We’re thrilled to share the success of our recent Google for Growth Workshop, where local business leaders and innovators gathered to explore the transformative power of Google’s tech stack. With a full house of eager participants, the day was filled with hands-on demos, expert insights, and real-world applications aimed at empowering local businesses to thrive in the digital age.
Participants were introduced to the full potential of Google Workspace, a comprehensive solution designed to consolidate the need for multiple third-party apps and streamline workflows. Through integrated tools like Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and Calendar, attendees learned how they could manage communication, collaboration, and project management—all within one platform. Google Workspace offers:
• Real-time collaboration through Docs, Sheets, and Slides, replacing the need for external document editing tools.
• Google Meet and Chat for integrated communication, reducing reliance on third-party messaging and conferencing apps like Zoom and Slack.
• Google Drive as a secure, centralised space for file management and storage, eliminating the need for external file-sharing apps.
• Security and admin controls that allow businesses to manage user access and protect company data from one central dashboard.
This streamlined approach not only enhances efficiency but also helps businesses save costs by reducing the need for multiple app subscriptions, allowing teams to focus on what really matters—getting work done.
Participants explored the power of Generative AI through live demos of tools like NotebookLM and learned how to create custom GEMS—Google’s AI models tailored to specific business needs. These hands-on sessions taught the importance of context when using AI, with the key takeaway being “Garbage in = Garbage out,” highlighting that meaningful inputs lead to valuable outputs.
Our facilitators demonstrated practical Google Workspace hacks to boost productivity, including:
• Instantly opening new documents by typing “docs.new” or “sheets.new” into the browser.
• Using Google’s “Chips” feature to embed links, contacts, and files directly into documents with the “@” command, enhancing team collaboration.
• Leveraging Help Me Write, an AI-powered feature in Gmail and Google Docs that assists in generating professional emails, reports, and content, saving time and improving output quality.
• Smart Compose in Gmail, helping users draft emails quickly by predicting the next word or phrase, and drag-and-drop task creation from emails into the task manager.
These efficiency hacks and AI tools demonstrated how businesses can streamline everyday tasks, improve workflows, and boost productivity without ever leaving the Google ecosystem.
Participants were encouraged to adopt moonshot thinking—setting audacious goals to drive breakthrough innovations. This was paired with the concept of “Tackling the Monkey”, where teams were urged to tackle the hardest part of a problem first, rather than the easiest, leading to more meaningful progress.
The event also featured a Google Hour of Power, where participants and Google experts collaborated on real-world problems, such as:
• Transferring files across multiple accounts seamlessly.
• Optimising business profiles for better online visibility and customer engagement.
• Streamlining booking systems to automate processes and improve customer experience.
These collaborative problem-solving sessions helped participants apply what they learned in real time to their own business challenges, leaving with actionable solutions.
Google experts provided deep insights into the role of AI, Generative AI, and Machine Learning (ML) in shaping the future of business. Discussions covered:
• How to build transformative AI experiences and leverage AI for productivity.
• Ensuring data security across all apps, models, and platforms.
• The potential of Google Cloud to scale business operations securely while optimising performance.
Participants left with a clearer understanding of how AI and cloud technology can drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and future-proof their businesses.
Attendees also drew inspiration from Ford’s legendary innovation—reducing the time it took to paint a car from 30 days to 37 hours, and eventually to 1 hour. This served as a powerful reminder of the importance of thinking differently and constantly striving to streamline processes to save time and resources.
Guided by Google experts Lawrence Khan and Duncan Dickinson, the event left participants energised and ready to embrace the future of business with Google’s tech stack, from leveraging Generative AI to optimising their operations with Google Workspace. The focus on consolidation—bringing multiple tools and processes under one integrated platform—showed businesses how to work smarter, not harder, and build a more efficient and secure operation.
As we continue to support local growth and innovation, Innovate Moreton Bay is proud to create opportunities for our community to stay ahead of the curve. Stay tuned for more events where we explore cutting-edge technologies and inspire businesses to thrive in the digital age!
Stay current by subscribing to our newsletter for more up-to-date information and monthly updates!
Innovate Moreton Bay and City of Moreton Bay remain dedicated to fostering innovation in the city. Google for Growth is just one example of their ongoing commitment to the Regional Economic Development Strategy (REDS), which includes the objective of Moreton Bay becoming and maintaining its position as a top ten regional innovation hub.
For more information about Council’s innovation programs, visit: www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/innovation
