Many entrepreneurs as well as their staff are starting to see the advantages of Google Apps for Business. This type of set-up, where everything is hosted online as opposed to a specific computer is often called “working inside the cloud”.

The benefits are that the right provider decreases your down-time, your systems are available to anywhere and from any computer so long as you possess the login details. Consequently your company becomes more productive and even portable!

This post gives you an overview of the main Google Apps For Business.

Gmail for Business

Gmail for business is the Google email system. It is available through a web-based interface, which looks just like the free Gmail. However, if you opt to make use of a mail client such as Outlook or MacMail you can do so too. Gmail for Business prides itself on supporting productivity, and you will set up various filter and label systems to fit your working style. While the free Gmail account is just accessible online, Gmail for business also offers the functionality to operate offline inside your browser. It simply synchs and sends whenever your connection to the internet is back on again. Storage?

Google Calendar for Business

Google Calendar for Business is a great way to increase collaboration and sync schedules within your business and organisation. Each team member may have their particular calendar, but you can also create an overarching business calendar along with a calendar for resources, such as meeting rooms or projectors. Just like traditional calendars, including Outlook, you can invite people to appointments. You can also share calendars amongst your staff and contractors so that they know what is available when.

Google Sites

Google Sites is Google’s website building tool. Minimum understanding of html is required to develop a Google site. You can simply operate in a WYSIWIG (what you see is what you get) interface, which makes the whole site look like a Google Doc with graphics. You can add users and collaborators with a simple invitation. The site can go live with the click of a button, and you could monitor users and changes easily in one simple log. Before you setup a whole website in Google sites, you will need to buy and host a domain name.

Google Docs

Google Docs is actually a popular collaboration tool within Google Apps. It enables you to create Word, Excel and Power Point documents. You are able to share documents publicly or privately within the organization or with specific people. You may either create documents within Google Docs or you can upload existing Word, Excel or Power Point documents from your computer and share them with others. Google Docs lets you easily review different versions of a document, including which user made changes and when. An advanced utilization of Docs allows you to create online forms and surveys which may be shared internally and externally.

Google Groups

Google Groups is a great method to simplify your inbound and outbound email communication. Groups is basically an e-mail distribution to a certain number of users. For example you could have a group called staff@yourorganization.com consisting of all your staff email addresses. The group can simply be updated when someone leaves by removing their email address. Rather than typing 20,50, or hundreds of email addresses whenever you send an e-mail you can simply enter in the group email.

These are only 5 of a number of Google Apps for business services. All apps are directed at increasing the workflow and productivity within your team and organization.