Google Workspace is a suite of productivity apps from Google which includes Docs, Sheets and Slides, and they allow people to get work done. The company has now started to roll out Microsoft Office collaborative features that will allow users to edit Microsoft Office files directly without saving them first to Drive. The new feature will preserve the original file format.
The new update will allow users to reply to email threads featuring Office files easier and faster as stated by Google. Along with this, the company with the update will make it easy for users to create and work with documents that need multiple page orientation in Docs. After the update, Gmail will start to show a reply option inside Office files, with Reply with this file and Open original message.
The feature will be at first made available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard and Enterprise Plus users. It will be made available to users of G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education and non-profit customers. For now, Workspace Essentials and Enterprise Essentials customers are not eligible for this update.
During the announcement of the update, Google said that it is important for files and documents to look consistent among applications. The new update will help make it easier for users for creating and sharing documents from Google Docs having wide tables, charts, diagrams and images. They will also get the ability to edit, import and export Microsoft Office files directly inside of the Google Workspace Suite. The update is being slowly rolled out at present to users and will be widely rolled out from 5th January 2021.