Google has announced improvements to storage in Google Workspace for the Business Starter plan.

Firstly, Business Starter customers will see their storage updated from the current model of per-user storage for Google Drive (which includes Gmail, Google Drive files, and Google Photos) to pooled storage. Pooled storage is a shared storage model for all users with each user’s licence adding to the total available storage for the organisation’s pool.

This means individual users will potentially have access to more than the storage included in their individual licence, as the total storage limit is the maximum amount across all users in the organisation combined.

In the announcement on their blog, Google says that pooled storage ‘provides a more simple and flexible way to manage storage…removing the need to manage it on a per-user basis’.

In addition, Business Starter customers will also gain access to shared drives, which has previously only been available in higher tier plans. Users will be able to create shared folders in Google Drive that belong to the team rather than just an individual. As well as collaboration features this also means retaining access when a team member leaves.

New subscribers to the Business Starter plan will automatically have access to pooled storage and it is being rolled out to existing customers over the coming months (starting 22 May). Once all Business Starter users in an organisation have been given pooled storage, the ability to create shared drives will then become available.