Google Drive is a file storage and synchronization service provided by Google. Most people think that Google Drive is just a rebranding of Google Docs. However, it is much more than that. Besides the Google Docs office suite, it offers cloud storage, file sharing and collaborative editing.
With the integration of web based apps into Google Drive many features that it lacked are now only one click away. Need to send a fax? Use Hellofax. Need to eSign a document? DocuSign comes to the rescue. Whatever your needs, there is probably an app for it.
If you’re not programming averse, you can use Google Apps Scripts to automate everything you do in Google Apps. And also lets you do new and cool things with various Google Apps like Docs, Sheets, and Forms.
So what makes Google Drive so good from the productivity standpoint? Well, it has several advanced features that really hit the nail on the head.
- Consistent experience: Chrome’s sign in feature allows you to access your data from other computers and devices. Your apps, bookmarks, tabs, history, and other browser preferences are saved and synced to your Google Account. This feature gives you a truly global access to your files and documents.
- Live collaboration: Share your work with other people and start editing documents, spreadsheets and presentations in real time. See the changes as they appear and add and reply to comments of other people. You can even share folders, and any documents in them will be shared as well.
- Integration with Gmail: You don’t have to attach large files in Gmail now. You can now link files from your Google drive to Gmail and vice versa. The recipient will receive the same file and same version as the one on your Drive. You can even send a link of an image or video to your friends or coworkers in Gmail, without attaching it.
- View anything: Google Drive allows you to open over 30 different file types in your browser, without even installing the program on your computer. Need to preview an Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or HD Video file? No problem, just open it in Google Drive, from any device and any location.
- Apps for added functionality: Missing a feature you need? No problem. You can find hundreds of apps on the Chrome Web Store. Send faxes, edit videos and create website mockups right from your Google Drive with 3rd party applications. Also you can use Apps Scripts to further tweak and style to your liking.
- Smart search: With Optical Character Recognition (OCR) you can search for content in the scanned copy of a newspaper or letter or document stored in the Google Drive. It also gives applications the ability to convert high-resolution PDFs or images containing typewritten/printed text into editable text. Optionally it can translate the text of a document when uploading
- Revisions: Whenever you click the save button in Google Drive and it not only saves the edited version but also the previous un-edited version for future reference. You can look back 30 days, and you can choose a revision to save forever also.
All these features make Google Drive stand out against other cloud storage services. And as Google introduces new features and services it’s going to become more powerful and more important. Hopefully, by getting used to these advanced features, you’ll be better prepared for whatever Google introduces next.
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