With the release of OffiSync 2.0 many companies that were hesitant to make the switch to Google Apps should now take a second look. For review OffiSync allows users to integrate Google Apps and Microsoft Office. OffiSync gives you the ability to store documents, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint files in the cloud through Google Docs while being able to create, edit, and share those file in Microsoft Office. This gives you the rich user experience of Microsoft Office with the usability features of Google Docs.
Google Docs is one of the main components of Google Apps and it allows you to store all of your files in the cloud. Having your files in the cloud allows you to easily share and collaborate on files with other users, either in or out of your office. Google Docs also offers you the ability to stop sending document revisions via email and ensure that all users are seeing the most up to date file. With all of the benefits of Google Docs some organizations have been hesitant of moving to Google Docs because the editing features of Google Docs are not yet comparable to Microsoft Office and some users still like the software based productivity suite. With the release of OffiSync 2.0 you gain have the benefits of both solutions.
OffiSync 2.0 works with your Google Apps account to tie your Google Docs to your desktop Microsoft Office programs. OffiSync is a simple add on program that is easily installed and configured in about 30 minutes. Once OffiSync is installed you will have the ability to open any of your Google Docs inside Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. You can also create new files and store them in the cloud. Having your files in the cloud is great, but OffiSync gets even better. You can easily collaborate and share your files with one another from right inside Microsoft Office. OffiSync allows you to share your files to others and give them the ability to edit or view your file. As your original file is edited and changed you will be able to keep up to date on what has changed and decide which changes stay. OffiSync brings collaboration to the next level with real time collaboration. OffiSync 2.0 gives you the ability to co-author documents in real time so that you can see changes made to a document by another user in real time. If you are working on important proposal that needs to get out the door simply open the document and start working on the document with others seeing the changes and adding their insight.
Another benefit in OffiSync 2.0 is native file format support. In the original OffiSync your Microsoft Office files would be converted into their Google Docs equivalent. This meant that some of the advanced formatting you did in Office would be lost in the conversion. With OffiSync 2.0 your Office Files are stored in Google Docs in their native format so that you do not lose any formatting. This is especially important to power users who know how to push Office to its limits.
OffiSync 2.0 works with Microsoft Office 2003, 2007, and 2010 in conjunction with Google Apps Premier Edition (Using it with Standard will cause loss of functionality).