Google announced a new feature for Productivity Suite It can help draw customers away from it Microsoft 365.
As shown at the end Blog entry (Opens in a new tab)Users will now benefit from the ability to edit Microsoft Office files from within Google workspace (née G Suite) without the need for an internet connection.
“For those times when your device is offline, you can now edit, comment on, and collaborate on Office files with Docs, Sheets, and Slides. Any changes made to files while offline will sync to Drive once you’re connected again,” Google explained. The feature brings the collaboration benefits of Google Workspace to Microsoft Office files.”
Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365
Since the birth of G Suite in 2006, Google has competed directly with Microsoft in the office software space, facing its infamous competition that includes the likes of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.
A defining feature of Microsoft’s offerings is the tight integration of applications and services, which extends to the Windows operating system that most commercial computers run on.
But then Google stole a run for its competition when it came to the real-time collaboration model, where software is delivered via the cloud, which has proven important since the move to remote and hybrid work.
However, the data was recently submitted to Tikradar Pro Highlighted big gap This continues to separate the pair, with 58% of companies choosing Microsoft 365 and only 15% choosing Google Workspace.
Although the survey focused exclusively on the United States, the results are supported by global financial institutions. In the first quarter of 2022, Google’s cloud services segment (under which Workspace falls) generated $5 billion in revenue, while Microsoft’s productivity segment represented $15 billion.
In an effort to offset the ground, Google has had to come up with creative ways to make its own collection a more attractive proposition to those already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, for example, the company has worked to introduce new synergies between its various services in order to develop a “more integrated user experience” able to rival that of its competitors.
Meanwhile, the latest update focuses on making the transition between Microsoft and Google services easier. While Workspace has allowed users to import Office documents for years, the ability to edit while offline will provide added convenience to those concerned with the constant need to work with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files when working with clients and partners.
The new feature is currently underway and will take effect for all Google account holders by mid-July 2022.