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1 +{{velocity}}
2 +#set ($discard = $xwiki.ssx.use('PublicWebSite.WebHome'))
3 +{{html clean="false"}}
4 +
5 + <section class="resource-header" aria-labelledby="hero-title">
6 + <div class="container">
7 + <div class="text-center">
8 + <div class="hero-kicker">
9 + <i class="fa fa-exchange" aria-hidden="true"></i>
10 + XWiki migration guidance
11 + </div>
12 + </div>
13 +
14 + <h1 id="hero-title">From Google Workspace to XWiki: a practical transition guide</h1>
15 +
16 + <p class="resource-summary">
17 + A straightforward guide for organizations that want to move durable knowledge, documentation and governance
18 + from Google Workspace into XWiki, without pretending that XWiki should replace every collaboration tool.
19 + </p>
20 + </div>
21 + </section>
22 +
23 + <section class="resource-page">
24 + <div class="container">
25 + <div class="resource-layout">
26 +
27 + <aside class="resource-sidebar" aria-label="Page summary">
28 + <h4>In this guide</h4>
29 + <ul>
30 + <li><a href="#main-idea">Main idea</a></li>
31 + <li><a href="#workspace-map">What Google Workspace covers</a></li>
32 + <li><a href="#replacement-map">What can move to XWiki</a></li>
33 + <li><a href="#not-xwiki">What should not move to XWiki</a></li>
34 + <li><a href="#open-source-stack">Open-source alternatives</a></li>
35 + <li><a href="#transition-plan">Transition plan</a></li>
36 + <li><a href="#pilot">Pilot example</a></li>
37 + <li><a href="#adoption">Adoption guidance</a></li>
38 + <li><a href="#faq">FAQ</a></li>
39 + </ul>
40 + </aside>
41 +
42 + <article class="resource-content">
43 +
44 + <p>
45 + Moving an organization away from Google Workspace is rarely just a software migration. It is also a change in
46 + habits, ownership, permissions, document lifecycle and the way people expect collaboration to happen.
47 + </p>
48 +
49 + <p>
50 + Google Workspace is often successful because it is the default place where people write documents, share files,
51 + collaborate in real time, collect information, meet, chat and search. This makes any transition feel difficult,
52 + especially when users are already comfortable with the existing tools.
53 + </p>
54 +
55 + <div class="resource-note">
56 + <p>
57 + <strong>The practical position:</strong> XWiki should not be presented as a full one-to-one replacement for
58 + Google Workspace. XWiki is strongest as the structured knowledge layer: official documentation, working group
59 + spaces, policies, procedures, meeting notes, decisions, knowledge bases, governance content and maintained
60 + organizational memory.
61 + </p>
62 + </div>
63 +
64 + <p>
65 + A realistic transition does not start by moving everything out of Google Drive. It starts by deciding what kind
66 + of information should become durable, structured and maintained in XWiki, and what kind of work should remain
67 + in office, file-sharing, communication or meeting tools.
68 + </p>
69 +
70 + <h2 id="main-idea">The main idea: do not replace the suite, replace the knowledge problem</h2>
71 +
72 + <p>
73 + The strongest argument for XWiki is not that it can imitate Google Workspace. The strongest argument is that
74 + it can solve a problem that often appears inside Google Workspace over time: scattered documents, unclear
75 + ownership, duplicated files, weak navigation, old links, inconsistent permissions and no obvious place for
76 + the trusted version of important knowledge.
77 + </p>
78 +
79 + <p>
80 + A useful message for an organization is:
81 + </p>
82 +
83 + <div class="resource-note">
84 + <p>
85 + <strong>Use Google-style office tools for fast drafting and real-time editing when needed. Use XWiki for
86 + trusted, maintained, structured knowledge that people need to find and rely on later.</strong>
87 + </p>
88 + </div>
89 +
90 + <h2 id="workspace-map">What Google Workspace usually provides</h2>
91 +
92 + <p>
93 + Before proposing a transition, it is important to understand why users are attached to Google Workspace.
94 + They are not only attached to a document editor. They are attached to an entire collaboration habit.
