Wiki source code of From Google Workspace to XWiki: A Practical Transition Guide
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| author | version | line-number | content |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | {{velocity}} | ||
| 2 | #set ($discard = $xwiki.ssx.use('PublicWebSite.WebHome')) | ||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | #set ($summaryCards = [{ | ||
| 5 | 'icon': 'book', | ||
| 6 | 'title': 'Use XWiki for trusted knowledge', | ||
| 7 | 'content': 'Move official documentation, policies, procedures, decisions, meeting outcomes, working group spaces and maintained knowledge into XWiki.' | ||
| 8 | },{ | ||
| 9 | 'icon': 'pencil', | ||
| 10 | 'title': 'Keep specialist tools where needed', | ||
| 11 | 'content': 'Do not force XWiki to replace email, calendar, video calls, chat, desktop file sync, complex spreadsheets or presentation editing.' | ||
| 12 | },{ | ||
| 13 | 'icon': 'road', | ||
| 14 | 'title': 'Transition gradually', | ||
| 15 | 'content': 'Start with one useful pilot space, define templates and ownership rules, then expand once users see XWiki as the trusted source.' | ||
| 16 | }]) | ||
| 17 | |||
| 18 | #set ($xwikiFitCards = [{ | ||
| 19 | 'icon': 'sitemap', | ||
| 20 | 'title': 'Structured knowledge spaces', | ||
| 21 | 'content': 'Create clear spaces for teams, working groups, committees, projects, departments or public documentation areas.' | ||
| 22 | },{ | ||
| 23 | 'icon': 'file-text-o', | ||
| 24 | 'title': 'Official pages and procedures', | ||
| 25 | 'content': 'Turn important documents into maintained wiki pages with history, ownership, review dates and clear navigation.' | ||
| 26 | },{ | ||
| 27 | 'icon': 'check-square-o', | ||
| 28 | 'title': 'Decision records', | ||
| 29 | 'content': 'Capture decisions separately from chats, meetings and drafts so users can understand why something was agreed later.' | ||
| 30 | },{ | ||
| 31 | 'icon': 'users', | ||
| 32 | 'title': 'Working group collaboration', | ||
| 33 | 'content': 'Provide each group with a homepage, meeting notes, decisions, files, responsibilities and links to external tools.' | ||
| 34 | },{ | ||
| 35 | 'icon': 'database', | ||
| 36 | 'title': 'Lightweight structured apps', | ||
| 37 | 'content': 'Replace some spreadsheet-based lists with XWiki applications when the data has stable fields, owners and lifecycle rules.' | ||
| 38 | },{ | ||
| 39 | 'icon': 'shield', | ||
| 40 | 'title': 'Governed access', | ||
| 41 | 'content': 'Use XWiki groups, rights and page hierarchy to create a more explicit model for internal, restricted and public knowledge.' | ||
| 42 | }]) | ||
| 43 | |||
| 44 | #set ($notXWikiCards = [{ | ||
| 45 | 'icon': 'envelope-o', | ||
| 46 | 'title': 'Email and calendar', | ||
| 47 | 'content': 'XWiki is not a mail or scheduling platform. Keep the existing groupware or evaluate tools such as Nextcloud Groupware for calendar and contacts.' | ||
| 48 | },{ | ||
| 49 | 'icon': 'comments-o', | ||
| 50 | 'title': 'Real-time chat', | ||
| 51 | 'content': 'XWiki comments and notifications do not replace chat. Use Matrix/Element, Mattermost, Nextcloud Talk or another dedicated messaging tool.' | ||
| 52 | },{ | ||
| 53 | 'icon': 'video-camera', | ||
| 54 | 'title': 'Video meetings', | ||
| 55 | 'content': 'XWiki can store agendas and notes, but it should not host meetings. Use Jitsi, Nextcloud Talk or another video conferencing solution.' | ||
