Google Workspace vs Microsoft Teams

September 14, 2023 | Author: Adam Levine
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Google Workspace
Get business email, video conferencing, and cloud storage from Google. All you need to do your best work, together in one package that works seamlessly from your computer, phone or tablet. The free G Suite version, including online document editors (Google Docs, Google Spreadsheets) is available in Google Drive.
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Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is the chat-based workspace in Office 365 that integrates all the people, content, and tools your team needs to be more engaged and effective.
Google Workspace and Microsoft Teams are both popular productivity and collaboration suites, but they have different focuses and features. Google Workspace, formerly known as G Suite, offers a wide range of cloud-based productivity tools such as Gmail, Google Docs, Sheets, and Drive. It emphasizes real-time collaboration and seamless integration across its applications, making it ideal for teams that heavily rely on document collaboration and sharing. On the other hand, Microsoft Teams is a unified communication and collaboration platform that combines chat, video conferencing, file sharing, and project management capabilities. It integrates closely with other Microsoft tools like Office 365, SharePoint, and Outlook, providing a comprehensive ecosystem for businesses already using Microsoft products. Teams' strength lies in its robust video conferencing features and its integration with the wider Microsoft suite.

See also: Top 10 Team Messaging platforms
Google Workspace vs Microsoft Teams in our news:

2023. Google adds eSignature to Google Docs and Google Drive



Google has introduced a new eSignature capability within Google Workspace. This novel functionality will specifically cater to both individual users and diverse group accounts within Google Docs and Google Drive. The primary objective of this new addition is to serve solopreneurs and small businesses by providing a streamlined method to effortlessly gather and monitor digital signatures directly within documents. This obviates the need for the traditional process of printing, signing, scanning, and emailing for obtaining signatures. Essentially, it presents an electronic signature field that can be seamlessly integrated into the document. Furthermore, anticipated enhancements slated for later this year encompass the potential inclusion of an audit trail report to trace signatures within Google Docs documents, the facilitation of managing multiple signatories and transmitting documents to individuals external to the Google Workspace ecosystem. Lastly, the feature aims to enable the acquisition of an electronic signature within a PDF version of the document.


2023. Microsoft’s AI-powered Designer tool comes to Teams



Microsoft is introducing its AI-driven art creation tool, Designer, to the free version of Teams. Users of Microsoft Teams can now utilize Designer, an app similar to Canva, to generate various designs for presentations, posters, digital postcards, and other purposes. These designs can be shared on social media platforms and other channels. Designer can generate designs based on text prompts or uploaded images by leveraging DALL-E 2, OpenAI's text-to-image AI. The tool offers options for customization and personalization through drop-down menus and text boxes. Designer is accessible through the web, Microsoft's Edge browser via the sidebar, and now within the free version of Teams. The announcement of Designer was initially made in October, and new features such as caption generation and animated visuals were added in April. Microsoft has also promised additional advanced editing features in the future.


2023. Microsoft rebuilt Teams from the ground up, promises 2x faster performance



Microsoft Teams, which competes with Slack, has had a reputation for being slow and resource-intensive since its launch, which some attributed to Microsoft's rushed response to Slack's success. However, Microsoft has now launched a preview of a new version of Teams that it describes as a "reimagining of Teams from the ground up." The new application promises to offer twice the performance of the previous version while using only half the memory. This means that joining meetings should be twice as fast, and switching between chats and channels will be 1.7 times faster. The company has also redesigned the user experience of the platform.


2022. Microsoft Teams targets Facebook Groups with new Communities feature



Microsoft Teams has recently introduced an exciting feature called "Communities" for Android and iOS devices. This new feature enables users to create and organize groups within their community, such as sports clubs, event planning committees, parent-teacher associations, and more. With Communities in Microsoft Teams, users gain access to a range of collaborative tools and functionalities, including group calendars, event scheduling, document and photo sharing, video calls, and chat capabilities. Additionally, the feature offers a "new events experience" that allows users to add events to their community calendar, invite guests, track attendance, and engage in private conversations with attendees. Currently, Communities is available in the free version of Microsoft Teams and is initially accessible on mobile devices, with plans for desktop compatibility in the near future. This new addition aims to enhance community collaboration and streamline communication within Microsoft Teams' user-friendly interface.


2022. Meta partners with Microsoft to bring VR to Teams



Meta has recently announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft, aimed at incorporating Windows apps and integrating Microsoft Teams functionalities into Meta's metaverse hardware endeavors. This collaboration entails the integration of Microsoft Teams with Quest devices, enabling seamless communication and collaboration. Furthermore, Microsoft will provide a solution to stream Windows apps directly to Meta's headsets. The partnership also paves the way for the inclusion of custom 3D avatars in the metaverse experience. In terms of collaboration, Meta's VR space for teamwork, Horizon Workrooms, will be connected with Teams, allowing users to join Teams meetings directly from Workrooms. Additionally, Microsoft 365 will be accessible on Quest, enabling users to interact with content from productivity applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Notably, these are not full-fledged VR versions of the apps but rather Progressive Web Apps designed for the purpose.