95 + </p>
96 +
97 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
98 + <thead>
99 + <tr>
100 + <th>Google Workspace area</th>
101 + <th>What users usually value</th>
102 + <th>Typical organizational risk over time</th>
103 + </tr>
104 + </thead>
105 + <tbody>
106 + <tr>
107 + <td>Google Docs</td>
108 + <td>Fast writing, real-time editing, comments and suggestions.</td>
109 + <td>Documents become isolated files instead of part of a maintained knowledge structure.</td>
110 + </tr>
111 + <tr>
112 + <td>Google Drive</td>
113 + <td>Easy file sharing, folders, ownership and external collaboration.</td>
114 + <td>Folder structures grow organically and become difficult to clean up or govern.</td>
115 + </tr>
116 + <tr>
117 + <td>Google Sheets</td>
118 + <td>Simple trackers, lists, budgets, lightweight databases and reports.</td>
119 + <td>Business processes become hidden in spreadsheets without clear ownership or validation.</td>
120 + </tr>
121 + <tr>
122 + <td>Google Slides</td>
123 + <td>Presentation creation and sharing.</td>
124 + <td>Final knowledge remains locked in presentation files instead of reusable documentation.</td>
125 + </tr>
126 + <tr>
127 + <td>Google Forms</td>
128 + <td>Quick surveys, registration forms and internal data collection.</td>
129 + <td>Collected data may not become part of a structured internal process.</td>
130 + </tr>
131 + <tr>
132 + <td>Google Sites</td>
133 + <td>Simple internal or public pages.</td>
134 + <td>Content may be separated from the broader knowledge base and governance model.</td>
135 + </tr>
136 + <tr>
137 + <td>Gmail, Calendar, Meet and Chat</td>
138 + <td>Communication, scheduling, meetings and quick coordination.</td>
139 + <td>Decisions and knowledge remain scattered in messages, meetings and informal conversations.</td>
140 + </tr>
141 + </tbody>
142 + </table>
143 +
144 + <h2 id="replacement-map">What can move to XWiki, and what should only partially move</h2>
145 +
146 + <p>
147 + A good transition separates content by purpose. Some content belongs naturally in XWiki. Some content should
148 + remain in office collaboration tools. Some content should be moved to other open-source or self-hostable
149 + systems that complement XWiki.
150 + </p>
151 +
152 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
153 + <thead>
154 + <tr>
155 + <th>Current Google Workspace usage</th>
156 + <th>XWiki replacement or equivalent</th>
157 + <th>Fit</th>
158 + <th>Recommended transition</th>
159 + </tr>
160 + </thead>
161 + <tbody>
162 + <tr>
163 + <td>Official documentation in Google Docs</td>
164 + <td>XWiki pages, spaces, navigation, page history, comments and permissions.</td>
165 + <td>Excellent</td>
166 + <td>Move final and maintained documentation to XWiki pages.</td>
167 + </tr>
168 + <tr>
169 + <td>Policies, procedures and governance documents</td>
170 + <td>XWiki pages with templates, metadata, review dates, ownership and approval workflows.</td>
171 + <td>Excellent</td>
172 + <td>Move to XWiki and add lifecycle rules.</td>
173 + </tr>
174 + <tr>
175 + <td>Meeting notes</td>
176 + <td>XWiki meeting note templates inside team or working group spaces.</td>
177 + <td>Excellent</td>
178 + <td>Start new meeting notes in XWiki and link older notes when useful.</td>
179 + </tr>
180 + <tr>
181 + <td>Working group or committee documents</td>
182 + <td>XWiki spaces with homepage, members, notes, decisions, documents and tasks.</td>
183 + <td>Excellent</td>
184 + <td>Create one structured space per group.</td>
185 + </tr>
186 + <tr>
187 + <td>Decision records</td>
188 + <td>XWiki decision page template with context, options, decision, owner and date.</td>
189 + <td>Excellent</td>
190 + <td>Move decisions out of scattered Docs, email and chat.</td>
191 + </tr>
192 + <tr>
193 + <td>Google Sites pages</td>
194 + <td>XWiki spaces and pages, public or private depending on rights.</td>
195 + <td>Very good</td>
196 + <td>Move informational pages to XWiki when they need structure, history or governance.</td>
197 + </tr>
198 + <tr>
199 + <td>Shared file archive</td>
200 + <td>XWiki attachments, File Manager-style applications or linked external storage.</td>
201 + <td>Good, with limits</td>
202 + <td>Use XWiki for curated files attached to knowledge pages, not for massive file sync.</td>
203 + </tr>
204 + <tr>
205 + <td>Simple trackers in Google Sheets</td>
206 + <td>XWiki structured applications, App Within Minutes or custom XWiki apps.</td>
207 + <td>Good for structured records</td>
208 + <td>Move recurring lists with stable fields; keep complex spreadsheets elsewhere.</td>
209 + </tr>
210 + <tr>
211 + <td>Collaborative drafting in Google Docs</td>
212 + <td>XWiki real-time editing or office document integrations such as ONLYOFFICE or Collabora.</td>
213 + <td>Partial</td>
214 + <td>Use XWiki for final content; test collaborative editing needs separately.</td>
215 + </tr>
216 + <tr>
217 + <td>Forms and surveys</td>
218 + <td>XWiki forms for internal structured data; LimeSurvey or similar tools for advanced surveys.</td>
219 + <td>Partial</td>
220 + <td>Use XWiki for workflow forms, not necessarily for all survey campaigns.</td>
221 + </tr>
222 + <tr>
223 + <td>Slides and presentation decks</td>
224 + <td>XWiki pages for the reusable knowledge behind the presentation.</td>
225 + <td>Limited</td>
226 + <td>Store final slides as attachments if needed, but document the core knowledge in XWiki.</td>
227 + </tr>
228 + </tbody>
229 + </table>
230 +
231 + <h2 id="what-belongs-in-xwiki">What belongs naturally in XWiki</h2>
232 +
233 + <p>
234 + XWiki is a strong destination for information that should be easy to find, maintain, discuss, review and trust
235 + over time.