| 56 | },{ | ||
| 57 | 'icon': 'cloud', | ||
| 58 | 'title': 'Large file sync', | ||
| 59 | 'content': 'XWiki attachments are useful around pages, but XWiki is not a desktop file synchronization platform. Use Nextcloud Files for that role.' | ||
| 60 | },{ | ||
| 61 | 'icon': 'table', | ||
| 62 | 'title': 'Complex spreadsheets', | ||
| 63 | 'content': 'Budgets, calculations, pivot tables and reporting workbooks should remain in office tools such as LibreOffice, ONLYOFFICE or Collabora.' | ||
| 64 | },{ | ||
| 65 | 'icon': 'desktop', | ||
| 66 | 'title': 'Presentation editing', | ||
| 67 | 'content': 'XWiki can store final decks and document the reusable knowledge behind them, but presentation authoring belongs in an office suite.' | ||
| 68 | }]) | ||
| 69 | |||
| 70 | #set ($roadmapSteps = [{ | ||
| 71 | 'title': '1. Define the role of XWiki', | ||
| 72 | 'content': 'Agree that XWiki is the trusted knowledge and governance layer, not a clone of Google Workspace.' | ||
| 73 | },{ | ||
| 74 | 'title': '2. Select high-value content', | ||
| 75 | 'content': 'Start with policies, procedures, decisions, working group documents, onboarding guides and maintained knowledge.' | ||
| 76 | },{ | ||
| 77 | 'title': '3. Create templates', | ||
| 78 | 'content': 'Prepare templates for working group homepages, meeting notes, decision records, policies, procedures and FAQs.' | ||
| 79 | },{ | ||
| 80 | 'title': '4. Design permissions', | ||
| 81 | 'content': 'Define public, internal, restricted and external collaboration areas before migrating content.' | ||
| 82 | },{ | ||
| 83 | 'title': '5. Reduce login friction', | ||
| 84 | 'content': 'Connect XWiki to the organization identity provider through OIDC, SAML, LDAP or another SSO approach.' | ||
| 85 | },{ | ||
| 86 | 'title': '6. Migrate into structure', | ||
| 87 | 'content': 'Do not only copy files. Give each page an owner, location, purpose, access model and review expectation.' | ||
| 88 | },{ | ||
| 89 | 'title': '7. Expand after a pilot', | ||
| 90 | 'content': 'Start with one working group or department, collect feedback, improve the structure, then repeat with more teams.' | ||
| 91 | }]) | ||
| 92 | |||
| 93 | #set ($pilotCards = [{ | ||
| 94 | 'icon': 'home', | ||
| 95 | 'title': 'Working group homepage', | ||
| 96 | 'content': 'Purpose, scope, members, priorities, important links and current responsibilities.' | ||
| 97 | },{ | ||
| 98 | 'icon': 'calendar', | ||
| 99 | 'title': 'Meeting notes', | ||
| 100 | 'content': 'Consistent notes with agenda, participants, decisions, actions and links to related pages.' | ||
| 101 | },{ | ||
| 102 | 'icon': 'check', | ||
| 103 | 'title': 'Decisions', | ||
| 104 | 'content': 'Short decision records with context, options considered, decision, owner and date.' | ||
| 105 | },{ | ||
| 106 | 'icon': 'folder-open-o', | ||
| 107 | 'title': 'Documents and files', | ||
| 108 | 'content': 'Important documents converted to pages when possible, with attachments or external links where needed.' | ||
| 109 | },{ | ||
| 110 | 'icon': 'question-circle', | ||
| 111 | 'title': 'Open questions', | ||
| 112 | 'content': 'A visible place for unresolved topics instead of hiding them in chat or email.' | ||
| 113 | },{ | ||
| 114 | 'icon': 'link', | ||
| 115 | 'title': 'External tool links', | ||
| 116 | 'content': 'Clear bridges to Drive, Nextcloud, office editors, issue trackers, chat or other tools still in use.' | ||
