Strawberryway - Fluent in Business 2.0 - Digital Consultancy & Services
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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you're in the air, your colleagues back at the office are making last minute edits to the files and your copies are now out of date.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.

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    Filed under  //   collaboration   document management   google   news   productivity   products  
    Posted by Dan M 

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    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.

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    Filed under  //   collaboration   mindmeister   productivity   products   project management   tips   video  
    Posted by Dan M 

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    Close business fast

    Thinking about the impact of the snow today in the UK and one thing that may be affected is the speed of the mail system.

    This need not be an issue though with Echosign. With Echosign you can quickly and easily get agreements signed and deals closed within 42 minutes on average. And it all takes place online with the same legal status of paper agreements.

    So why not take a look at Echosign and use it remover all that paper (good for reducing office costs and helping the environment) and try e-signing with Echosign. http://www.echosign.com/ (affiliate link)

    feature-collage.png

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    Filed under  //   document management   echosign   productivity   products  
    Posted by Dan M 

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    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.

    I think different.

    Just because you're not in the office doesn't mean your not able to be
    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 we do see the making of snowmen as highly productive and so where
    possible please step away from the internet and make one ;)

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    Filed under  //   collaboration   communication   opinion   productivity   products   uksnow  
    Posted by Dan M 

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    Using Drop.io? Try the Manager...

    Strawberryway uses 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.

     

    If you're interested in using Drop.io for project collaboration and sharing in your business then let us know :)

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    Filed under  //   collaboration   dropio   productivity   project management   realtime   sharing  
    Posted by Dan M 

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    Remember The Milk - Getting things done...

    Remember The Milk is one of the best ways to manage your tasks.

    A few of the things you can do include:

    • Manage tasks quickly and easily
    • Thanks to a natural language interface, adding tasks due "next friday" means just that and not fiddling around with a mini calendar
  • Getting reminded, anywhere
    • Reminders can be received pretty much anywhere such as email, SMS, Instant Messengers, Twitter and RSS
  • Organising the way you want to
    • Lists, tags and notes oh my! Remember The Milk has the flexible to power to make it as simple or feature rich as suits
  • Locate your tasks
    • Give tasks a location and see a map of where you need to be getting things done
  • Collaboration
    • Sharing, sending and publishing of tasks makes Remember The Milk an ideal application for project management and collaboration projects
  • Add tasks wherever you are
    • You can add tasks via email, web, twitter, your phone (there is an iPhone app) more. So you don't need to remember to write your task down in your system later!
    Remember The Milk is free and also has a paid Pro version. There's a wealth of integrations in to services such as Google Mail and Calendar. Mobile apps for iPhone and Android are also available.

    Remember The Milk is ideal for using in your business, when used collaboratively, for powerful group wide #gtd.

    Let us know any queries on how to get your business managing it's tasks with Remember The Milk.

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    Filed under  //   gtd   productivity   products   remember the milk  
    Posted by Dan M 

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    The web is your Virtual Assistant

    Web based applications are key enablers for our business change and improvement work.

    Often the focus is on "big" apps like Box.net to enable workflow change for collaboration.

    Today, I'm focusing on the little apps that just make business life easier.

    In context of Virtual Assistants (VA), the web is possibly vastly underused for simple business administration.

    The basic premise of a VA is outsourcing the tasks that are not the best use of your time to a better resource. Example activities of a VA include:

    "Microsoft Office, Diary Management, Bookkeeping, Travel Arrangements, Event Management, Call Handling, Client Databases, Internet Research, Website Maintenance, e-newsletters, Advertising, PR, Copy Writing, Social Media"

    VAs are no doubt a great human resource helping business a lot. Looking through the list though there are a number of web apps out there which take care of such administration and at a lower cost than human resource.

    So what if the web was a virtual assistant?

    Diary Management is taken care of by Tungle
    Bookkeeping by Fresh/Clear/QuickBooks
    Travel Arrangements by Tripit
    Event Management by Eventbrite
    Client Databases by CRM such as Tactile / Highrise
    Newsletters done by MailChimp.

    That's at least half of the list from above taken care of by the web. When factoring in the cost of the tools above your monthly VA 2.0 cost would be ~£50.

    In context of delivering business improvement with measurable returns, it seems there is room for more web apps to reduce costs and simplify administration thus improving productivity.

    For example just because a VA is handling your diary doesn't mean meetings are being booked quicker. With apps such as Tungle though the processing time for meetings does actually reduce.

    With it being January many businesses are likely making resolutions around being more efficient and productive in context of the recessionary 2009. 

    The suggestion here is to look at the web for simplifying, expediting and reducing the costs of administration. Perhaps even if you're a VA, a VA 2.0 solution is for you too ;)

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    Filed under  //   opinion   productivity   products  
    Posted by Dan M 

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    Box.net

    Box.net  - Simple, online, powerful collaboration. The world's leading online content and collaboration platform. Perfect for businesses interesting in implementing or upgrading their collaboration tools, but want to avoid the complexities of implementation, support and maintenance.

    • Improve productivity and efficiency - Box.net customers estimate they save tens of thousands in improved efficiency by replacing existing collaboration methods such as FTP and email.
    • Reduce overhead of IT - Box reduces support costs, maintenance issues and traditional implementation hassles. 99.9% guaranteed uptime and 24/7 phone support
    • Shorten project completion time - Project management tools to improve project efficiency such as version history, commenting, discussions, and bookmarks

    Here's a short introduction...

    How we can help?

    Business Design - Get extra help when migrating from current systems or integrating current work flow and processes.

    Implementation and Set Up - We'll handle all implementation and setup activities. This can entail importing users, setting up accounts, managing user allocations and permissions, setting up team workspaces and conducting end user training sessions.

    Data Migration - We can assist in moving company files from their current location to your new Box.net account. This can involve transferring files from FTP  and other services, uploading content from employee hard drives and organising files into relevant folders.

    Service Management - Use our team as your account administrator to manage users, track account usage, manage space and handle queries from users.

    Get in touch if you would like help with with implementation, service and support of Box.net for your business.

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    Filed under  //   box.net   boxdotnet   cloud   collaboration   productivity   products   saas   sharing   webapp  
    Posted by Dan M 

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    Google Apps

    More than one million businesses run Google Apps. Google Apps offers reliable and secure online applications for wherever you work. They reduce IT costs and empower today's employees with great tools like Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sites and more. The cost is tiny too at only ~ £40 per user, per year. At a high level, Google Apps is a suite of SaaS applications which comprise of:

    • Gmail for Business - 25GB storage, less spam, and a 99.9% uptime SLA, and enhanced email security
    • Google Calendar - Agenda management, scheduling, shared online calendars and mobile calendar sync
    • Google Docs - Documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Work online without attachments
    • Google Sites - Secure, coding-free web pages for intranets and team managed sites
    • Postini - Hosted email security and archiving services for your business

    There are various editions of Google Apps including those for Non-Profits, Schools and ISPs. Here's a quick overview...

    How we help with Google Apps?

    Strategic business process consulting, worry-free management of the services, and comprehensive support are a few of the valuable services that we are providing around Google Apps.

    Also we can manage customer deployments including data migration, provide user training and best practices, tackle systems integration, and develop custom application extensions. Get in touch to get expert implementation, service and support for Google Apps in your business.

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    Filed under  //   calendar   collaboration   document management   email   google   knowledge management   productivity   products   saas   webapp  
    Posted by Dan M 

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