236 + </p>
237 +
238 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
239 + <thead>
240 + <tr>
241 + <th>Content type</th>
242 + <th>Example</th>
243 + <th>Why XWiki is a good fit</th>
244 + </tr>
245 + </thead>
246 + <tbody>
247 + <tr>
248 + <td>Organizational knowledge</td>
249 + <td>How the organization works, who owns what, internal processes.</td>
250 + <td>Structured spaces, navigation, search and page history make the knowledge easier to maintain.</td>
251 + </tr>
252 + <tr>
253 + <td>Working group spaces</td>
254 + <td>Homepage, members, meetings, decisions, documents and open questions.</td>
255 + <td>Each group gets a stable knowledge home instead of a folder full of unrelated files.</td>
256 + </tr>
257 + <tr>
258 + <td>Policies and procedures</td>
259 + <td>Security policy, onboarding procedure, publication process, governance rules.</td>
260 + <td>Ownership, review date, approval state and history can be made explicit.</td>
261 + </tr>
262 + <tr>
263 + <td>Decision records</td>
264 + <td>Why a tool was selected, why a policy changed, why a migration approach was chosen.</td>
265 + <td>Decisions become searchable and linked to related documentation.</td>
266 + </tr>
267 + <tr>
268 + <td>Community documentation</td>
269 + <td>Member guides, contribution guides, public project pages, FAQs.</td>
270 + <td>XWiki can support public and private content with a consistent structure.</td>
271 + </tr>
272 + <tr>
273 + <td>Structured internal apps</td>
274 + <td>Registers, inventories, simple approval requests, directories, lists.</td>
275 + <td>XWiki can model structured data instead of leaving every process in a spreadsheet.</td>
276 + </tr>
277 + </tbody>
278 + </table>
279 +
280 + <h2 id="not-xwiki">What should not be replaced by XWiki</h2>
281 +
282 + <p>
283 + A credible transition guide should clearly explain where XWiki is not the right tool. This avoids unrealistic
284 + expectations and helps the organization design a better open collaboration stack.
