The initial reason we looked at Google Apps was cost savings, but the ongoing value of access to information from anywhere, totally independent of the device, is where we’re seeing the real gain. As time progresses my interest is less in providing gear and more in providing access, as an IT guy. What I care about is accessing my information and allowing my employees to do the same.Prior to switching to Google Apps, we had been providing IBM® Lotus Notes for about $190 per user per year, plus the cost of storage. Google Apps’ simple $50 per user per year price tag was very compelling, but providing a great web experience for employees is where we’re seeing a lot of the value. We didn’t have a Mac client for Lotus Notes and the web mail client was clunky and sluggish. Since moving to Google Apps, we’ve heard very positive feedback from employees, particularly around speed of delivery and ease of access.
The ability to access information anywhere is also important because about 600 of our 1,800 employees don’t work in offices. A lot of our employees are in maintenance, security, janitorial and other “desk-less” positions. Google Apps allows us to provide them with easy access to email, calendar and documents, even though they don’t have a traditional office set-up.
From an IT perspective, we no longer have to worry about maintenance windows or managing infrastructure. Google Apps makes our jobs easier. We moved 500 people to Google Apps in 3 weeks and now we have volunteers coming forward to be in the next group to ‘go Google’. With the help of Google Apps partner, Sheepdog, by the fall, all 1,800 employees will have made the switch. Since most employees already use Gmail at home, training needs have been minimal. We’re looking forward to greater things than just cost savings and we believe the organization is ready.
7 comments:
Hi Scot -
Thanks for sharing your story.
I run the Notes/Domino business at IBM and am sorry to hear that you chose to go in a different direction.
Some of your comments surprise me, and I am curious about what version of Notes and Domino you had deployed.
We have shipped a Notes client on the Mac since version 3.x -- it is what I use every single day. Domino Web Access is not something I've ever heard described as klunky and sluggish. I'm not familiar with a requirement for maintenance windows around Domino servers. And $190/user/year+storage is a delivery price for Notes/Domino on premises I haven't seen for several years, with the more recent versions of the product entirely focused on cost of ownership.
Forrester published a report measuring the total economic impact of Notes/Domino 8.5 and found a 147% ROI with a 12-month payback period.
I realize you have already made a decision and are far down a path. I'm not sure what interaction you had with IBM or our partners prior to your decision. However, for you or any other customer looking at this discussion, I'd welcome some insight -- either here or via ed_brill@us.ibm.com.
Just wanted to let you know that there is a Mac client for Lotus Notes and the newer version of iNotes is very good.
Yes, iNotes/Webmail been good since version 6, really nice since 7, great since 8 and just breathtaking since 8.5.
And if you are looking for cloud, just for cloud sake, IBM Lotus has stuff there too, and 3rd party vendors have provided Notes in the cloud for years....
I'm unsure why Ed, as the head of the notes division has never heard Domino Web Access described as clunky or slugish. I hear it every day about Lotus notes and DWA. I'd suggest Ed talks to some of his customers.
Ed took the words right out of my mouth "what version of Notes/Domino are you running?". I've been running a Mac Client for years.
I also use GMail for personal mail, and I can say with out a doubt that the iNotes Client runs circles around it. But I'm OK with that, because I understand what I'm getting and paying (nothing) for, and GMail fits the bill nicely.
If the real reason for migrating is to have a cloud based deployment with little maintenance then you might want to look at LotusLive, which has your Notes Mail, Blackberry/Android/iPhone support, Domino Apps, Conferencing/Meetings, Office Suite, and more all cloud based.
@Ed – Customers are the big winners when technology providers compete with innovative products. Forrester also measured the total economic impact of Google Apps and found a 307% ROI and payback under 7 months. Summary and full report available here: http://goo.gl/6RwTe
The grass is always greener...where you water it. It is also easier to blame the software than to admit you have managed your systems poorly as is clearly the case here. If this company were my competition, I would be thrilled. They are wasting their money on migrations while I am spending it on advancing my position!
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