For many people working with stunning volumes of textual data, their contact list is one of the most important assets. Quite frequently, if not in most cases, people prefer saving their contacts on Google or at least synchronizing their contacts within their Google accounts to be able to transfer them in the future to additional devices when there’s a need. But are there some particular methods on how to sync your Google Contacts with Outlook and somehow automate the process? Of course, let’s talk about them.

The first method is more manual and allows exporting the saved contacts from a Google account to Outlook. It’s not full synchronization, as it’s impossible without third-party tools and software, which this method excludes, but it's pretty simple for everyone. Here’s what one needs to do: Follow the link to contacts.google.com, and then log in to your Google account with the contacts list for further synchronization. On the left-side menu, you will need to click the button Export from the menu list. The system will suggest a few options, among which you’ll need to select Outlook. The contacts will be saved in CSV format. Now open Outlook on your computer and select File—> Open & Export—> and then Import / Export. From the drop-down list, choose the method called Import from another program or file. On the next step, you will need to select a Comma-Separated Values and click the Next button. Now browse and select the file that you have successfully exported from Google Contacts to your PC. Put a tick next to the Import “contacts.csv” into folder: Contacts. The procedure will take some time, and when it’s complete, just click Finish.

However, there is an even better method of transferring your Google Contacts to Outlook, which, contrary to the previously explained method, allows the most desired data synchronization between these two platforms. This method involves syncing Google Contacts with the help of third-party software called Shared Contacts Manager. This unique tool allows you to create an intermediary environment to which you can add all your Google contacts, store them, and then share them across a number of other platforms and even with other people if you need to. The beauty of this method is that when your contacts are changed on Google Contacts or inside Shared Contacts Manager, the system automatically synchronizes these updates with all other platforms connected in almost real time. All the people who have been given access to contacts will receive the most fresh and updated data to be able to use it properly.

Just imagine how handy this can be within huge corporations when a batch of people work on the same project, which requires tons of data arrays to be processed in parallel and synchronized across a range of lists and datasheets, CRM, etc. Such a synchronization could prevent data from outdating and save precious time for numerous employees. To use this software this way, the owner of Google Contacts will need to empower its colleagues to have the corresponding level of access. As improperly granted permissions might enable uncompetitive people to update your Contacts list with incorrect data, which will overwrite the whole database, so be careful with whom you entrust such an important mission.

And a cherry on the top: the platform allows labeling your contacts, specifying the most important or those that belong to a specific cohort of importance and that can be used for particular purposes like remarketing campaigns, email marketing, etc.

Keep these methods in mind for your future endeavors, and you will be able to control your contact list like a true virtuoso. Good luck with your contacts' synchronization.