285 + </p>
286 +
287 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
288 + <thead>
289 + <tr>
290 + <th>Need</th>
291 + <th>Why XWiki is not the best replacement</th>
292 + <th>Better direction</th>
293 + </tr>
294 + </thead>
295 + <tbody>
296 + <tr>
297 + <td>Email</td>
298 + <td>XWiki is not an email platform.</td>
299 + <td>Keep the existing mail system or evaluate dedicated mail/groupware solutions.</td>
300 + </tr>
301 + <tr>
302 + <td>Calendar and scheduling</td>
303 + <td>XWiki can display or manage calendar-like information, but it is not a full scheduling suite.</td>
304 + <td>Use a groupware platform such as Nextcloud Groupware or keep the existing calendar system.</td>
305 + </tr>
306 + <tr>
307 + <td>Video meetings</td>
308 + <td>XWiki is not a video conferencing system.</td>
309 + <td>Use Jitsi, Nextcloud Talk or another dedicated meeting tool.</td>
310 + </tr>
311 + <tr>
312 + <td>Instant messaging and chat</td>
313 + <td>XWiki comments and notifications do not replace real-time chat.</td>
314 + <td>Use Matrix/Element, Mattermost, Nextcloud Talk or another chat platform.</td>
315 + </tr>
316 + <tr>
317 + <td>General file sync and desktop folder replacement</td>
318 + <td>XWiki attachments are useful around pages, but XWiki is not designed as a Dropbox or Drive sync client.</td>
319 + <td>Use Nextcloud Files or another file sync and sharing platform.</td>
320 + </tr>
321 + <tr>
322 + <td>Heavy spreadsheets</td>
323 + <td>Complex formulas, pivot tables, financial models and large spreadsheet workflows are not XWiki's role.</td>
324 + <td>Use ONLYOFFICE, Collabora, LibreOffice or another office suite.</td>
325 + </tr>
326 + <tr>
327 + <td>Presentation authoring</td>
328 + <td>XWiki can document knowledge and store final files, but it is not a presentation editor.</td>
329 + <td>Use ONLYOFFICE, Collabora, LibreOffice Impress or another presentation tool.</td>
330 + </tr>
331 + <tr>
332 + <td>Large survey campaigns</td>
333 + <td>XWiki can collect structured data, but advanced surveys need branching, reporting and respondent management.</td>
334 + <td>Use LimeSurvey or another survey platform.</td>
335 + </tr>
336 + </tbody>
337 + </table>
338 +
339 + <div class="resource-note">
340 + <p>
341 + <strong>In practice:</strong> the goal is not to make XWiki do everything. The goal is to make XWiki the
342 + trusted home for maintained knowledge, while integrating or linking to the right tools for files, office
343 + editing, chat, meetings and identity.
344 + </p>
345 + </div>
346 +
347 + <h2 id="open-source-stack">Open-source alternatives that can complement XWiki</h2>
348 +
349 + <p>
350 + For organizations trying to reduce dependency on Google Workspace, XWiki can be part of a broader open-source
351 + collaboration architecture. The exact stack depends on hosting preferences, support needs, security requirements
352 + and user expectations.
353 + </p>
354 +
355 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
356 + <thead>
357 + <tr>
358 + <th>Collaboration need</th>
359 + <th>Possible open-source or self-hostable contender</th>
360 + <th>How it works with XWiki</th>
361 + </tr>
362 + </thead>
363 + <tbody>
364 + <tr>
365 + <td>Structured knowledge base</td>
366 + <td>XWiki</td>
367 + <td>Main platform for documentation, governance, knowledge management and structured pages.</td>
368 + </tr>
369 + <tr>
370 + <td>File sync and file sharing</td>
371 + <td>Nextcloud Files</td>
372 + <td>Use for general file storage and sharing; link important files from XWiki pages when needed.</td>
373 + </tr>
374 + <tr>
375 + <td>Office document editing</td>
376 + <td>ONLYOFFICE Docs or Collabora Online</td>
377 + <td>Use for documents, spreadsheets and presentations; integrate with XWiki where office attachments must be edited directly.</td>
378 + </tr>
379 + <tr>
380 + <td>Chat and team messaging</td>
381 + <td>Matrix/Element, Mattermost or Nextcloud Talk</td>
382 + <td>Use for real-time conversations; move durable decisions and outcomes back into XWiki.</td>
383 + </tr>
384 + <tr>
385 + <td>Video meetings</td>
386 + <td>Jitsi or Nextcloud Talk</td>
387 + <td>Use for calls; store agendas, notes and decisions in XWiki.</td>
388 + </tr>
389 + <tr>
390 + <td>Surveys and advanced forms</td>
391 + <td>LimeSurvey</td>
392 + <td>Use for survey campaigns; publish results or documentation in XWiki.</td>
393 + </tr>
394 + <tr>
395 + <td>Identity and SSO</td>
396 + <td>Keycloak, existing Google identity, Microsoft Entra ID or another OIDC/SAML provider</td>
397 + <td>Use SSO so users access XWiki without a separate password and with mapped groups where appropriate.</td>
398 + </tr>
399 + </tbody>
400 + </table>
401 +
402 + <h2 id="transition-plan">A practical transition plan</h2>
403 +
404 + <p>
405 + The safest transition is gradual. The organization should not begin by migrating every Google Drive folder.
406 + That approach creates too much noise, too many permission questions and too many low-value documents.
