Working With Google Business Applications
Lesson #18
Something else to get nervous about, but don't.
Just like Microsoft Office, Google Business Apps cost a little so it's not for everyone, only those that want a few more tools.
Google Docs:
This is a combination of Spreadsheets, Documents, Email, and Drive. All things put together represent Google Apps, just like Microsoft Office has Excel, Word, Outlook, and OneDrive. Both Platforms get the work done in different ways. It's important to work with both, because you don't know who your customers are, or what they need from you. If you don't have access to one or the other, then you should make more friends.
Google Gmail:
This is the Communication area for all incoming and outgoing messages. Just like Outlook the Contacts are there, along with sorted mail, chat and Video conferencing. It's not fancy, but it's functional, and most people find it simple to use. You can form group email, and set up domain email too. The regular Gmail is enhanced to perform Business Level work assignments, so it's not just mail to chat with, is a Communication Interface. You should learn it, if you already know Outlook, because more people are using it.
Google Calendar:
It might sound like I'm repeating myself when I describe the way the Calendar works, because the Outlook Calendar works the same way. There are different ways to set Schedules and reminders, but they still send notifications. The Calendar syncs with Mobile Devices, and does all the wonderful things you want it to. The Business version runs Domain Email, and can be set to only communicate with other emails of the same domain, so that it works like an Internal Network.
Google Contact List:
The Contacts are there, just like always, and the information is shared to other parts of the program, like Gmail, and Calendar, and you can form group email to send to everyone in the group. The contacts are saved there and copied to any device that has Gmail installed. So the Contact list and Gmail are connected. When you open Gmail on any computer, the contacts are right there.
Google Tasks
The Tasks are more connected to Calendar activity. You set a Calendar Date, or Schedule, with the Start and Stop time, and when you'll be notified. Since a Task is basically a "timed activity" then the Calendar is the best place for them. When you create a new Calendar Date, that's when you see the Tools and options.
Summary:
It might seem like a waste of time, repeating the same capabilities for two different platforms, but it's important to know how similar they are, and how different. You'll be glad that you took the time to find out, when someone asks you to convert a Microsoft Spreadsheet into a Google Spreadsheet, because then you'll know how different the "formulas" are and you can make better decisions about how to get the work done.
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Here's more information about:
"Working With Google Business Applications"
Google Apps for Business Tool Set
http://www.google.com/enterprise/apps/business/products.html
Google Apps Documentation And Support
http://learn.googleapps.com/top-faqs
Google Apps Release Calendar
http://whatsnew.googleapps.com/
Google Apps Help Center
https://support.google.com/a/#topic=29157
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