OverDRIVE

Simply create a Drive folder for a project and then resources such as plans, drawings, specifications, minutes of meetings and letters can be displayed in an accessible and user-friendly way for project staff; not only that, you can provide controlled and secure access for external members of the team such as contractors and partners.

It’s important to keep staff up to date with key information about the company, team, key projects, training, etc. so that they can fully understand the role they play within the team, the company and delivery of strategy and plans.

OverDRIVE is a great way to provide information resources or an intranet for staff. If documents or resources already exist such as a company handbook, health and safety policy or company logos, you don’t need to recreate them; they are already there in Drive and will be automatically updated to the website as you make changes. It’s also a great way to share files, images and other digital resources.

Businesses often need to share digital resources like logos, designs, layouts, photos and specifications with staff as well as external partners and suppliers. In many cases this is done through an extranet, which can be time-consuming and complex to create and maintain.

OverDRIVE is a great way to manage and publish digital assets without the hassle – simply put the resources into a Drive folder and then OverDRIVE does the rest for you. The assets are automatically listed or presented on a website in a clear and visually attractive way for whoever needs to see them. You can also easily navigate through huge quantities of photographs and other files and quickly narrow down your search requirements by using special search tools.

Photographs are used extensively in many sectors to record and communicate progress, defend against litigation and report faults or issues; also to improve both customer service and training provision and much more. Photos stored in Drive can be accessed instantly through an OverDRIVE website which has special search and filtering tools for navigating huge quantities of photographs and other files.

OverDRIVE is in use in the construction sector: Site managers take and upload photos using an Android photo app to record building site progress. The app integrates with either a bespoke web application or OverDRIVE and allows HQ staff to view all the photos and perform tasks such as searches, adding notes etc.

A major University business school used OverDRIVE to provide access to documents for each year group, covering coursework, assignments and dissertations. Lecturers and administrators simply drag documents into the right folder and then they are displayed automatically on the appropriate web page.

OverDRIVE enables shop floor teams to see this information instantly, at the touch of a button, wherever they are. Its simple navigation and powerful search facility delivers quick, accurate and instantly updatable information, ensuring the whole team remain connected.

OverDRIVE is already responsive to different screen sizes but web pages containing the documents can also be customised for tablet use and include shop-floor friendly features like big buttons.

A virtual data room (VDR) is often used during the due diligence process for mergers and acquisitions or venture capital transactions and OverDRIVE is a straightforward way to provide this. The various parties involved in the transaction – both internal and external – can simply log in to a website and review or check relevant documents such as a list of assets or financial information.

Strong security for access and viewing permissions is paramount of course and this is provided by using a Google account with the recommended security policies. Through Google Drive, all common document types can be uploaded to the website, including (but not limited to) Word, Excel, PDF making this a flexible and secure way of sharing information.

Kids in each class simply use Google Docs to create and edit blog articles and these can be posted automatically to a school website which parents can view.

With assignments or projects, the pupils create and collate materials into a project folder using Drive and these resources are then displayed on a web page for the appropriate class and pupil.

OverDRIVE can also be used for pupils and teachers to access learning resources which might be needed for GCSE study. Instead of uploading vast numbers of documents to a school website, you can simply create an OverDRIVE site which is only accessible to pupils and teachers within your school. The same approach can also be taken with teaching resources such as lesson plans or for setting and submitting homework.

OverDRIVE’s success is down to its simplicity. It allows schools to communicate quickly, connect across devices and bring learning to life inside and outside the classroom.