407 + </p>
408 +
409 + <h3>1. Define the role of XWiki</h3>
410 +
411 + <p>
412 + Start with a clear rule:
413 + </p>
414 +
415 + <div class="resource-note">
416 + <p>
417 + <strong>XWiki is the place for official, maintained and reusable knowledge. Office tools are for temporary
418 + drafting, spreadsheets, presentations and real-time editing when they are truly needed.</strong>
419 + </p>
420 + </div>
421 +
422 + <p>
423 + This prevents users from seeing XWiki as just another storage location. It gives XWiki a distinct purpose.
424 + </p>
425 +
426 + <h3>2. Identify high-value content first</h3>
427 +
428 + <p>
429 + Do not migrate by volume. Migrate by value.
430 + </p>
431 +
432 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
433 + <thead>
434 + <tr>
435 + <th>Move early</th>
436 + <th>Move later or archive</th>
437 + <th>Usually do not move</th>
438 + </tr>
439 + </thead>
440 + <tbody>
441 + <tr>
442 + <td>Policies, procedures, onboarding guides, public docs, working group pages, decision records.</td>
443 + <td>Older project files, historical meeting notes, reference documents with unclear ownership.</td>
444 + <td>Draft files, personal documents, complex spreadsheets, presentation working files, temporary collaboration docs.</td>
445 + </tr>
446 + </tbody>
447 + </table>
448 +
449 + <h3>3. Create templates before asking people to write</h3>
450 +
451 + <p>
452 + Empty wiki pages slow adoption. Users should not have to decide the structure every time.
453 + </p>
454 +
455 + <p>
456 + Useful starting templates include:
457 + </p>
458 +
459 + <ul>
460 + <li>Working group homepage</li>
461 + <li>Meeting notes</li>
462 + <li>Decision record</li>
463 + <li>Policy or procedure</li>
464 + <li>Project homepage</li>
465 + <li>FAQ page</li>
466 + <li>Onboarding page</li>
467 + <li>External collaboration page</li>
468 + </ul>
469 +
470 + <h3>4. Reduce login friction with SSO</h3>
471 +
472 + <p>
473 + If users need another account and another password, adoption becomes harder. XWiki should be connected to the
474 + organization's identity provider where possible. This can also support cleaner group mapping and a better
475 + external collaborator lifecycle.
476 + </p>
477 +
478 + <h3>5. Define permissions and ownership rules</h3>
479 +
480 + <p>
481 + Access rights should be designed before content is migrated. A common model is:
482 + </p>
483 +
484 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
485 + <thead>
486 + <tr>
487 + <th>Area</th>
488 + <th>Recommended ownership</th>
489 + <th>Typical access</th>
490 + </tr>
491 + </thead>
492 + <tbody>
493 + <tr>
494 + <td>Public documentation</td>
495 + <td>Documentation or communication owner</td>
496 + <td>Public view, restricted edit.</td>
497 + </tr>
498 + <tr>
499 + <td>Internal knowledge base</td>
500 + <td>Operations, staff or knowledge management owner</td>
501 + <td>Authenticated view, controlled edit.</td>
502 + </tr>
503 + <tr>
504 + <td>Working group space</td>
505 + <td>Working group chair or coordinator</td>
506 + <td>Group members edit, others view depending on sensitivity.</td>
507 + </tr>
508 + <tr>
509 + <td>Board or restricted area</td>
510 + <td>Named administrative owner</td>
511 + <td>Explicit restricted group access.</td>
512 + </tr>
513 + <tr>
514 + <td>External collaboration area</td>
515 + <td>Internal sponsor</td>
516 + <td>Limited groups, expiration or periodic review.</td>
517 + </tr>
518 + </tbody>
519 + </table>
520 +
521 + <h3>6. Migrate content into structure, not just into pages</h3>
522 +
523 + <p>
524 + A migration that only copies Google Docs into XWiki pages may reproduce the same confusion in a different
525 + platform. Each migrated page should have a place, an owner and a reason to exist.
526 + </p>
527 +
528 + <p>
529 + For each migrated document, decide:
530 + </p>
531 +
532 + <ul>
533 + <li>Who owns this page?</li>
534 + <li>Is it current, historical or archived?</li>
535 + <li>Who can view it?</li>
536 + <li>Who can edit it?</li>
537 + <li>Does it need a review date?</li>
538 + <li>Should it remain as an attachment instead of becoming a wiki page?</li>
539 + <li>What related pages should link to it?</li>
540 + </ul>
541 +
542 + <h3>7. Keep a transition dashboard</h3>
543 +
544 + <p>
545 + A simple XWiki dashboard can make the transition visible and manageable.
