Most people who quit M365 for Google do it out of spite, but there’s no ROI in that

Migrating productivity suites now costs more and takes longer than anticipated.

Gartner analyst Domenico Scriva suggests that migrating from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace is often driven by spite rather than a clear return on investment. While Google Workspace licenses may appear cheaper initially, Scriva notes that the suite lacks telephony, security, business intelligence, and an OS license. When these components are added, the total cost for Google Workspace can exceed that of Microsoft's E5 bundle by approximately $2 per month, even with Google's bundled Gemini AI versus Microsoft's extra charge for Copilot. Scriva also highlighted that Google's suite can be more cost-effective when paired with Apple Macs or Chromebooks. Migrating between these ecosystems involves significant complexity, potential dependencies, and user training, with a full migration process potentially taking up to two years. Scriva advises having a specific outcome in mind for any migration, as the core functionality of productivity suites has remained largely unchanged for decades, though he anticipates AI will soon drive substantial market disruption.

The analysis suggests that the perceived cost savings of switching from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace are often illusory once all necessary functionalities are factored in. This implies that organizations should conduct a more thorough total cost of ownership analysis, rather than relying on headline license fees, when considering such a move. The complexity and extended timeline for migration also present a significant hurdle, potentially negating short-term cost benefits and requiring substantial project management resources.

Looking ahead, the market for productivity suites is poised for significant transformation driven by advancements in AI. Gartner's prediction of AI interfaces replacing traditional applications indicates a potential paradigm shift, where the value proposition of these suites will be redefined by their ability to intelligently assist users in content creation and task completion, rather than by their app-based feature sets.