Do any of your companies use Google Apps for business?

Sunbed · 11 Jul 2013 at 14:24

I'm a big Google user at home, but my organisation (public sector) is way behind the times when it comes to IT. If you now use Google Apps, how does it compare? What are the actual differences between Google Apps and a standard Microsft Exchange set-up?

Is it the way to go?

[DOD]Asprilla · 11 Jul 2013 at 14:37

ITV and Pearson have both migrated to Google apps and away from the MS Suite whilst I've been working for them.

I think it's an improvement since 99% of what MS (or equivalents) offer simply isn't required by 99% of users.

JBod · 11 Jul 2013 at 14:41

We use it, great suite of tools. IMO it completely replaces any need for Exchange or Sharepoint for 99% of cases and that 1% isn't essential.

LordSplodge · 11 Jul 2013 at 14:46

Public Sector? No chance of moving to Google Apps. They're so ingrained into using Microsoft they won't consider using anything else. (I know)

Yeah it's the way to go.

Sunbed · 11 Jul 2013 at 15:01

LordSplodge said:
Public Sector? No chance of moving to Google Apps. They're so ingrained into using Microsoft they won't consider using anything else. (I know)

Yeah it's the way to go.

Is there an overriding reason why you don't think they would pilot it? For example, issues of hosting government data on 3rd party servers managed a US company (Google)?

Actually, ignore that. I mean, our data and IT is outsourced to a private company now, and they're not even UK based. I guess you mean public sector companies are just so 'stuck in their ways'? I get that feeling too

ci_newman · 11 Jul 2013 at 15:09

We were using GoogleApps, then our division got sold and we've gone back to MS

LordSplodge · 11 Jul 2013 at 15:32

Sundance said:
I guess you mean public sector companies are just so 'stuck in their ways'? I get that feeling too

We have trouble allowing for some of our work to be hosted elsewhere, legally but it can be done. The issue is the Public Sector is stuck in the last decade.

Management won't hear any suggestions even if it saves them money. I've suggested using MySQL or Postresql for some of our databases to reduce license costs. Nope, got to be MS SQL. Web servers have to be IIS rather than Apache. Crazy.

Sleeve · 11 Jul 2013 at 15:34

Yep, we do.

randomshenans · 11 Jul 2013 at 15:35

I know Genetech use it, and they were trying to shift Roche to it too. I think they've moved their mail to google apps, and then to make people even more crazy, removed their outlook too, so they have to go through the browser, which seems bizarre to me.

Used to set up a lot of start ups with Google apps, and then it was the free ones too, as they only required small users, and start ups want lowest possible set up costs.