546 + </p>
547 +
548 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
549 + <thead>
550 + <tr>
551 + <th>Dashboard section</th>
552 + <th>Purpose</th>
553 + </tr>
554 + </thead>
555 + <tbody>
556 + <tr>
557 + <td>Content selected for migration</td>
558 + <td>Shows the high-value documents that are being moved first.</td>
559 + </tr>
560 + <tr>
561 + <td>Content needing an owner</td>
562 + <td>Prevents orphan pages from entering the new system.</td>
563 + </tr>
564 + <tr>
565 + <td>Content to keep in Google or office tools</td>
566 + <td>Makes it clear that not everything must move.</td>
567 + </tr>
568 + <tr>
569 + <td>External access review</td>
570 + <td>Tracks documents or spaces shared with people outside the organization.</td>
571 + </tr>
572 + <tr>
573 + <td>Recently migrated pages</td>
574 + <td>Helps users see progress and discover the new structure.</td>
575 + </tr>
576 + </tbody>
577 + </table>
578 +
579 + <h2 id="pilot">A good pilot: one working group space</h2>
580 +
581 + <p>
582 + A strong pilot is small enough to control but useful enough to prove value. For example, one working group,
583 + committee, project team or community group can move its durable knowledge into XWiki while keeping office
584 + tools for drafting and spreadsheets when needed.
585 + </p>
586 +
587 + <p>
588 + A pilot space could include:
589 + </p>
590 +
591 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
592 + <thead>
593 + <tr>
594 + <th>Page or section</th>
595 + <th>Purpose</th>
596 + </tr>
597 + </thead>
598 + <tbody>
599 + <tr>
600 + <td>Working group homepage</td>
601 + <td>Explains the purpose, scope, members, links and current priorities.</td>
602 + </tr>
603 + <tr>
604 + <td>Meeting notes</td>
605 + <td>Uses a consistent template so notes are easy to scan and search.</td>
606 + </tr>
607 + <tr>
608 + <td>Decisions</td>
609 + <td>Captures important decisions separately from long meeting notes.</td>
610 + </tr>
611 + <tr>
612 + <td>Documents</td>
613 + <td>Links official documents, policies and important files.</td>
614 + </tr>
615 + <tr>
616 + <td>Open questions</td>
617 + <td>Tracks unresolved topics without hiding them in chat or email.</td>
618 + </tr>
619 + <tr>
620 + <td>FAQ</td>
621 + <td>Collects recurring questions from the community.</td>
622 + </tr>
623 + <tr>
624 + <td>External links</td>
625 + <td>Provides a bridge to Google Drive, Nextcloud, issue trackers or other systems still in use.</td>
626 + </tr>
627 + </tbody>
628 + </table>
629 +
630 + <div class="resource-note">
631 + <p>
632 + <strong>Pilot success question:</strong> Can members find the current and trusted version of important
633 + information faster than before?
634 + </p>
635 + </div>
636 +
637 + <h2 id="adoption">How to encourage adoption</h2>
638 +
639 + <p>
640 + People do not usually change collaboration habits because a new platform exists. They change when the new
641 + platform makes an important part of their work easier, clearer or more reliable.
642 + </p>
643 +
644 + <h3>Use simple rules</h3>
645 +
646 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
647 + <thead>
648 + <tr>
649 + <th>Rule</th>
650 + <th>Example</th>
651 + </tr>
652 + </thead>
653 + <tbody>
654 + <tr>
655 + <td>If it is official, it belongs in XWiki.</td>
656 + <td>Policies, procedures, final decisions, project documentation.</td>
657 + </tr>
658 + <tr>
659 + <td>If it is temporary drafting, it can stay in an office editor.</td>
660 + <td>Collaborative draft document, presentation working file.</td>
661 + </tr>
662 + <tr>
663 + <td>If it is a complex spreadsheet, do not force it into XWiki.</td>
664 + <td>Budget model, calculations, reporting workbook.</td>
665 + </tr>
666 + <tr>
667 + <td>If it was decided in a meeting or chat, summarize it in XWiki.</td>
668 + <td>Decision record linked from meeting notes.</td>
669 + </tr>
670 + <tr>
671 + <td>If nobody owns it, do not migrate it as current content.</td>
672 + <td>Mark as archive or leave in the old system until reviewed.</td>
673 + </tr>
674 + </tbody>
675 + </table>
676 +
677 + <h3>Make leadership use the new structure</h3>
678 +
679 + <p>
680 + Adoption is much harder if important announcements and decisions still point only to Google Docs or Drive
681 + folders. When leadership links to XWiki as the trusted source, the platform becomes part of the organization’s
682 + daily rhythm.
