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On September 10 Google and CapGemini announced a partnership where CG will sell GAPE (Google Apps Premier Editiion) as part of their current outsourcing efforts.

Capgemini, one of the world’s foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services, today announced services supporting the adoption of Google Apps Premier Edition by large-scale enterprises. By partnering with Google, Capgemini extends its portfolio of desktop solutions, enabling it to support more client employees, regardless of their locations, platforms and roles.

Apparently Microsoft took offense to the direct threat to their cash cow, although Google denies it’s trying to compete with Microsoft Office.

So, is it a threat? No. CapGemini themselves have admitted no one has signed up yet. Why? GAPE is not an enterprise level system. GAPE is good for small businesses of under 100 employees (and that’s stretching it). We use the free version of GAPE and it does exactly what we need it to do, email and document collaboration. But, we’re two people -not an enterprise.

Nonetheless Microsoft threw this back in the faces of CG and Google…

1. Google touts having enterprise level customers but how many “USERS” of their applications truly exist within the enterprise?

Me: Exactly

2. Google has a history of releasing incomplete products, calling them beta software, and issuing updates on a “known only to Google” schedule – this flies in the face of what enterprises want and need in their technology partners – what is Google doing that indicates they are in lock step with customer needs?

Me: touche’

3. Google touts the low cost of their apps –not only price but the absence of need for hardware, storage or maintenance for Google Apps. BUT if GAPE is indeed a complement to MSFT Office, the costs actually become greater for a company as they now have two IT systems to run and manage and maintain. Doesn’t this result in increased complexity and increased costs?

Me: True and false - this reasoning is very subjective and highly dependent on specific IT infrastructure. Although, it seems like a reasonable analysis in consideration of GAPE adoption.

4. Google’s primary focus is on ad funded search. Their enterprise focus and now apps exist on the very fringe and in combination with other fringe services only account for 1% of the company’s revenue. What happens if Google executes poorly? Do they shut down given it will them in a minimal and short term way? Should customers trust that this won’t happen?

Me: Now, now - Google will not shut it down. This is how traditional software vendors scare potential SaaS customers away from a purchase. Make the customer think that they will lose their data or the product they buy will cease to exist before the next purchas cycle begins. Tsk Tsk. Granted this is not Google’s focus but look at all the horizontal markets Microsoft has gotten into. It’s not like they are just building MS Office.

5. Google’s apps only work if an enterprise has no power users, employees are always online, enterprises haven’t built custom Office apps – doesn’t this equal a very small % of global information workers today? –On a feature comparison basis, it’s not surprising that Microsoft has a huge lead.

Me: Very true, although Google Gears supposedly allows for offline work with Google Apps. It’s just not the same.

6. Google apps don’t have essential document creation features like support for headers, footers, tables of content, footnotes, etc. Additionally, while customers can collaborate on basic docs without the above noted features, to collaborate on detailed docs, a company must implement a two part process – work together on the basic doc, save it to Word or Excel and then send via email for final edits. Yes they have a $50 price tag, but with the inefficiencies created by just this one cycle, how much do GAPE really cost – and can you afford the fidelity loss?

Me: Interesting thoughts but one could also make the argument that MS Office has too many features and after paying $300 / user you have to pay to have each of those users trained to use the above features.

7. Enterprise companies have to constantly think about government regulations and standards – while Google can store a lot of data for enterprises on Google servers, there is no easy to use, automated way for enterprises to regularly delete data, issue a legal hold for specific docs or bring copies into the corp. What happens if a company needs to respond to government regulations bodies? Google touts 99.9% uptime for their apps but what few people realize that promise is for Gmail only. Equally alarming is the definition Google has for “downtime” – ten consecutive minutes of downtime. What happens if throughout the day Google is down 7 minutes each hour? What does 7 minutes each hour for a full work day that cost an enterprise?

Me: Again, Google doesn’t go *down* that often and this is another scare tactic away from SaaS. Google is more efficient and has a more reliable network that 90% of IT shops out there. They are going to have less problems than your IT department on keeping systems online.

8. In the world of business, it is always on and always connected. As such, having access to technical support 24/7 is essential. If a company deploys Google Apps and there is a technical issue at 8pm PST, Sorry. Google’s tech support is open M-F 1AM-6PM PST – are these the new hours of global business? And if a customer’s “designated administrator” is not available (a requirement) does business just stop?

Me: True. If Google is serious (which they say they are not) about entering the enterprise they will have to embrace support issues and offer more customer service avenues.

9. Google says that enterprise customers use only 10% of the features in today’s productivity applications which implies that EVERYONE needs the SAME 10% of the feature when in fact it is very clear that in each company there are specific roles people play that demands access to specific information – how does Google’s generic strategy address role specific needs?

Me: It doesn’t - and that’s how Google differentiates themselves. See my reasoning above on #6.

10. With Google apps in perpetual beta and Google controlling when and if they rollout specific features and functionality, customers have minimal if any control over the timing of product rollouts and features – how do 1) I know how to strategically plan and train and 2) get the features and functionality I have specifically requested? How much money does not knowing cost?

Me: And Microsoft is sooo reliable when it comes to release dates…

I’m not taking sides in this one because I still think these products are not competing. Use the right tool for the job.

Tags: Google, Microsoft, CapGemini, GAPE, Office

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