Dropbox Paper

Score8.3 out of 10

28 Reviews and Ratings

What is Dropbox Paper?

Dropbox Paper is a web-based, co-editing tool that includes word processing, document creation and coordination features. The tool is free to use and allows multiple people to collaborate on a document.

Categories & Use Cases

Fabricio Velasco

Demand Generation Manager in Marketing at Ingersoll Rand (10,001+ employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Security, reliability and easy of access to document sharing online. Dropbox Paper offers us flexibility and control to project sharing via documents directly in the file managing Dropbox environment that allows the company to keep everything under "controlled" user access with high levels of security and also providing reliability with backup functions and ultimately it is easy to use in the user interface side as also compatible with the main Document formats. So by allowing collaborative Document editing in a reliable way, this tool is helping the business.

Pros

Flexibility
Performance
Integration

Cons

Search functions
Lack of a thumbnail view
Lack of a Project Management View (with steps)

Most Important Features

Compatibility
Integration with Dropbox File Management
Security it offers

Return on Investment

Biggest Impact is on the Team (Making our lives better)
Collaboration the right way is a huge ROI

Alternatives Considered

Trello and OpenText AppWorks

Other Software Used

Dropbox, Trello, Salesforce CMS

Lori Houser View profile

Sales Training & Development in Sales at United Rentals (1001-5000 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Dropbox Paper as a collaborative tool. It provides our users a way to collaborate on projects, create documents, calendars, to-do lists and keep track of milestones and linking tasks or next steps to project owners.

Pros

Develop multiple individual projects, setting milestone dates within them.
Easy to invite others to collaborate on projects.
Create to-do lists and assign due dates.
Create documents with multiple types of integrated media, going beyond simple text with images, audio, and video.
Make edits to documents in real time for all team members to see.

Cons

No spell check feature.
No going back to "old versions" once changes are made they are permanent, with no restriction setting or ability to see previous versions.

Most Important Features

It’s ideal for non-writers and groups who want to collaborate in real time.
Easy of collaboration with anyone who has a dropbox account
Able to create docs and share in real-time

Return on Investment

None at this time, this is just one of the many collaboration tools we are currently using.

Alternatives Considered

Quip and monday.com

Other Software Used

Quip, monday.com

Pamela Mitchell

Design & Construction Project Assistant in Engineering at North Park Management Company (51-200 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We started using DropBox Paper in our company during Covid when everyone starting working from home. Getting together to collaborate via zoom or teams was not always a possibility, so we had to find a way to work together even while not "together". It was a great and effective way of getting our teams connected and gave us the ability to work on projects together without us all actually having to be together at the office. Having a software that allowed us to work in real time with each other and pick up whenever and wherever we needed to was a lifesaver.

Pros

It allows are team to work together on one project, or documents or plans, all at the same time and keeps everyone on the same page.
It allows us to make a schedule, or To Do list and keep time management at the highest priority. Everyone can work together as a group to accomplish tasks, but also know when something has been completed. There is no double doing tasks and wasting time.
In our Design and Construction Industry it is important that we be able to look at plans, drawings, specs and schedules all at once. Dropbox Paper allows you to add all types of medias to the documents and upload it for all to see and work on. It's amazing when others can view a page of your CAD plans without having to give everyone CAD access.
It also allows are team to in a sense "put our heads together" and brainstorm to create an idea so that each person can build off the other in real time.

Cons

I feel like the feature of creating your own template could be easier to navigate and use. Sometimes I think it isn't completely clear on what your final outcome will be.
There might need to be a better " learning app" when teaching users how to bring all their work and content together to work best for them on their desktop. Some co-workers seemed to have a harder time, but some were also trying to bring together different programs that others don't use.
When you create checklist for job items, you have to assign it to someone in particular or it won't show up on the teams side panel. It would be nice to have "general" job tasks where anyone can take it and handle it and then check it off when it's complete.

Most Important Features

The ability to present multiple and different kinds of medias/things within our group screen. A visual aid is almost a must in our line of work.
The editing features and the tools that are quickly ready for you to use are a HUGE plus! You don't have to constantly go back to a tool bar at the top to make edits, additions, etc.
Dropbox Paper also has an app so that we can log in and make changes or updates to info while on the go, or just not at our desktop computer.

Return on Investment

Dropbox Paper has allowed all of our employees to be much more productive and on track even when we can't be in the office, which from a management standpoint is a huge positive impact. They know that productivity isn't slowing or lacking when everyone isn't actually sitting in the office under their watchful eye.
It has had a huge impact on our turn around time and speed of getting more work and projects completed. The more work you can effectively get done in a time period means more money for the bottom line.
It has made the majority of our team members more accountable and reliable when they know everyone is working together on something and each person has their own checklist of items to complete. It is especially helpful that everyone can see the same checklist, so everyone knows what each other is accomplishing.

Alternatives Considered

Prezi

Other Software Used

AutoCAD LT, SketchUp, Bluebeam Revu

Seth Lennon Weiner View profile

Program Officer (Interim) at Life Comes From It (1-10 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

Dropbox Paper is an excellent product for creating documents that can be easily shared and edited by a team working together. This is something that is necessary for our team, like so many, who are spread out geographically and across time zones. We are regularly creating applications, reports, job descriptions, etc. that need to be accessible. Being able to create simultaneously is something that has been invaluable for us.

Pros

Intuitive design
Glitch-free reliability
Quality customer service

Cons

Fairly expensive
Limited storage capacity
Without the benefit of a larger backdrop ecosystem, like Google

Most Important Features

Instant Delivery of large-sized documents
Customizable options
Information security

Return on Investment

We have had the positive impact of greater efficiency!
We have had the negative impact of higher bills
We have had the positive impact of well organized document cloud storage

Other Software Used

Google Drive, Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)

Aaron Bielert View profile

Network President & Founder in Corporate at Sparkk TV (1-10 employees employees)

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

We use Dropbox Paper as templates for documents within our company. By bringing up each template we created we have a way to always use the documents we need and Dropbox Paper gives an easy experience. One of the ways we use Paper, is for a filming guide so our Directors know what they are filming and how, and we have a template that allows us to just change the company information each time we need a new document created.

Pros

Templates
Documents Generation
Lists
Guides

Cons

Task Management
Markdown Support
Text Editing

Most Important Features

Templates
List Creation
Keyboard Shortcuts
Storage Into Dropbox

Return on Investment

Time Saving
No Cost Option
Remote Access

Alternatives Considered

Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), Apple iWork and Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)

Other Software Used

Apple iWork, Apple iCloud, Apple iCloud Calendar (iCal)