Dive Brief:
- Google announced an improvement to Google Docs that will allow easier commenting on both desktop and mobile applications, The Verge reports.
- Meanwhile, Microsoft said it is expanding the Cloud Storage Partner Program and launching further integration with Box, Dropbox, Egnyte, Citrix and ShareFile, according to TechCrunch.
- The two companies are competing to offer enterprises the easiest and most effective collaboration tools.
Dive Insight:
When Microsoft stepped up its competitive features in Office 365, Google countered by improving commenting in Docs, Sheets and Slides for both desktop and its mobile apps on both iOS and Android. Updates for all three apps began rolling out on Wednesday.
Microsoft also introduced real-time co-authoring for Office Online. Co-authoring in Office Online was previously only possible if the documents were accessed through Microsoft products. But, Microsoft has now opened its platform to some enterprise cloud services as well. This allows co-workers to collaborate in real-time.
Organizations have demanded new and better ways for employees to collaborate in recent years, and tech companies – both new and old – are responding with updated products and features that enable them to do so. Cisco recently made several purchases to allow for enterprise collaboration via video.
