Every organization needs to create diagrams or flowcharts to illustrate and document company workflow or management structure. Most commonly used tools to create these diagrams can be cumbersome to use and are limited to the software program and platform where they are created and the ability to collaborate on the documents was pretty limited. LucidChart is a web-based diagramming application that allows users to produce professional looking diagrams quickly and easily in an intuitive interface.
LucidChart has a range of templates organized by categories like IT/Engineering diagrams, business related flowcharts, and product management & design diagrams. Each template has a range formatting capabilities that are suprisingly intuitive to use. Helpful video pop-ups offer quick tips on how to manipulate the design. To the left of the workspace are shape palettes. If you clickon a button at the bottom of the pane, a dialog box pops up where you can use checkboxes to customize the shape collections you want to display. Below the shapes palette is a button to upload and create collections of images you want to use in your LucidChart. You can also search the LucidChart library, IconFinder and Google Images for more pictures to use in your diagrams. LucidChart has a drag and drop interface so users simply choose their shape, and drag it into position. Once a shape is connected on the chart, drag the end of the connector to a new position and it will reattach to another shape. If you drag and drop to the center of an object and then move it the connector will re position itself.
Because LucidChart is cloud based, it can be used from any device including Macs, PCs and Linux. You can store your diagrams in Google Drive to share and collaborate with others on your diagrams. It also integrates with Microsoft applications so you can download and open the diagrams in Visio. Completed diagrams can be published to Twitter, a web-page or a PDF for sharing.
A Basic LucidChart account is $4.95 per month paid annually ($5.95 month-to-month) for a single user. The Basic account includes unlimited shapes and documents and 100 MB of online storage.
A Pro account is $8.95 per month paid annually ($9.95 if paid month-to-month) for a single user. The Pro account includes professional shapes and features, provides access to all shape libraries, and supports Microsoft Visio import and export.
A Team option is available for $20 a month when paid annually (or $30 per month if paid month-to-month). The Team account includes all Pro features and adds team administration and management capabilities and support for third-party integrations, such as with Google Apps.
To learn how your business can benefit from virtualization, cloud services, and hosted applications, signup for a Free RevITup SilverCloud Assessment. For more information on solutions for running your businesses’ technology more efficiently, visit our website or contact Megan Meisner at mmeisner@launchpadonline.com or 813 448-7100 x210.
