Collaborations between folks who use different toolsets hasn’t always been easy. Like, how Victorian trains run on 1.6m gauge tracks, but NSW trains run on 1.435m gauge track.

Well, at least if the eastern states use rival office application suites, Google’s recent Drive update should make it work.

Preview, comment, mention, assign

As of now, Drive will let you view and comment directly on Microsoft Office files: no conversion necessary.

The new functionality operates through Drive’s file preview. Commenting works about the same way they do in Google Docs. Then, you can also ‘mention’ users and assign tasks.

Once they’ve become part of your Drive-based interaction, folks will be able to reply, even if they themselves are not G Suite users.

Interoperable challenger

The new update comes after already granting the ability to save MS Office files as G Suite compatible files, and the introduction of Office Compatibility Mode. Then, there’s also the Drive Plug-In for Microsoft Office.

Google’s commitment to interoperability is admirable and sensible. Prying Office users away from Office may be as challenging as getting the Victorian Government to change rail gauge to the national standard.

Google’s strategy is to let those MS acolytes incidentally discover the benefits of G Suite.

Is interoperability a priority for your productivity tools, or are you happy to tell people that it’s better just to do it your way?

Copy Transmission is a Melbourne-based agency :: Better Brands. Loud & Clear.