Google launches Docs API for companies to automate their internal processes.
Google has officially launched its Google Docs API, after first unveiling it as a developer preview at its Cloud Next conference last summer.
The new REST API is designed to automate business processes across 3 broad use cases: bulk document creation, content management and workflow management.
The idea is that companies can generate certain types of documents, such as invoices, automatically. So let's say they create the same invoice every month; the Docs API can do this from a template, and if it is connected to a company's database or Google Sheets, this will ensure that all information within Google Docs, such as customer contact details, is up to date.
It's worth noting that the Google Docs API also integrates with Zapier, the platform that allows anyone to create rules-based integrations between all their various web applications, meaning users can automate any number of workflows across their organization. "For example, if you're a human resources manager, you can use the same template for offer letters."Google said in a blog post. "Instead of manually filling in the information, you can use the Docs API to automatically fill in the details in an offer letter every time a candidate gets to the right stage."
During the closed preview, Google said several companies signed up to use the new API, including Mailchimp and Netflix, the latter of which used the API to automate some of its engineering response processes. "Now the team spends less time manually creating documentation and more time on other strategic work."Google added.
Google has offered full APIs for Slides and Sheets since at least 2016, so this news has likely been a long wait for those who are already G Suite users.