| 117 | }]) | ||
| 118 | |||
| 119 | #set ($implementationItems = [ | ||
| 120 | 'Single sign-on with OIDC, SAML, LDAP or another identity provider.', | ||
| 121 | 'A simple space model for departments, working groups, projects and public documentation.', | ||
| 122 | 'Page templates for recurring content types such as meeting notes, decisions, policies and procedures.', | ||
| 123 | 'Metadata fields such as owner, status, review date, audience and document type.', | ||
| 124 | 'Clear group and permission model for public, internal, restricted and external collaboration areas.', | ||
| 125 | 'Notifications and watch rules so users know when important pages change.', | ||
| 126 | 'Structured applications for lists, registers and lightweight internal processes.', | ||
| 127 | 'Optional office document integration when page-based content is not enough.', | ||
| 128 | 'A migration dashboard showing selected content, owners, status and unresolved questions.' | ||
| 129 | ]) | ||
| 130 | |||
| 131 | {{html clean="false"}} | ||
| 132 | |||
| 133 | <section class="resource-header" aria-labelledby="hero-title"> | ||
| 134 | <div class="container"> | ||
| 135 | <div class="text-center"> | ||
| 136 | <div class="hero-kicker"> | ||
| 137 | <i class="fa fa-exchange" aria-hidden="true"></i> | ||
| 138 | XWiki migration and collaboration guidance | ||
| 139 | </div> | ||
| 140 | </div> | ||
| 141 | |||
| 142 | <h1 id="hero-title">From Google Workspace to XWiki: a practical transition guide</h1> | ||
| 143 | |||
| 144 | <p class="resource-summary"> | ||
| 145 | A practical guide for moving durable knowledge, documentation and governance from Google Workspace | ||
| 146 | into XWiki, while keeping the right tools for files, meetings, chat, office editing and communication. | ||
| 147 | </p> | ||
| 148 | </div> | ||
| 149 | </section> | ||
| 150 | |||
| 151 | <section class="resource-page"> | ||
| 152 | <div class="container"> | ||
| 153 | <div class="resource-layout"> | ||
| 154 | |||
| 155 | <aside class="resource-sidebar" aria-label="Page summary"> | ||
| 156 | <h4>In this guide</h4> | ||
| 157 | <ul> | ||
| 158 | <li><a href="#main-idea">Main idea</a></li> | ||
| 159 | <li><a href="#quick-view">Quick view</a></li> | ||
| 160 | <li><a href="#workspace-map">Google Workspace map</a></li> | ||
| 161 | <li><a href="#replacement-map">Replacement map</a></li> | ||
| 162 | <li><a href="#what-belongs-in-xwiki">What belongs in XWiki</a></li> | ||
| 163 | <li><a href="#not-xwiki">What not to replace</a></li> | ||
| 164 | <li><a href="#open-source-stack">Open-source stack</a></li> | ||
| 165 | <li><a href="#transition-plan">Transition plan</a></li> | ||
| 166 | <li><a href="#pilot">Pilot example</a></li> | ||
| 167 | <li><a href="#adoption">Adoption guidance</a></li> | ||
| 168 | <li><a href="#implementation">Implementation checklist</a></li> | ||
| 169 | <li><a href="#related-resources">Related resources</a></li> | ||
| 170 | <li><a href="#faq">FAQ</a></li> | ||
| 171 | </ul> | ||
| 172 | </aside> | ||
| 173 | |||
| 174 | <article class="resource-content services"> | ||
| 175 | |||
| 176 | <p> | ||
| 177 | Moving an organization away from <a href="https://workspace.google.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Google Workspace</a> | ||
| 178 | is rarely just a software migration. It changes habits, ownership, permissions, document lifecycle and the | ||
| 179 | way people expect collaboration to happen. | ||
