Ancoris dangles Google Apps carrot in front of Microsoft users

Cloud provider teams up with SoftWatch to assess users' licensing needs in hope of encouraging Google Apps migration

Reseller Ancoris has teamed up with cloud assessment service provider SoftWatch to encourage more businesses to ditch Microsoft in favour of Google Apps.

In its new partnership, the duo plans to monitor customers' use of Microsoft software in the hope of showing them they could reduce their desktop licensing costs by up to 80 per cent through Google Apps.

Starting this week, the Google Apps reseller has teamed up with SoftWatch and the pair aims to carry out its six-week assessment in order for customers to make what it claims is a more informed decision on their licensing needs.

SoftWatch's assessment service works by profiling Microsoft Office users' activities and patterns, meaning the firm can advise customers on whether or not a customer is getting the best value from the software and where they could benefit from Google Docs and Drive instead.

The firm categorises customers' usage into heavy, light or non-user status, which helps determine the level of migration to Google Apps that could be achieved.

SoftWatch's chief executive Moshe Kozlovski said about 80 per cent of users are classed as "light" Microsoft users, meaning a migration to Google Apps could "significantly reduce Microsoft licensing spending".

Ancoris' managing director David McLeman added that Google Apps is changing the way companies work.

"We believe this partnership will provide invaluable data for organisations considering the adoption of cloud-based applications and wanting to determine the full potential return on investment of a cloud migration," he said.