COVID-19 lockdowns didn’t merely shake up the business world, it also sparked a real revolution in how people work.
With lockdown restrictions now practically over in South Africa, remote work still remains an attractive option. Unlike the emergency scenario in March 2020, businesses now have the time to carefully think when investing in tech solutions to enable effective remote work. With the right choice: greater productivity, reduced downtime, and a healthier bottom-lined is expected.
A popular option is Google Workspace.
Formally, known as G Suite, it facilitates remote work with an impressive set of productivity and communication apps for businesses of all sizes. It brings significant benefits through collaboration tools which enable easy staff cooperation and communication across various platforms.
In this article aimed at small to medium-sized business in South Africa, we cover seven reasons to consider Google Workspace.
What is Google Workspace?
Google Workspace is a suite of business, collaboration, and communication software. The core apps include Gmail, Google Meet, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Forms, Google Slides, Google Drawings, Google Keep and Google Sites.
Multiple employees can work together on presentations, documents and/or spreadsheets simultaneously. It is a comprehensive, single alternative to Microsoft software, like Word, Teams and OneDrive for Business, as well as platforms like Zoom, Zoho, Trello – and much more.
7 Reasons Why Google Workspace is a Great Tool for Remote Work:
(1) No Software to Install
Google Workspace is completely browser-based, meaning that it works directly in Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Firefox, etc. All the tools like Gmail, Google Meet and Google Docs, can be accessed on essentially any device and operating system.
Thus, no software needs to be downloaded and installed on the employees’ computer. It’s quick and easy to get started.
(2) Automatic Versioning and Autosave
This ensures that Google Workspace will automatically save all files and edits to the cloud in Google Drive.
Should a remote employee (or their child) spill coffee and destroy their laptop hard drive, no problem! The system continuously saves changes as the user goes along, so there’s no danger of work being lost. Users can also view all previous edits and even restore the original document. It’s a great aid to business continuity and data recovery should disaster strike.
Related:
Popular Causes of Data Loss (And How to Prevent It)
(3) Easy Cooperation and Collaboration Between Team Members
Google Workspace makes cooperation and sharing documents in real-time an absolute breeze. Employees simply send out invitations to other users and they simply click on the link. They can then immediately start editing straight away from their device (including smartphones and tablets). All users immediately see any changes and comments that have been made.
(4) Avoid Total Reliance on the Internet
South Africans are no stranger to internet problems. When working from home, employees might face poor connection speeds, network downtime, loadshedding, running out of data, etc.
Fortunately with Google Workspace’s great offline features, employees need not rely entirely on the internet to get work done. Google Drive File Stream ensures that your latest Google Drive data is synchronised to employee devices for offline editing and access.
(5) Onboarding Employees is Super Easy
Google Workplace has a simple and streamlined interface that takes much pain out of onboarding a new staff member – whether he’s in the office or across the continent. Admin and IT tasks are simplified and intuitive.
(6) Save on Server Hardware Costs
Instead of investing in a physical server room at your office, Google Workspace runs via cloud computing technology. This will save your business money in that you won’t have to buy, install, and maintain hardware, servers, networking equipment, and the like. We have previously covered the pros and cons of on-premise server rooms in a detailed article:
On Premise vs Cloud Computing: Which is best for your business?
(7) Cutting-Edge Cybersecurity Protocols
Ranging from ransomware attacks and data breaches, to shadow IT and social engineering, protecting your business and data from cybersecurity disasters are essential.
Google Workspace is an industry-leader when it comes to cybersecurity. A two-step verification process, biometrics, and proactive detection methods are some of many features designed to keep your data safe and secure. Businesses are given easy administration control over data, employee accounts, devices, apps and verification settings.
Ready to Get Started?
Partner with iSite Computers, a managed IT services provider established in 2008, to get started with Google Workspace in your South African business today. Our team of experts are here to help you make the most of this incredible platform.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation, or contact us directly on 031 812 9650 / rd@isite.co.za.
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