Google Apps… Google’s Microsoft Office killer?
With the recent announcement of Google Sites, which is the result of the integration of JotSpot into the Google Apps ecosystem, the Google solution is becoming an even more enticing replacement for Microsoft Office. Besides the regular concerns around hosted apps, (many are discussed in this article), I would break down the pros and cons of Google Apps like this:
Pros:
- Cross-platform - As long as the user has a browser, or even a browser on a mobile device, Google Apps is accessible. The operating system becomes irrelevant.
- No server hardware required - It’s all hosted on Google’s servers. While there is plenty of speculation about Google’s data centers, it would be tough to argue that they do not have the infrastructure to host this service reliably.
- No client install - It’s all contained in the browser.
- Lower licensing cost - Free, or $50 a year for the premier edition.
- Simplified functionality - Reduces training costs and adoption risk.
Cons:
- IT knowledge still required - An arguable point, but for the initial setup and for any data migration, the advice of an IT professional will likely be necessary.
- Unproven support model - Microsoft has an extensive network of global partners, as well as their own professional services and support organizations. Google offers phone support for paying customers, but the list of partners who can support the solution locally is still quite limited.
- Exporting to other formats - Microsoft Word is the de facto document format in many organizations. How well can Google docs export to the current Word format? Or pdf, another standard document format? This becomes critical when dealing with other companies or the government, who expect their standards to be adhered to.
- Printing and page layout - It is improving, but printing remains problematic. While the greener, web 2.0 world can do without paper, the corporate world still relies heavily on it.
- Integration - How can documents and spreadsheets on one of Google’s servers become part of a work-flow that is inside the firewall? What about integration with existing legacy systems and Office automation?
With a growing list of partners and some interesting future functionality, some of these cons will become irrelevant for enterprise customers. Google has a very strong brand, which has already attracted some high profile partners, and anything Google does receives a fair amount of business press coverage. Certainly for the SMB market, where the cost and risk of migrating away from Microsoft Office is much lower, Google has a very attractive solution.
