With the world of media ever careering forward, powered by the continuously changing, improving and updating technological landscape, there is an ever-increasing need for companies to be able to connect their teams instantly, all over the world.
Since its initial release in 2008, Dropbox users have been synchronizing their personal data across multiple devices – desktops, laptops, smartphones, tablets etc. – allowing them access to important information wherever they happen to be. And as of last year, Dropbox introduced a team-oriented version of the service – Dropbox for Business – now allowing single sign-on (SSO) for users to access data from multiple applications with the use of a single password.
Business teams now have much faster access to shared information, which of course meant that everyone could be kept up to date instantly and simultaneously, and team members could always work together as if they were sitting next to one another, even when they’re worlds apart.
But Dropbox for Business hasn’t stopped there. The software, just like the rest of the technological world, is constantly altering and improving its service to keep ahead and even shape the global media game as it evolves. Below are 5 new business alterations to Dropbox to look out for.
New Collaboration Features
Not quite yet in place as yet, but Dropbox has announced a totally new search system to allow team members to access the data they need much quicker. The feature will work much like any search engine or file finder, where the user will be able to type in a search query into the box, and a results list will scroll down.
This will eliminate the current time-wasting process of opening endless strings of files and folders to find the information that they need. This feature will bolster the newly updated document preview, where users can now with a single click immediately preview a high-quality version of a Microsoft Office file, without having to wait for a download (this experience will soon be extended to android as well).
New Control Features
Dropbox takes great care and pride in ensuring users’ data is private and secure whilst it’s out there ‘floating’ around in the Cloud. The company recently joined the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA)
, and as a result are now listed on the CSA’s Security, Trust and Assurance Registry (STAR). This is all very reassuring for the 80,000 companies that use Dropbox for Business around the world, and the new security programs are now actively incorporated into the software.
Additional security control has been brought in which allows project managers to integrate view-only permissions for shared folders, and passwords and expirations for access to certain files and links. This of course goes against the SSO feature that made Dropbox for Business so convenient for users in the first place, but Dropbox have been listening to their feedback and making the appropriate improvement options available.
Users can now, for instance, give a limited access to a potential contractor, safe in the knowledge that they can set an expiry date so that the contractor does not have continued access to the files once the project is over.
Project Harmony
This feature allows team members the ability to see who else is currently in a Microsoft Office file (a Word document, PowerPoint presentation, or Excel spreadsheet for instance) within a shared folder. But, what is more, all users are able to alter the document simultaneously, providing them with the capability to work together as closely as if they were sat at the same desktop, yet remain as physically remote as need be.
This of course has the potential for confusion to be created as to who is working on which bit of the document at any one time. But, so long as colleagues are in communication with each other – and since they’re both online then there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be – this feature is naturally much more beneficial than it is problematic.
Email – the partnership of Rackspace and Dropbox
Most business communication, of course, is done via email, but the problem with this medium comes when trying to share large files. Not anymore. Rackspace – one of the world’s leading brands that brings email to over 4 million business users globally – and Dropbox have teamed up and you will now find a Dropbox button in the Rackspace toolbar.
This allows users to share files from Dropbox without even having to leave their email window. Files of any size can now be shared instantly – another great innovation bringing even more simplicity to businesses, freeing up even more time to continue being productive.
Dropbox and Apps
Dropbox for Business is determined to stretch its capabilities for convenience as far and wide as it can, and is now giving app developers access to their coveted functionality of shared folders. So, whichever app a user is currently working from, they will be able to access, view and share their Dropbox files without having to switch windows. There are now more than 300,000 apps connected to Dropbox, including Yahoo, Mailbox, CloudOn, UberConference, SignEasy, Slack – the list really is (almost) endless, and allows productivity to be continuously taking place from anywhere.
Dropbox for Business’s reach is seemingly endless, helping business teams to connect, share, and work together more efficiently from anywhere in the world, and no doubt there will be even more updates to come.
Kerry Butters
Kerry is a published author and writer on all things tech, corporate tech, data centres, SEO, webdesign & more for some of the world’s leading sites.