Google Bringing Important Integration To G Suite Gmail
Google’s upcoming update to G Suite Gmail brings integration with Chat and Rooms to create an all-in-one organization hub meant to rival the likes of Microsoft Teams. I want to emphasize that this feature is exclusive to G Suite users, not for general consumers. At this time, there’s no word of it coming to general Gmail. If you want to check out Google’s introduction video for these new features, here’s the video they uploaded to YouTube: https://youtu.be/4Cslvqi38eI.
One of the important elements of Microsoft Teams is how much of a hub it truly is. It’s not just a video conferencing app. It’s not just a collaborative space. And it’s not just an internal messaging app. It’s all of the above–all at once. Additionally, users can connect a host of other apps to it to flesh out its functionality.
Related:
- New Mmhmm App Seeks To Improve Zoom Or Google Meet
- Microsoft Teams Update Promises More Natural Meeting
Google’s Answer
One of the drawback to Google’s approach thus far with its productivity apps has been their siloed nature. You have Google Chat over here, Google Meet over there, Gmail here, and so on. Sure, it’s simple enough to open your app drawer and navigate between different tabs, but workflow lacks finesse and efficiency. This update seeks to change that. In both the desktop and mobile experiences, Meet, Chat, and Rooms will be fully integrated. As one of the lines in Google’s introduction video states, so many of us start our day by opening our email inboxes–now, Google wants to make it where we no longer have to leave that window at all.
Modern productivity solutions aren’t just about having the apps, but it’s about having apps that integrate with each other. Google is seeking to do this within their G Suite offerings. Hopefully, as time moves on, we will see them continue this trend (as I inwardly hope the integration bug makes its way over to their hardware). For now, this is a good step in the right direction.