10 Reasons Your Business Should Use Google Chrome

Google Chrome is the search company’s jump into the browser market. The web browser is directly aimed to compete with Internet Explorer, further intensifying the grudge between Microsoft and Google. However, what does Google Chrome mean for your business? It’s no secret that many other browsers have historically lacked in certain areas. For example, Safari and Firefox have their “Internet Explorer only” web site issues, and Internet Explorer has security and crash issues. Google Chrome is a new take on a web browser. It serves not only to be the gateway between you in the World Wide Web, but also to be the centerpiece of your interactions on your computer. Chrome offers many advantages. Here are 10 reasons your business should use Google Chrome.

1. Price – You can make the argument that Internet Explorer comes pre-loaded on all your company computers. However, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re indirectly paying for it. Google Chrome is free, and open source. One can download it, and theoretically put smart engineers to work customizing it and making it even better than before.

2. Google integration – Most companies that wish to have an online presence will probably have to deal with Google at some point. Paid Search campaigns and the like can be bolstered by utilizing Google Chrome. In the future, there will most likely even more synergy between business staples such as Google Analytics and Google Adwords.

3. Security – Security has been a major issue with many other browsers. Specifically, Chrome’s chief competitor, Internet Explorer. Internet Explorer has been known to allow malicious worms access to entire companies. Needless to say, such an event can turn out to be extremely costly for any business. Google Chrome periodically downloads updates on two blacklists. One of the lists is for malware while the other is for phishing. Much like Firefox, users will be warned before they attempt to visit a site that could be harmful.

4. Stability – Chrome goes after another weakness of Internet Explorer by offering increased stability. The way Chrome is designed, there’s a separate process for each site instance and plug-in. This mechanic successfully prevents different functions from interfering with one another. This is an excellent element to both stability and security. If you run a business that may require you to complete a variety of tasks within your browser, then Chrome is a clear winner. Chrome also has a process management utility that is called the “Task Manager.” This utility allows the user to see which sites are taking the most memory, and downloading the most bytes. For some businesses which have to deal with hundreds of workers going to demanding sites, it can help them control what sites to block if they are simply too demanding on the computers and/or internet connection.

5. Speed – I today’s high-octane business world, speed is paramount. Persons testing Chrome against all the other major competing browsers, including Firefox 3, Internet Explorer 7 and 8, and Safari, showed that Google Chrome indeed functioned faster, with more stability. This test utilized the SunSpider Javascript Benchmark in order to obtain the results. If you want people in your business getting their work done fast, then Chrome is clearly the way to go.

6.  It’s not Internet Explorer – There’s nothing more debilitating for a business then constant crashes. Internet Explorer has well known instances of crashing repeatedly, and this can cause significant losses of productivity, or even worse, important data. Chrome’s stability and speed offer a strong counter to a browser which, while used by many businesses, can be quite buggy at times.

7. Did I mention open source – Open source code is perfect for businesses for a variety of reasons. One reason is that when every person can edit the code, security updates, and routine glitch updates can happen much more frequently than if one is forced to wait for the company itself to research and fix issues.  Open source also provides businesses the opportunity to look at ways to make the browser more tailored to fit the needs of the business.

8. Your employees will love it – There are some pretty interesting and engaging elements to Google Chrome. The ability to have a look at the sites you’ve most recently visited right from opening the browser saves having to put bookmarks (which, as well all know was a very tiresome experience). The tabbing options give workers the opportunity to be on a variety of web sites with only one window open (sure other browsers have tabbed browsing, but Google’s looks cooler!). They also get to use a Google product, which has that Apple-ish “cool” factor.  Google Chrome Addons, of course, can make for a more personal experience for each employee, and could probably provide actual utility for productivity, depending on the add-on.

9. Competitive advantage – With extra speed, stability, open source code, integration and potential increased integration with other Google products, Chrome offers a company quite a bit in terms of a competitive advantage. In today’s business world, many corporations can have difficulty separating from the pack in their respective industries. Google Chrome can be one of those separating factors.

10. It never hurts to try – Yes, a lame excuse, but if you’re a small business company looking for a new browser, or just want to see how it will affect any aspect of your operations, then Google Chrome is worth the download. You can easily keep multiple browsers on corporate computers. If nothing else, give your employees some variety and choice in what they use.

Google Chrome isn’t perfect, and lacks many of the great add-ons that Mozilla Firefox has. However, if your business is looking for a free, fast, and simple browser, then Chrome should be strongly considered.

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