Embedded Files
We see Google playing nicely with other software - everything is compatible, you can import and export freely.
This may be hard to understand. Other companies are throwing every possible wrench into your gear when trying to stick to G Suite. Try asking Microsoft to implement "save as Sheets" and "send via Gmail". But Google does it. Are they being silly? Hardly.
Be friendly when you're new
Be friendly when you're new
Many companies have reputations of being fiercely aggressive competitors. Google can't do this - they would get the boot if they were seen as pushy.
You can see this dynamic in reverse in the mobile space: Windows Mobile is dead, so Microsoft has pivoted into courting Android and iOS users - giving mobile Office apps away for free! Aren't they nice.
It takes time to leave the past behind
It takes time to leave the past behind
For small companies, starting from scratch is easy and going straight to Google is what many startups do. No servers, instant collaboration and no initial investment are music to your ears when struggling to make it through the first year.
For enterprises, that's a different story. You have hundreds of systems and millions of documents that will continue to stay relevant (or have to be accessible for legal reasons). You usually can't restart the company and you can't stop everybody for a days and weeks to please convert and upload. You have invested a LOT and don't want to see that investment go up in smoke. You may have special needs that you haven't figured out yet how to cover with G Suite.
You will likely coexist with competitors for longer than you like. But the foot is in the door and people start realizing that your way of working is superior - people will come over, but you need to make it easy.
Apps are gateway drugs into the ecosystem
Apps are gateway drugs into the ecosystem
Finally, most of us experienced that teams that have adopted G Suite are unlikely to return to sending Word documents again unless forced to. This is because why the tools are nice, it's not about the tool - it's about the team.
Once you have your foot in the door, it is easy to lure people into using other products - they work well together and complement each other:
Drive has unlimited space - why don't you try uploading your old Office documents? You can even edit them. Of course, it would be better if you converted only one or two...
Gmail has unlimited space, too, but can only send 25MB attachments (which is still good). You can send bigger documents - as links, you just have to upload them to Drive...
Everybody loves Google Forms, which produces the nicest Sheets...
It doesn't stop at G Suite, of course: Since we're using G Suite, why not host our new apps on GCP?
Embracing the competition
Embracing the competition
Meet can integrate with Skype
Drive editors can export to and from Office
Drive File Stream enables Office presence
Calendar can access Exchange users' calenders
Calendar can embed Webex links
No, most of these integrations are not supported and require third-party software.
Our direction is away from those applications - we are (or should be) past needing them.
Our direction is away from those applications - we are (or should be) past needing them.
Thank you for reading! I hope this post explains some of Google's more counter-intuitive moves recently. It is always better to go all-in, but where that is too scary or too risky, these are steps into the right direction.
Page updated
Report abuse