Most people who quit M365 for Google do it out of spite, but there’s no ROI in that
Nor are you likely to save much by making the move, says Gartner
Most individuals who switch from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace do so out of spite, an emotion that does not generate a return on investment, according to Domenico Scriva, a senior principal analyst at Gartner. Speaking at the firm's IT Symposium event in Australia, Scriva revealed that migrating between the two suites is unlikely to save buyers significant money.
While Google Workspace licenses are cheaper than Microsoft's E5 bundle, Google's suite does not cover telephony, security, business intelligence, or an operating system license. Scriva estimates that Google Workspace's cost will be $2 more per month than Microsoft's suite, even after accounting for the fact that Google bundles its Gemini AI with Workspaces while Microsoft charges extra for Copilot.
Google's suite could prove more cost-effective when paired with an Apple Mac or Chromebook, as Mac users benefit from longer-lasting machines, and Chromebook owners save on hardware purchase prices but need to replace their devices more frequently. However, these numbers do not factor in the complexity of migrating between the suites and the costs associated with the transition.
Scriva pointed out that dependencies within either ecosystem can complicate migration efforts, and user training is often overlooked in such decisions. The analyst noted that some M365 users use the threat of migration as a negotiating tactic when renewing their Microsoft contracts, but this tactic is unlikely to succeed if executed too late, as Microsoft is aware of its infeasibility.
Scriva advised starting migration planning as soon as one signs a three-year M365 deal, as it takes at least two years to complete the process. If a move is considered, Scriva recommended having a clear objective in mind, rather than simply swapping one suite for another. While productivity suites have remained largely unchanged for 30 years, Scriva believes that AI may soon change the landscape, ushering in a new wave of development where AI assists with content creation.
A third wave will likely disrupt the market by eliminating the need for individual apps like word processors or presentation graphics, which Scriva anticipates will be replaced by some kind of AI interface that allows users to express their desired outcome and then watch as their suite handles the task.
Written by urgent.news from The Register Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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