What is Smartsheet?
Smartsheet is a cloud-based dynamic work platform designed to empower teams and organizations to capture, plan, and manage all their work in a single, intuitive, flexible, and scalable experience. This powerful work management platform combines the simplicity of a spreadsheet with robust project management and collaboration features.
Key Features and Functionality
Views and Visualization
Smartsheet allows users to visualize their data in multiple views, including:
- Grid View: A standard spreadsheet-like view for listing tasks and data.
- Gantt View: Displays tasks in a timeline format, showing dependencies, hierarchy, milestones, and critical paths.
- Card View: Organizes tasks as movable cards in dynamic vertical lanes, ideal for Kanban-style project management.
- Calendar View: Displays dates and tasks in a calendar format.
Collaboration and Sharing
The platform facilitates seamless collaboration by enabling users to share sheets, reports, and dashboards with people both inside and outside their organization. It includes features such as real-time commenting, attachment of files, and streamlined approval processes.
Automation and Workflows
Smartsheet offers robust automation capabilities, allowing users to set up automated workflows, reminders, notifications, and approvals. This helps in minimizing human error and saving time. Custom forms can be created to collect consistent and error-free data, which automatically flows into the sheets.
Reporting and Dashboards
Users can compile information from multiple sheets into easy-to-build reports and roll these reports into interactive dashboards. These dashboards display charts, images, and key metrics in real-time, providing a centralized hub for resources and updates.
Integration and Compatibility
Smartsheet integrates natively with a wide range of popular tools, including Google Workspace, Microsoft Office 365, Slack, DocuSign, Dropbox, Jira, Tableau, Salesforce, and more. This integration ensures a smooth workflow by connecting Smartsheet with existing systems.
Advanced Capabilities
- Formulas and Functions: Includes cell formulas, column formulas, cross-sheet formulas, and conditional formatting to automate and analyze data.
- Resource Management: Helps in understanding and managing resource allocation to keep project schedules and budgets on track.
- Process Management: Offers features like the Control Center for process management at scale and the ability to create customized no-code apps.
- Security and Access Control: Allows locking of rows and columns to protect key data and provides granular access control through collections and secure permission settings.
Additional Tools
Smartsheet also includes tools such as:
- Document Builder: Generates custom PDFs for rows in sheets, useful for contracts and other standard documents.
- Activity Log: Tracks all activities and changes made to sheets, dashboards, or reports.
- WorkApps: A no-code platform for building intuitive web and mobile apps, available with the Enterprise plan.
- DataMesh and DataTable: Tools for managing and visualizing large data sets.
Benefits
Using Smartsheet provides several key benefits, including:
- Real-Time Visibility: Gives a clear view of all projects, enabling informed decision-making.
- Increased Transparency and Accountability: Clearly shows who is responsible for which actions and ensures people take responsibility for their tasks.
- Improved Communication and Productivity: Reduces time spent on planning and enhances teamwork through real-time collaboration features.
- Automation and Efficiency: Automates repetitive tasks and minimizes human error.
- Scalability: Suitable for both small and large organizations, with features to manage complex projects and multiple workflows.