Today’s businesses need efficient and reliable digital tools to enhance productivity and collaboration. Google Workspace has emerged as one of the most popular productivity suites available. Let’s explore the features, benefits, and cost of Google Workspace to help you determine if it’s worth investing in for your specific needs.
What is Google Workspace?
Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity suite developed by Google. It integrates various essential applications and services to streamline communication, collaboration, and productivity within organisations. It offers a seamless experience across devices, enabling users to work from anywhere, at any time.
What is included with Google Workspace?
Google Workspace is a powerful and versatile suite of tools. Here is a brief overview of each of the included applications:
- Gmail: Secure business email with a powerful search engine and AI features.
- Calendar: Shared calendar app that makes it easy to see when everyone is available and schedule meetings.
- Meet: Video conferencing tool that lets you connect with team members even if they’re in different locations.
- Chat: Messaging app that lets you chat with team members one on one or in groups.
- Drive: Cloud storage service that lets you store, share, and collaborate on files.
- Docs / Sheets / Slides: Create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
- Forms: A survey application that lets you create and share surveys.
- Sites: A website builder that lets you build and manage websites.
- Keep: Note-taking app that lets you take notes, create lists, and set reminders.
- Apps Script: A scripting language that allows you to automate tasks and extend the functionality of Google Workspace applications.
- Cloud Search: A search engine that helps you find information across all of your Google Workspace data.
- Jamboard: A collaborative whiteboard that lets you brainstorm, collaborate, and share ideas.
How are personal Gmail and Drive apps different from Google Workspace?
While Google offers free versions of Gmail and Google Drive, Google Workspace provides additional features and benefits that are not available in the free versions.
Some notable differences include:
Custom Domain: Google Workspace allows you to create a professional email address using your own domain name, whereas the free version of Gmail use the “@gmail.com” domain.
Increased Storage: Google Workspace offers generous storage capacity for Gmail and Drive, ensuring plenty of space for your business files and emails.
Enhanced Security and Administration: Google Workspace provides advanced security features, such as data loss prevention and granular admin controls, giving organisations greater control over their data.
Collaboration and Productivity Tools: The paid version of Google Workspace unlocks advanced collaboration features like real-time editing, version history, and integration with other business applications.
Does Google Workspace have AI features?
Google Workspace offers a number of AI features that can help you save time by automating tasks, such as suggesting text as you type or summarising your emails. These features include:
Smart Compose: Suggests text as you type, so you can write emails faster.
Smart Reply: Suggests quick responses to emails, so you can reply to messages more easily.
Smart Formatting: Google Docs AI feature that automatically formats your text, so you can focus on writing.
Smart Insights: Provides insights into your spreadsheets data, so you can make better decisions.
Smart Review: Helps you identify potential issues with your presentation, so you can polish every detail.
With the introduction of Google Duet AI, Google Workspace users get access to even more AI features for Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Google Meet.
Who needs Google Workspace?
Google Workspace caters to a wide range of users, from small businesses to large organisations, educators, nonprofits, and even individual professionals. It is particularly beneficial for businesses looking to establish seamless collaboration among team members, streamlining communication and improving productivity.
Google Workspace also supports remote workers by providing access to essential tools and files from any location.
How much does Google Workspace cost?
Google Workspace offers flexible pricing plans to accommodate different requirements. You can opt for annual or monthly billing, and the number of licenses can be easily expanded as your organisation grows.
There are four pricing plans for Google Workspace in the UK:
Business Starter: £5 per user/month, one-year commitment. Or £6 per user/month, when billed monthly.
Business Standard: £10 per user/month, one-year commitment. Or £12 per user/month, when billed monthly.
Business Plus: £15 per user/month, one-year commitment. Or £18 per user/month, when billed monthly.
Enterprise: Contact us for pricing.
Check out this Google Workspace comparison table and decide what plan works best for your business.
How to buy Google Workspace in the UK?
After evaluating your organisation’s needs and the available plans, reach out to a UK-based Google Partner like Refractiv. Google Partners provide assistance with migration, support, and training as per your requirements. Additionally, signing up through a UK Google Partner might make you eligible for a discounted price.
Summary
In conclusion, Google Workspace is a worthy investment for individuals, businesses, and other organisations. While the cost of Google Workspace may vary based on your needs, the enhanced productivity and collaboration features it offers make it a valuable investment for those seeking an efficient and streamlined digital workspace.