683 + </p>
684 +
685 + <h3>Start with visible wins</h3>
686 +
687 + <p>
688 + The first XWiki spaces should be better organized than the Google Drive folders they replace. They should have
689 + navigation, page templates, useful links, ownership, clear permissions and recent activity. Users need to feel
690 + that XWiki is not just another repository, but a better way to understand the organization.
691 + </p>
692 +
693 + <h2 id="implementation">Practical XWiki features to implement early</h2>
694 +
695 + <p>
696 + The following XWiki improvements can make a Google Workspace transition easier to accept:
697 + </p>
698 +
699 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
700 + <thead>
701 + <tr>
702 + <th>XWiki feature</th>
703 + <th>Why it helps adoption</th>
704 + </tr>
705 + </thead>
706 + <tbody>
707 + <tr>
708 + <td>SSO with OIDC, SAML or LDAP</td>
709 + <td>Reduces login friction and aligns XWiki with the organization’s identity system.</td>
710 + </tr>
711 + <tr>
712 + <td>Page templates</td>
713 + <td>Prevents blank-page confusion and creates consistent documentation habits.</td>
714 + </tr>
715 + <tr>
716 + <td>Working group space model</td>
717 + <td>Gives each team or community group a clear home.</td>
718 + </tr>
719 + <tr>
720 + <td>Metadata fields</td>
721 + <td>Adds owner, status, review date, audience and document type.</td>
722 + </tr>
723 + <tr>
724 + <td>Comments and annotations</td>
725 + <td>Supports discussion around pages without losing context.</td>
726 + </tr>
727 + <tr>
728 + <td>Notifications</td>
729 + <td>Keeps users aware of changes in the spaces they follow.</td>
730 + </tr>
731 + <tr>
732 + <td>Structured applications</td>
733 + <td>Replaces some spreadsheet-based lists with maintainable data-driven apps.</td>
734 + </tr>
735 + <tr>
736 + <td>Approval workflows or change requests</td>
737 + <td>Supports governance for official documents and sensitive content.</td>
738 + </tr>
739 + <tr>
740 + <td>Office document integration</td>
741 + <td>Allows attached office documents to be edited when page-based content is not enough.</td>
742 + </tr>
743 + </tbody>
744 + </table>
745 +
746 + <h2 id="example-architecture">Example collaboration architecture</h2>
747 +
748 + <p>
749 + A realistic open collaboration architecture may look like this:
750 + </p>
751 +
752 + <table class="table table-bordered table-striped">
753 + <thead>
754 + <tr>
755 + <th>Layer</th>
756 + <th>Recommended role</th>
757 + </tr>
758 + </thead>
759 + <tbody>
760 + <tr>
761 + <td>XWiki</td>
762 + <td>Structured knowledge, documentation, governance, working group spaces, policies and decisions.</td>
763 + </tr>
764 + <tr>
765 + <td>Nextcloud</td>
766 + <td>General file storage, file sharing, sync clients and optional groupware.</td>
767 + </tr>
768 + <tr>
769 + <td>ONLYOFFICE or Collabora</td>
770 + <td>Office document editing for documents, spreadsheets and presentations.</td>
771 + </tr>
772 + <tr>
773 + <td>Matrix/Element or Mattermost</td>
774 + <td>Real-time messaging and team coordination.</td>
775 + </tr>
776 + <tr>
777 + <td>Jitsi or Nextcloud Talk</td>
778 + <td>Video meetings and calls.</td>
779 + </tr>
780 + <tr>
781 + <td>Keycloak or existing identity provider</td>
782 + <td>SSO, group mapping and identity lifecycle.</td>
783 + </tr>
784 + <tr>
785 + <td>LimeSurvey</td>
786 + <td>Advanced surveys and research-style data collection.</td>
787 + </tr>
788 + </tbody>
789 + </table>
790 +
791 + <h2 id="faq">FAQ</h2>
792 +
793 + <h3>Can XWiki replace Google Workspace completely?</h3>
794 + <p>
795 + Not realistically. XWiki should not be presented as a full replacement for email, calendar, video meetings,
796 + chat, file sync, spreadsheets and presentation editing. It is much better positioned as the structured
797 + knowledge and documentation layer.