| 180 | </p> | ||
| 181 | |||
| 182 | <p> | ||
| 183 | Google Workspace is popular because it combines documents, files, email, calendar, meetings, chat, forms, | ||
| 184 | sharing and search in one familiar environment. A transition to XWiki should therefore avoid the weak argument | ||
| 185 | that XWiki can replace everything. It cannot, and it should not try to. | ||
| 186 | </p> | ||
| 187 | |||
| 188 | <div class="resource-note"> | ||
| 189 | <p> | ||
| 190 | <strong>The practical position:</strong> XWiki is strongest as the structured knowledge layer. It is the place | ||
| 191 | for official documentation, maintained knowledge, working group spaces, policies, procedures, decisions, | ||
| 192 | governance content and organizational memory. | ||
| 193 | </p> | ||
| 194 | </div> | ||
| 195 | |||
| 196 | <h2 id="main-idea">The main idea: replace the knowledge problem, not the entire suite</h2> | ||
| 197 | |||
| 198 | <p> | ||
| 199 | The strongest argument for XWiki is not that it imitates Google Workspace. The strongest argument is that it | ||
| 200 | solves a problem that often appears inside Google Workspace over time: scattered documents, unclear ownership, | ||
| 201 | duplicated files, weak navigation, old links, inconsistent permissions and no obvious place for the trusted | ||
| 202 | version of important knowledge. | ||
| 203 | </p> | ||
| 204 | |||
| 205 | <div class="resource-note"> | ||
| 206 | <p> | ||
| 207 | <strong>Summary recommendation:</strong> use XWiki as the trusted knowledge and governance layer. Move official | ||
| 208 | documentation, procedures, decisions, policies, meeting outcomes and maintained knowledge into XWiki. Keep | ||
| 209 | real-time office editing, email, calendar, chat, video meetings and large file sync in dedicated tools that | ||
| 210 | can integrate with or link back to XWiki. | ||
| 211 | </p> | ||
| 212 | </div> | ||
| 213 | <div class="resource-inline-cta"> | ||
| 214 | <p> | ||
| 215 | <strong>>Need help positioning the transition?</strong> | ||
| 216 | Agnease can help map current Google Workspace usage, identify what should move to XWiki, | ||
| 217 | define the right open-source alternatives, and prepare a realistic pilot migration. | ||
| 218 | </p> | ||
| 219 | <a class="btn btn-secondary" href="$xwiki.getURL('contact.WebHome')">Request a customization review</a> | ||
| 220 | </div> | ||
| 221 | |||
| 222 | <h2 id="quick-view">Quick view: how to position the transition</h2> | ||
| 223 | |||
| 224 | <div class="services-grid"> | ||
| 225 | #foreach ($entry in $summaryCards) | ||
| 226 | <article class="service"> | ||
| 227 | <div class="service-icon" aria-hidden="true"> | ||
| 228 | <i class="fa fa-$entry.icon"></i> | ||
| 229 | </div> | ||
| 230 | <div class="service-body"> | ||
| 231 | <h4>$entry.title</h4> | ||
| 232 | <p>$entry.content</p> | ||
| 233 | </div> | ||
| 234 | </article> | ||
| 235 | #end | ||
| 236 | </div> | ||
| 237 | |||
| 238 | <h2 id="workspace-map">What Google Workspace usually provides</h2> | ||
| 239 | |||
| 240 | <p> | ||
| 241 | Before proposing a transition, it is useful to explain what people currently get from Google Workspace. | ||
| 242 | Users are not only using a document editor. They are using a complete collaboration habit. | ||
| 243 | </p> | ||
| 244 | |||
| 245 | <table class="table table-bordered table-striped"> | ||
| 246 | <thead> | ||
| 247 | <tr> | ||
