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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 -
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