Choose an internal knowledge base and documentation platform

We recommend the following tools. Please read through the expert guidance about each to make the best selection for your company.

Published on September 14

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Notion

Best use cases for Notion

Many small businesses struggle to manage multiple tools and platforms on a daily basis, leading to inefficiencies. As businesses grow, it's essential to implement tools that can help streamline tasks and projects while enhancing team collaboration.

Notion is a powerful all-in-one workspace that helps small businesses organize their tasks, projects, and knowledge in one location. Notion enables teams to collaborate and safely access vital company information and documentation. Additionally, it offers a customizable and versatile experience tailored to the unique needs of each business.

Some use cases and benefits of Notion are:

Real-Time Collaboration

Notion’s knowledge base and documentation features make teamwork seamless for small businesses and teams. With real-time editing on all pages, team members can collaborate, share feedback, and make updates instantaneously.

Knowledge Management 

Creating a wiki or internal knowledge base centralizes essential information for small businesses, giving all employees easy access to important information. This can speed up onboarding and empower team members to find information independently, boosting productivity and reducing repetitive questions.

Public Knowledge Sharing

Notion allows businesses to create public-facing websites or documentation pages using Notion Sites. Small businesses can easily turn their internal documents, knowledge bases, or product documentation into shareable web pages, making it simple to communicate with clients, partners, or the general public.

This is especially useful for businesses that want to provide FAQs, guides, or onboarding materials in a professional, easily accessible format without a dedicated website builder.

Integrated Calendar Management 

Notion’s integrated calendar combines personal and professional schedules, enabling effective time management for small businesses. Users can create, edit, and share events quickly, ensuring everyone is aligned and can prioritize tasks appropriately.

Project and Task Management

Notion also offers tools for project and task management tailored for small businesses. Users can create custom databases to track projects, assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress in real-time using features like Kanban boards and calendars.

Notion offers full mobile functionality, allowing team members to access and contribute to the knowledge base anytime, ensuring productivity whether in the office or working remotely.

Notion's paid plan pricing is based on the number of seats required. You can learn more about Notion's pricing plans here.

Scenarios in which other software might be more suitable

While Notion is a powerful tool for many small businesses, there are certain scenarios where other software options may be more appropriate.

Specialized Project Management Needs

For instance, businesses with highly specialized project management needs may benefit from dedicated project management software like Trello or Asana, which offer more advanced features for tracking tasks and workflows.

Notion can be powerful and invaluble for businesses and teams, but it can end up being a jack-of-all-trades if it's not used in the right situation. Make sure that it is the right tool for your specific needs to get the most out of your money.

How to get started with Notion

Notion provides an intuitive platform for small and medium-sized businesses to enhance their workflow seamlessly. You can start with a free plan, and upgrade to a Pro plan which allows for unlimited pages and blocks, making it easy to organize your tasks, notes, and databases without complexity. 

While some advanced features may require a subscription, the basic functionality is sufficient for teams to explore how Notion can streamline their productivity.

  • To get started, sign up for a free account to access your workspace.
  • Next, create a new page to serve as the hub for your projects and information.
  • Invite team members to collaborate, ensuring everyone has access to the knowledge base and can contribute to ongoing projects.
  • Utilize templates available within Notion to quickly set up your workflow or build a customized workspace from scratch to cater to your team’s specific needs.
  • Finally, enhance your team's collaboration by encouraging regular updates and utilization of the tool to monitor progress and improve communication.

Migrating from similar tools

Notion simplifies the migration process from popular note taking and productivity tools like Evernote and Google Docs. You can easily import your existing documents—whether they're notes, tasks, or projects—directly into Notion. The app automatically converts these into organized pages, complete with links and formatting intact.

This seamless transition not only saves time by eliminating the need for manual data transfer but also enhances your workflow, making the switch to Notion a hassle-free experience. Notion’s Import Data Guide outlines the entire process, making the switch seamless and efficient.

Compatible tools

Notion offers integrations across various categories, allowing users to connect their favorite tools and enhance workflows. With integrations for project management, communication, cloud storage, HR, and analytics, Notion helps teams centralize their tasks and streamline operations. Tools like Jira, Google Drive, and Slack integrate seamlessly into Notion, making it easier to manage tasks, collaborate on documents, and stay in sync with team communication.

Integrations with platforms such as OneLogin, Okta, Microsoft Entra ID, Gusto, Zoom, Box, OneDrive, and Tableau further extend Notion’s capabilities by providing features like user provisioning, single sign-on authentication (SSO), cloud storage access, and data visualization.

For example, users can access Google Drive files, join Zoom meetings, and browse files from Box and OneDrive directly within Notion, simplifying workflows and boosting productivity. These capabilities help automate tasks, improve collaboration, and enhance productivity across teams.

All integrations are developed using Notion’s API, allowing developers to create custom solutions tailored to their specific business needs. Explore the full range of integrations available and see how they can enhance your workflows by visiting Notion’s Integration Guide.

Less compatible tools

Notion provides a strong set of integrations. However, tools like Microsoft Project and QuickBooks may not be as compatible or fully supported on the platform. Some legacy software or niche applications, such as Basecamp or older versions of Excel, might lack direct integration with Notion, which can lead to less efficient workflows. 

Moreover, while Notion does support various document management systems such as Google Drive and Dropbox, the functionalities could be more limited compared to standard integrations. Users may experience challenges when attempting to embed real-time data or access advanced features that are typically available in project management and low-code workflow builder platforms like Trello or Airtable.

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