Google is making another big play to steal you away from Microsoft 365

New Google Workspace feature lets you work with Microsoft Office files offline

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Googlehas announced a new feature for itsproductivity suitethat could help lure customers away fromMicrosoft 365.

As explained in its latestblog entry, users will now benefit from the ability to editMicrosoftOffice files from withinGoogle Workspace(née G Suite) without the need for an internet connection.

“At times when your device is offline, you’re now able to edit, comment, and collaborate on Office files using Docs, Sheets and Slides. Any changes made to files while offline will then sync to Drive once you are connected again,” explained Google. “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 theoffice softwarespace, going up against its notorious rival which houses the likes ofWord,PowerPoint,Exceletc.

One of the defining features of Microsoft’s offering is tight integration between apps and services, extending all the way out to the Windowsoperating systemon which mostbusiness computersrun.

But then, Google stole a march on its rival when it came to the real-timecollaborationmodel, whereby software is served up via thecloud, which has proved all-important since the transition to remote andhybrid working.

However, data recently provided toTechRadar Prohighlighted thesignificant gapthat continues to separate the pair, with 58% of companies choosing Microsoft 365 and just 15% opting for Google Workspace.

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Although the survey focused exclusively on the US, the findings are supported by the global financials. In Q1 2022, Google’s cloud services segment (under which Workspace sits) brought in $5 billion in revenue, whereas Microsoft’s productivity segment accounted for $15 billion.

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In an effort to make up ground, Google has had to come up with creative ways to make its own suite a more attractive proposition to those already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Since the start of the pandemic, for example, the company has worked to introduce new synergies between its various services in order to develop a “more deeply integrated users experience” capable of rivalling its competitor’s offering.

The latest update, meanwhile, focuses on easing the transition between Microsoft and Google services. While Workspace has allowed users to import Office documents for years, the ability to edit while offline will offer further comfort to those concerned about the continued need to handle Word, Excel and PowerPoint files when working with clients and partners.

The new feature is currently in the process of rolling out and should take effect for all Google account holders by mid-July 2022.

Joel Khalili is the News and Features Editor at TechRadar Pro, covering cybersecurity, data privacy, cloud, AI, blockchain, internet infrastructure, 5G, data storage and computing. He’s responsible for curating our news content, as well as commissioning and producing features on the technologies that are transforming the way the world does business.

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