IT

In this article you will learn:

What Google AppSheet is and how it started
What kinds of applications you can create with AppSheet
How much Google AppSheet costs
Which data sources you can use to build your own applications
Why AppSheet is so interesting

What is AppSheet?

AppSheet is a platform for building custom responsive mobile and web applications without coding (LCNC!). Applications can use many data sources, such as Google Sheets, Excel and Cloud SQL.

Applications are not exported to an .apk file. They are available in the AppSheet hub application and directly through a link in a browser.

Data can be defined using many types, including text, numbers, files, coordinates, dates, times, signatures and photos. AppSheet also offers many ways to present data, including maps, calendars, dashboards, tables, images and detail views.

The automation module lets you create bots, events, processes and tasks, which makes it possible to automate many repetitive responsibilities.

The history of AppSheet

It all began in Seattle in 2014, when the low-code/no-code movement was not yet popular. Everyone was already using smartphones, however, and many people could see their potential.

Praveen Seshadri, one of AppSheet’s main creators, recalls that everyone wanted an application to make their work easier. The goal was to let anyone create the software they needed without hiring an expensive developer and waiting a long time for a risky project.

People already knew how to use spreadsheets. The idea was to let everyone create mobile applications just as easily and comfortably. The name AppSheet should now take on a new meaning.

What AppSheet can do

The key to creating an application is an idea. You need to turn a business process into an application and understand AppSheet’s possibilities and limitations. Experiment.

AppSheet features can be modified and combined freely:

Photos and attachments: take and describe images, send them to others, generate documents or archive them
Maps and locations: use road maps, create maps with any base layer, collect locations and send coordinates to tools such as AutoCAD
Barcodes, NFC and QR codes: create and scan codes
Notifications and email: send push notifications and emails with attachments
Reports: create scheduled reports in popular formats such as PDF, CSV, XML and JSON
Dashboards: build management centres and filter and sort information conveniently
Signatures: collect signatures and eliminate paper documents
Offline mode: work without a permanent internet connection
Responsive design: use the application in a browser or on a smartphone and computer
Integrations: connect external tools and APIs
Logic: change how an application works using a small amount of spreadsheet-style code

Data sources

AppSheet is only a tool. You need to connect a suitable data source to store and retrieve information. There are many sources to choose from, and everyone should be able to find something suitable.

For a first experiment, Google solutions are a good choice. Add-ons for Google Docs, Google Sheets and Google Forms available in the Google Workspace Marketplace make building and using your own applications even easier.

AppSheet pricing

You can build and test your own applications for free with up to 10 users.

When you are ready to move beyond a prototype, the subscription tiers include:

Starter ($5 per active user per month)
Core ($10 per active user per month)
Enterprise Standard (contact the AppSheet team)
Enterprise Plus (contact the AppSheet team)

You pay for an active user who can use multiple applications, rather than paying separately for every application. A Core user who uses several applications still pays only $10.

What about Google Workspace customers?

Google Workspace Enterprise Plus users can create and use AppSheet Core within their organisation at no additional cost. Other Google Workspace users have access to the free plan.

Example applications

You do not have to start from scratch. AppSheet and its users share applications that you can copy and modify freely. It is worth exploring them: almost 50 applications are available to help you get started.

Summary

AppSheet is an excellent tool for digital transformation in an organisation. On your own or with specialists, you can quickly create and deploy custom software that genuinely helps employees.

New features appear every week, expanding the range of possible applications.

Ask yourself:

Are you a prisoner of Excel and recording everything there?
Do you want to get rid of paper documents?
Are repetitive, tedious tasks holding you back?
Do you want to enter the digital age?

If so, AppSheet is worth trying. Contact me if you would like to learn more.

Where to find help

You can find AppSheet information and support here:

I am happy to answer questions about AppSheet and digital transformation.