2020 Google Workplace Updates

With so much of the business world transitioning to work from home, Google has been rolling out updates at an astonishing pace that’s almost impossible to keep up with. Since so much of our technology infrastructure is integrated with various Google products, we wanted to highlight a few changes in 2020 that may interest you.

G Suite is now Google Workspace

Google rebranded its portfolio of business products from Google Suite (G Suite) to Google Workspace. Our updates will begin referring to “Google Workspace” or the abridged “Google” instead of “G Suite”. We’ll still use words like “G Drive” and “Google Drive” interchangeably. Here’s the launch video:

Gmail Updates

• Gmail now integrates email, chat, and video meetings in one mobile app
• Grant access to Drive files directly from Gmail
• Open Office attachments from Gmail in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides with one click
• View richer information about coworkers directly within the Gmail side panel
• New quick settings help you optimize your Gmail layout
• New user setting to hide or show Google Meet in Gmail
• Use Gmail alongside other iOS apps with iPad Multitasking

Google Calendar

• Improved Google Calendar event creation on the web
• Edit Calendar events directly from Gmail and Docs
• Create and view tasks in the Google Calendar mobile apps
• Make Google Meet or an add-on your default video conferencing option in Google Calendar
• Turn Google Meet Quick access on or off from Google Calendar

Google Drive

• Google Drive trash items will be automatically deleted after 30 days
• Office editing mode is now the default editing mode for Office files in Drive
• Collaborate with people who are not using a Google account in Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Sites
• New sharing dialog for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Forms
• Expanding shortcuts in Google Drive, reducing unorganized files
• Improving search in Google Drive on Android and iOS

Google Docs

• New document save status and offline indicator for Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Google Docs mobile improvements: link previews and Smart Compose
• Google Docs line spacing will now adjust based on font
• Improvements to PDFs imported to Google Docs
• New comment interface for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Office editing makes it easier to work with Office files in Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Mention a user directly within a Google Doc
• Create and work with documents that contain multiple page orientations in Google Docs

Google Sheets

• New features to help improve and analyze data in Google Sheets
• Use SmartFill to help automate data entry in Google Sheets
• New chart text and number formatting options in Sheets

Google Chat

• Use the new Google Chat app for fast and reliable communication
• Changes to Google Chat group conversations and classic Hangouts
• Pin conversations in Google Chat
• Set your status as away in Google Chat in Gmail
• See read receipts on direct messages in Google Chat
• Schedule Google Calendar events from Google Chat

Google Meet

• Google Meet in Gmail on mobile
• New look and feel for Google Meet mobile apps
• Replace your background in Google Meet

Other Google Updates

• New Trash feature in Google Contacts
• Ending support for IE11 for all Google Workspace apps
• Improved malware protection for users in the Advanced Protection Program