Remember that feeling of wrestling with a clunky shared document, desperately trying to make edits while dodging “someone else is editing” messages? Or having to dig through your inbox to find the right version of a presentation?
FlowFactor, a leading DevOps consultancy firm within the Cronos Group, certainly does. They were stuck with a legacy collaboration platform that felt more like a roadblock than a productivity booster. That’s where the power of Google Workspace came in. In this case study, we’ll explore how we helped FlowFactor cut their costs with €20 per user!
The challenge: collaboration shouldn’t feel like a chore
True to the principles of DevOps, FlowFactor prides itself on its agile and collaborative culture, but their previous workspace solution didn’t quite match their mindset. In fact, many of their experts were already using personal Google accounts for work-related tasks and manually exporting these back to the environment.
When I asked what they needed from workspace tools, the team said that Google’s solutions work more smoothly. Nearly everyone found them more intuitive and easier to use – especially for collaboration.
Constantly having to export Word files and email them back and forth felt like a step backward, disrupting their workflow. Plus, managing scattered data on personal accounts raised some security and data loss concerns. Something clearly had to change.
The solution: tapping into the Cronos Google community
We recognized FlowFactor’s need for a modern, collaborative solution that could keep pace with their team’s dynamic workstyle. As the central hub for all things Google within the Cronos Group, we were more than happy to facilitate a seamless migration for FlowFactor.
We collaborated with Cronos’ service desk on the transition, ensuring minimal disruption to their workflow. “The switch itself went very smoothly. We had one minor hiccup with a mailbox that needed to stay active due to an outdated ticketing tool,” shares Kilian, “But GC innovate helped us find a workaround while we transition to a more modern solution.”
More than technology: why support matters
While we’re obviously fans of Google’s innovative technologies, we know that successfully adopting them takes more than just the technical setup. It’s all about empowering teams to embrace new tools and workflows. Normally we organize several training sessions after a Google Workspace adoption, but for FlowFactor’s tech-savvy experts, a single session on advanced functionalities sufficed.
However, our support doesn’t stop after training. Whether it’s a quick question about Google Drive organization, troubleshooting a tricky calendar integration, or exploring advanced features, we’re always here to help FlowFactor’s team get the most out of their workspace.
It’s easy to reach out to GCi and any requests get picked up right away. If there’s something we didn’t encounter in the adoption session, we can just ask. For example, they recently showed me a better way to set up versioning for my documents
The results: a more collaborative, efficient, and cost-effective FlowFactor
Since migrating to Google Workspace, FlowFactor has experienced a surge in productivity and collaboration.
- Real-time co-editing in Docs, Sheets, and Slides has become second nature, promoting a more fluid and dynamic way of working together. . “If someone shares a document during a meeting, you immediately see people opening it and helping where they can,” Kilian says.
- This seamless real–time collaboration extends beyond individual apps, making their entire workflow more efficient. “The way everything integrates is a game-changer,” Kilian adds. “For example, I can quickly turn an email into a task without leaving my inbox, keeping my to-do list organized and actionable.”
- FlowFactor’s team also appreciates Google Meet for its ease of use and seamless integration with other Google apps, especially compared to their previous experiences with Zoom.
- While they’ve fully embraced the Google ecosystem, we understand the need for flexibility to cater to their clients. That’s why we ensured that FlowFactor’s team also has access to MS Teams, a crucial factor in maintaining seamless communication and collaboration with other companies.
By moving away from our previous solution, we’re spending €20 less per user per month – a welcome bonus to the enhanced collaboration and productivity we’re now experiencing.
Bonus: unlocking the power of Gemini
Besides the general cost savings of Google Workspace, the ability to adopt Gemini on an individual basis has been a game-changer for FlowFactor. Their previous workspace required all employees to have a license for their AI-powered assistant, so individual licenses give them the freedom to tailor their Google Workspace experience to their specific needs and budget.
Kilian and his team are already discovering creative ways to integrate Gemini into their daily workflow, from quickly summarizing lengthy emails (one of his favorite ways to free up valuable time) to generating ideas for presentations. Moving to Google Workspace was clearly the way to go for them!
Ready to unleash the power of collaboration? Let’s have a chat!
