Google Docs from Bi101
Picture me scrolling through my Inbox, scanning for attachment icons. Where oh where is the latest version of that document? Wait, maybe it’s in my Sent Items. That’s right; I think I made the last round of changes and sent it back. More scrolling and scanning…
Or did I save it down to a folder? More searching… More wasted time. More uncertainty about whether the document I eventually found and am now editing is in fact the latest one.
I know you’ve been there, too. We are all flooded with documents (particularly in the form of email attachments). Whether it’s searching through email to find “the latest” or comparing timestamps on docs that you saved, managing “version control” is a real pain and a big inefficiency – especially at highly collaborative companies.
It’s time to put an end to this! Whenever possible, please boycott the practice of sending email attachments back and forth with clients and colleagues, as a rickety form of collaboration. Email is for communication, not collaboration! Plus, there are great solutions available that increase collaboration, rather than hinder it.
Google Docs to the Rescue
Personally, I’m a fan of Google Docs (a part of the Google Apps suite.) It allowed me to quit being the version control police and focus on actually being productive. I won’t go into how it works. Many of you already know. If not, check out the little YouTube video below to see the app in action.
Suffice it to say that I no longer engage in what I described above. I just log into Google Docs and grab the latest work-in-progress. Collaboration is a good thing!
Feel free to connect with us to get a free trial of Google Docs.