Report: Google Apps Satisfaction Tied to Third-Party Apps
A new white paper released by the Cloud Alliance for Google Apps and research firm Frost & Sullivan surveyed more than 1,100 Google Apps administrators and found that there is a link between satisfaction with Google Apps and third-party apps available on the Google Apps Marketplace.
A new white paper released by the Cloud Alliance for Google Apps and research firm Frost & Sullivan surveyed more than 1,100 Google Apps administrators and found that there is a link between satisfaction with Google Apps and third-party apps available on the Google Apps Marketplace.
In other words, applications being created by Google Apps partners and third-party developers have been key to the success and growth of Google Apps itself. And according to the report, there is a growing reliance on third-party apps to bolster existing Google Apps deployments. There's also an increase in the willingness of IT professionals to transition their corporate IT entirely to the cloud.
The Cloud Alliance for Google Apps has a significant bias, of course, but some of the findings are interesting and point to some of the growth and success of Google Apps and its ecosystem of partners. Some of the key data points include:
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To optimize deployments of cloud technology, specifically Google Apps, organizations are turning to enterprise marketplaces such as the Google Apps Marketplace to find highly integrated third-party solutions that enhance and extend functionality of the native Apps suite. Not exactly a surprise, as cloud marketplaces have been increasing in number for some time.
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Third-party Marketplace applications, especially those with the deepest integrations, are seen as crucial to Apps administrators' satisfaction with Google Apps and placement of the suite at the center of their IT infrastructure.
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Marketplace applications are being used to replace functionality found in Microsoft Office and as such are helping organizations deprecate their use of on-premises Microsoft products.
"Companies are moving away from long-term capital expenditures and toward flexible cloud solutions. They are seeking the predictable operational expenditure and flexibility of cloud solutions," said Robert Arnold, an industry principal with Frost & Sullivan, in a prepared statement.
The Cloud Alliance for Google Apps is also looking to add new members to its roster. The company is now actively seeking ISVs for its membership.
