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Google has announced the addition of new features to Google Workspace aimed at saving time for users. The tech giant previewed the new features at its Cloud Next event last year, and they will be rolled out in the coming weeks.

One of the key updates is the introduction of “smart chips,” which embed interactive elements such as data tables and charts into documents.

Google Docs will receive two new smart chips, one enabling users to embed a virtual stopwatch in documents to track time, while the second provides a pre-packaged calendar invite template.

Custom smart chips

Third-party software providers can also customize the feature. Google Docs will soon receive “partner smart chips” that display content from popular enterprise applications such as Atlassian, Asana, Figma, and Tableau.

Google Sheets will also receive a new set of smart chips as part of the update, enabling users to embed data about stock tickers, mutual funds, and currencies into a spreadsheet.

The update also introduces integration with Google Maps, which allows users to bring up a pop-up panel that shows the location of a place mentioned in a spreadsheet field on a map.

What else is Google bringing?

In addition to the new smart chips, Google is adding improved support for templates and the ability to embed an upvote button and emojis in documents.

The tech giant is launching the new features alongside several changes to the Google Workspace interface, including a streamlined Google Drive search bar that allows users to filter documents by criteria such as file type.

“We believe these improvements in Workspace will help you and your team get more done in less time – through an intuitive set of capabilities in the apps you already use every day,” said Vishnu Sivaji, the director of product management for Google Workspace.

Also read: Google improves Workspace security against account hijacking