It’s common knowledge that managed service providers can leverage multiple tools during a Google Apps migration. But now, we’re starting to spot quite a few upstarts that are betting their businesses on Google Apps migrations and Google Apps-to-Microsoft Office integrations. Here’s a quick look at Cloud Technology Solutions and OffiSync, two companies with very different approaches to helping MSPs go Google.
The UK-based Cloud Technology Solutions is a Google partner that specializes in moving contacts, calendars, and other data from Microsoft Exchange or Novell GroupWise to Google Apps Premier or Education editions. While Cloud Technology Solutions says they can handle client migrations themselves, they also offer their Cloud Google Migrator software tool for sale separately.
Interestingly, Cloud Technology Solutions offers a holistic approach to support with their Google Guides Program, which advocates training a small, select group of end-users and letting their newfound knowledge disseminate through the office, which the company claims reduces load on IT staff.
On the other hand, you have OffiSync, which is built more around integration with Google Apps rather than full migration. At a base price of $12/user/year for the premium edition, Microsoft Office users can leverage OffiSync to open Google Docs files as if they were stored locally, save them to the cloud, open files from any other device, track edits, collaborate, and even perform Google searches from within the toolbar.
OffiSync is also available from the Google App Marketplace in both its free and premium varieties. If you think OffiSync sounds a lot like recent Google acquisition DocVerse, well, you’re not alone. It remains to be seen how Google will handle that situation when they roll out DocVerse functionality, but I wouldn’t bet on OffiSync’s continued listing in the app marketplace.
MSPs haven’t yet figured out how exactly to make money on software-as-a-service (SaaS) and Google Apps. But tools like may offer potential paths to profitability.
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Posted In: Software as a Service and Hardware as a Service
Tags: brainshare | cloud technology services | docverse | Google Apps | google apps education | Google Apps Marketplace | google apps premier | Google Docs | google guides program | Microsoft Exchange | Microsoft Office | Novell | novell groupware | OffiSync
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We resell both solutions mentioned in this article. Both are great for their specific areas of application.
We have seen huge adoption in Scotland across all sectors. As an authorised Google Apps reseller it’s amazing to see how the solution fits everyone from small start-ups to old Higher Education establishments like University of St Andrews.
Jim, Tim: Thanks for sharing some info about your companies. Do you mind me asking: Are you actually making decent money supporting those solutions? I don’t want to put you on the spot — no need to start rattling off exact financial figures. But I do want to give readers a sense of whether the tools unlock new profit opportunities.
-jp
FYI, Docverse is much different than Offisync. Docverse pushes changes to documents in real time while Offisync only tells you that someone changed the document since last time you downloaded it. Offisync is more like a regular file server system where you could theoretically overwrite each other’s changes accidentally. Docverse does not suffer from the issues of file servers or check-in/check-out repositories as it syncs the files constantly, eliminating any overwrite problems.
Still, I doubt they will remove Offisync as the paid version of Offisync integrates with Google Sites which DocVerse does not look like it will.
Ian: I must concede that I’m not very familiar with how OffiSync vs. Docverse work. Thanks for offering some insights.
-jp
With 4 million plus and counting, Google Apps is a power to reckon with, however Apple as shown that Apps is very important. Google is offering Apps via Google Marketplace where Apps for things like Migration from ISVs are available for example https://www.google.com/enterprise/marketplace/viewListing?productListingId=14156+5077282021820947710&hp=recentlyAdded
Judeline: Are you a Google Apps partner?
-jp