798 + </p>
799 +
800 + <h3>Can XWiki replace Google Docs?</h3>
801 + <p>
802 + It can replace many Google Docs that are actually long-term documentation: policies, procedures, notes,
803 + decisions, guides and knowledge base articles. For fast real-time drafting or complex office formatting,
804 + an office editor such as ONLYOFFICE or Collabora may still be useful.
805 + </p>
806 +
807 + <h3>Can XWiki replace Google Drive?</h3>
808 + <p>
809 + Partially. XWiki can manage attachments around knowledge pages and can support file-oriented applications,
810 + but it should not be treated as a full desktop file sync and sharing platform. Nextcloud is usually a better
811 + fit for that role.
812 + </p>
813 +
814 + <h3>What is the best first step?</h3>
815 + <p>
816 + Start with one high-value pilot: a working group, committee, department or project that has real documentation
817 + pain. Create the structure, templates, permissions and migration rules for that pilot before expanding.
818 + </p>
819 +
820 + <h3>How do you convince users to try XWiki?</h3>
821 + <p>
822 + Do not start by saying that XWiki is replacing everything. Start by showing that XWiki gives them a clearer,
823 + more reliable place for trusted knowledge. The new platform should solve a visible problem: finding the right
824 + document, knowing who owns it, understanding whether it is current and seeing related decisions in context.
825 + </p>
826 +
827 + <h3>What should remain in Google Workspace during transition?</h3>
828 + <p>
829 + Temporary drafts, complex spreadsheets, presentation working files, ongoing external collaborations and
830 + anything without a clear owner can remain outside XWiki until the organization has a reason to migrate or
831 + replace that workflow.
832 + </p>
833 +
834 + <h2 id="sources">Useful reference links</h2>
835 +
836 + <ul>
837 + <li><a href="https://workspace.google.com/">Google Workspace product overview</a></li>
838 + <li><a href="https://www.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Documentation/UserGuide/Features/">XWiki user features</a></li>
839 + <li><a href="https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/App%20Within%20Minutes%20Application">XWiki App Within Minutes</a></li>
840 + <li><a href="https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/OpenID%20Connect/OpenID%20Connect%20Authenticator/">XWiki OpenID Connect Authenticator</a></li>
841 + <li><a href="https://store.xwiki.com/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/OnlyOfficeConnectorApplication">XWiki ONLYOFFICE Connector</a></li>
842 + <li><a href="https://store.xwiki.com/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/Collabora%20Connector%20Application%20%28Pro%29/">XWiki Collabora Connector</a></li>
843 + <li><a href="https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/Nextcloud%20Application/">XWiki Nextcloud Application</a></li>
844 + <li><a href="https://nextcloud.com/">Nextcloud</a></li>
845 + <li><a href="https://www.onlyoffice.com/docs">ONLYOFFICE Docs</a></li>
846 + <li><a href="https://www.collaboraonline.com/">Collabora Online</a></li>
847 + <li><a href="https://mattermost.com/">Mattermost</a></li>
848 + <li><a href="https://element.io/">Element / Matrix</a></li>
849 + <li><a href="https://jitsi.org/">Jitsi</a></li>
850 + <li><a href="https://www.limesurvey.org/">LimeSurvey</a></li>
851 + <li><a href="https://www.keycloak.org/">Keycloak</a></li>
852 + </ul>
853 +
854 + </article>
855 + </div>
856 + </div>
857 + </section>
858 +
859 + <section class="cta-section" aria-labelledby="google-workspace-xwiki-cta-title">
860 + <div class="container">
861 + <div class="cta-panel">
862 + <h2 id="google-workspace-xwiki-cta-title">Planning a transition from Google Workspace to XWiki?</h2>
863 + <p>
864 + Agnease can help evaluate what should move to XWiki, what should remain in office collaboration tools,
865 + and how to design the right structure, permissions, templates, SSO and migration approach.
866 + </p>
867 + <a class="btn btn-primary" href="$xwiki.getURL('contact.WebHome')">Request a consultation</a>
868 + </div>
869 + </div>
870 + </section>
871 +
872 +{{/html}}
873 +{{/velocity}}
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1 +A practical guide for organizations exploring a transition from Google Workspace to XWiki: what XWiki can replace, what should remain in office collaboration tools, and which open-source alternatives can complete the stack.