Google launches Docs API for businesses to automate internal processes

Google has officially launched its Google Docs API, after first introducing it as a developer preview at its Cloud Next conference last summer.
The new REST API is designed to automate enterprise 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’s connected to a company’s database or Google Sheets, then this will ensure that all the information inside the Google Doc — 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 rule-based integrations between all their various web applications, meaning users can automate any number of workflows across their organization. “For example, if you’re an HR manager, you might use the same template for offer letters,” noted Google in a blog post. “Instead of manually populating information, you can use the Docs API to automatically populate details in an offer letter every time a candidate reaches the right stage.”
During the closed preview, Google said that a number of 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 today’s news has likely been a long time coming for many G Suite users.
Source: VentureBeat