign and the final signed copies be stored within Box making it a workflow hub. Other notable integrations include Salesforce, Google Apps, Zoho With Drop.io the collaboration functionality is equally there but inherently being designed around the drop, the workspace sits relatively outside the wider business workflow. And so to specifically answer @seanprice's question I would suggest that if for repeatable or always similar project workflows, especially within an established business environment of process and policy, the answer is Box.net. For everything else, be it small, larger, ad-hoc, personal or professional, then Drop.io. The second part of the answer is processes. Which to follow / learn from? Project management I believe has long suffered a schizophrenia of being about the personality of people whilst also having the cold regiment of repeatable, scalable process. Some project managers are successful for managing people, others for managing the process. In context of the social collaboration environment business are moving in to, I believe the people principle of project management will take a lead over success through process. Especially when considering the versatile tools such as Drop.io and Box.net which do not need nor care for a set process. So to answer @seanprice, the process for successful projects is to not rely on one. Instead focus on the facilitation of communication and collaboration. Within such an environment, inherently all the data needed to tweak and nudge productivity in the right direction, towards the team's common goal, will be available. Applications such as Milestone Planner from @socialoptic are a good example of this. The app is a gantt chart but the real feature of the app is bringing out the communication across the project team.So for me, the processes and systems, either personally or professionally for project management are:
Human and collaborative (for which Drop.io and Box.net are ideal). For further reading: Box.net for Project Management - http://www.box.net/solutions/project-managementDrop.io - http://drop.io/blog
Milestone Planner @socialoptic - http://socialoptic.com/
Outlook plugin from Drop.io for simple sharing and collaboration
From http://drop.io/bog
We are thrilled to announce the release of the drop.io outlook plugin, which makes it dead simple to attach up to 100 MB of files to emails for free (and up to several GB as a premium service). GET IT HERE
For senders, it works a lot like our yahoo mail integration. Just open an email normally, click 'attach' and select up to 100 MB of files (or more). drop.io handles everything elseFor recipients, it works a lot like how google gmail handles attachments... you can see web previews of your files or play them directly off the web, but if you want or need the originals, go for it.For business users, we even added in some collaboration bells and whistles - like inserting private conference call numbers into your emails in one click.
Some Key Points:- no more email file attachment limits (for senders or receivers)
- keeps inboxes clean and fast... no waiting for long downloads
- with our conversion farm, you can view all rich media attachments right on the web, without downloading them
- convenient thumbnails of all media placed right in your email
- with 'premium' service, you can enable deep customizations, permissions (like view only), adjust expiration, and keep a central catalog of all the attachments sent by you/your organizationBuilt with our public API during the first drop.io hackathon this app was the winner of the first drop.io internal team hackaton on our public API in a matter of a few hours. Congrats to Mike Singleton on the win... we will be building more of these types of integrations -- and you can as well in the language of your choice at http://dev.drop.io -- just another awesome way drop.io facilitates modern 'content' in the context of conversations
Box Paving The Way for Construction Collaboration
As you might imagine, a variety of industries are finding useful ways to put Box’s content management platform to use. Last month we joined the American Bar Association’s technology marketplace, advancing our position as a leading collaboration and document management solution in the legal field, and this month we’re making headway in construction as an official software alliance partner of Motion Computing.
Motion, a leading provider of mobile computing solutions, announced today that they are reselling Box.net to its construction customers so they can share, access and manage their project files directly from the work site with a Motion tablet PC. This is extremely valuable since construction firms need to be able to share building plans and contracts with a broad range of organizations, including external contractors, architects, and planning boards. And because of the portability enabled by Motion’s products, this content can be accessed and shared from construction sites just as easily as it can from a desktop. Our partnership with Motion brings Box directly to construction firms, helping them replace cumbersome FTP servers, facilitate electronic bid management, as well as centralize and archive project resources. Integrating Box.net with Motion Computing’s rugged tablets is an important step towards fulfilling Box’s mission of enabling businesses to easily share and access their content from anywhere.
Many construction firms have already realized the productivity gains and financial savings of implementing Box.net. EllisDon, an international construction services company, creates project rooms on Box for various team members that also provide stakeholders with access to the most current project data. California-based architectural firm ZON Architects uses Box to replace overwhelmed FTP and email servers for sharing files with local jurisdictions, cities, planning boards, project managers, clients and reprographics firms. Surprise Development Corp. reduces project expenses and lead time by sharing documents and large files with architects, general contractors and other partners on Box.
If you’re in the construction industry and want to learn more about how you can benefit from implementing Box, check out our construction resource center at www.box.net/solutions/construction. Want to hook your company up with Motion tablet PCs? Visit Motion Computing for more information or to identify a reseller.
Post by Matt Soldo, Senior Business Development Manager
This entry was posted on Friday, December 11th, 2009 at 12:56 pm and is filed under General commentary, Uncategorized, User Story. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Testimony to collaboration and 2.0 not just being for digital agencies, Box.net shows how collaboration platforms are relevant and beneficial to all industries.
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