2022. Google opens up Workspace with new integrations and APIs



Google Workspace is receiving a significant update that introduces several noteworthy features for customers. However, what's even more significant is that Google is leveraging this opportunity to expand the Workspace ecosystem beyond its own services by introducing new integrations and developer tools. One of the key initiatives involves opening up smart chips within Workspace, which are the links to various documents, individuals, and information. Previously limited to Google's own offerings, these smart chips will now be accessible to third-party vendors. To kickstart this expansion, Google has partnered with renowned companies such as AODocs, Atlassian, Asana, Figma, Miro, and Tableau, all of whom are actively developing integrations. Additionally, Google is introducing a set of APIs for both Chat and Meet, enabling third-party developers to incorporate functions such as initiating or starting meetings directly from their respective applications. Asana and LumApps are the initial launch partners for these APIs, further enriching the collaboration capabilities within Workspace.


2022. Google brings its Workspace Individual plan to one-person businesses in Europe



Google is expanding the availability of its Workspace Individual subscription plan to Europe, just over a year after its initial launch in other markets. Workspace, previously known as G Suite, encompasses various productivity and collaboration applications such as Gmail, Meet, Drive, Docs, Tasks, and Forms. While many of these apps are free to use individually, Google generates revenue by offering additional features and integrations to businesses for a fee. With the introduction of Google Workspace Individual, the company is targeting "solo business owners" who can subscribe to a monthly plan and gain access to premium video calling tools, including features like recording, noise cancellation, and extended group calls. Subscribers also have the ability to livestream their Google Meet sessions to YouTube and utilize the "multi-send" feature for email newsletters and marketing campaigns. Furthermore, Google has recently announced forthcoming enhancements, including the integration of e-signatures directly into Google Docs.


2022. Google Workspace integrated with SAP



Google and SAP have established a longstanding partnership, collaborating on various projects throughout the years. As part of its strategic cloud partnerships, Google Cloud plays a crucial role in RISE with SAP, a program by the renowned German enterprise software company aimed at assisting customers in transitioning to the cloud. In an exciting development, the two companies have now announced a significant expansion of their partnership, focusing on a deep integration between SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP's flagship ERP system, and Google Workspace. This native integration enables SAP users to seamlessly access and collaborate on data from S/4HANA using Google Docs and Sheets. It facilitates smooth importing and exporting of data between the two systems. While the integration is currently being piloted with a select group of customers, the initial set of features will be launched as a standard offering for S/4HANA Cloud later this year.


2021. Microsoft Teams gets 3D animated avatars



Microsoft has unveiled 3D avatars for Teams meetings, offering an alternative for those who prefer not to appear on camera. These animated and personalized avatars are part of the "Mesh for Teams" initiative, which combines Microsoft's Mesh platform for shared experiences in virtual reality, augmented reality, and other realms with Teams and its integrated productivity tools. This feature transforms traditional meetings into a unique experience. Users can access Mesh for Teams using various devices, ranging from smartphones to VR headsets or HoloLens. Microsoft also allows businesses to create their own spaces, or metaverses, within Teams, enabling individuals to virtually interact and collaborate.


2021. Google Workspace opens up spaces for all users



Google has introduced spaces within Google Chat, making them available to all users. These spaces seamlessly integrate with various tools in Google Workspace such as the calendar, Drive, and documents. This integration offers a hybrid work experience, enabling users to access the complete history, content, and context of conversations regardless of their location. Instead of resorting to lengthy email chains or scheduling video meetings, teams can collaborate directly within a space to drive projects and discussions forward. The updated features in spaces include a unified interface that combines inbox, chats, spaces, and meetings. Spaces and their content can be made discoverable, allowing individuals to find and join conversations. Additionally, improved search capabilities within a team's knowledge base, the ability to reply to any message within a space, and enhanced security and admin tools for communication monitoring are also part of the new update.

Author: Adam Levine
Adam is an expert in project management, collaboration and productivity technologies, team management, and motivation. With an extensive background working at prestigious companies such as Microsoft and Accenture, Adam's in-depth knowledge and experience in the field make him a sought-after professional. Currently, he has ventured into entrepreneurship, owning a thriving consulting and training agency where he imparts invaluable insights and practical strategies to individuals and organizations, empowering them to achieve their goals and maximize their potential. You can contact Adam via email adam@liventerprise.com