| 248 | <th>Google Workspace area</th> | ||
| 249 | <th>What users value</th> | ||
| 250 | <th>Risk over time</th> | ||
| 251 | </tr> | ||
| 252 | </thead> | ||
| 253 | <tbody> | ||
| 254 | <tr> | ||
| 255 | <td>Google Docs</td> | ||
| 256 | <td>Fast writing, real-time editing, comments and suggestions.</td> | ||
| 257 | <td>Important documents become isolated files instead of maintained knowledge.</td> | ||
| 258 | </tr> | ||
| 259 | <tr> | ||
| 260 | <td>Google Drive</td> | ||
| 261 | <td>Easy sharing, folders, file ownership and external collaboration.</td> | ||
| 262 | <td>Folder structures grow organically and become hard to govern.</td> | ||
| 263 | </tr> | ||
| 264 | <tr> | ||
| 265 | <td>Google Sheets</td> | ||
| 266 | <td>Trackers, lists, budgets, lightweight databases and reports.</td> | ||
| 267 | <td>Business processes become hidden in spreadsheets.</td> | ||
| 268 | </tr> | ||
| 269 | <tr> | ||
| 270 | <td>Google Slides</td> | ||
| 271 | <td>Presentation creation and sharing.</td> | ||
| 272 | <td>Reusable knowledge remains locked in slide decks.</td> | ||
| 273 | </tr> | ||
| 274 | <tr> | ||
| 275 | <td>Google Forms</td> | ||
| 276 | <td>Quick surveys, registrations and data collection.</td> | ||
| 277 | <td>Collected data may remain detached from internal processes.</td> | ||
| 278 | </tr> | ||
| 279 | <tr> | ||
| 280 | <td>Google Sites</td> | ||
| 281 | <td>Simple internal or public pages.</td> | ||
| 282 | <td>Content can be separated from the wider knowledge base.</td> | ||
| 283 | </tr> | ||
| 284 | <tr> | ||
| 285 | <td>Gmail, Calendar, Meet and Chat</td> | ||
| 286 | <td>Communication, scheduling, meetings and quick coordination.</td> | ||
| 287 | <td>Decisions remain scattered in messages, calls and informal conversations.</td> | ||
| 288 | </tr> | ||
| 289 | </tbody> | ||
| 290 | </table> | ||
| 291 | |||
| 292 | <h2 id="replacement-map">What can move to XWiki, and what should move elsewhere</h2> | ||
| 293 | |||
| 294 | <p> | ||
| 295 | A successful transition separates content by purpose. Some content belongs naturally in XWiki. Some should | ||
| 296 | remain in office collaboration tools. Some should move to other open-source or self-hostable systems that | ||
| 297 | complement XWiki. | ||
| 298 | </p> | ||
| 299 | |||
| 300 | <table class="table table-bordered table-striped"> | ||
| 301 | <thead> | ||
| 302 | <tr> | ||
| 303 | <th>Current Google Workspace usage</th> | ||
| 304 | <th>Recommended destination</th> | ||
| 305 | <th>Transition guidance</th> | ||
| 306 | </tr> | ||
| 307 | </thead> | ||
| 308 | <tbody> | ||
| 309 | <tr> | ||
| 310 | <td>Official documentation in Google Docs</td> | ||
| 311 | <td>XWiki pages, spaces, page history, comments and permissions.</td> | ||
| 312 | <td>Move final and maintained documentation into XWiki pages.</td> | ||
| 313 | </tr> | ||
| 314 | <tr> | ||
| 315 | <td>Policies, procedures and governance documents</td> | ||
| 316 | <td>XWiki pages with templates, metadata, review dates and ownership.</td> | ||
| 317 | <td>Move to XWiki and add lifecycle rules.</td> | ||
| 318 | </tr> | ||
| 319 | <tr> | ||
| 320 | <td>Meeting notes</td> | ||
| 321 | <td>XWiki meeting note templates inside team or working group spaces.</td> | ||
| 322 | <td>Start new meeting notes in XWiki and link older notes only when useful.</td> | ||
| 323 | </tr> | ||
| 324 | <tr> | ||
| 325 | <td>Working group or committee documents</td> | ||
| 326 | <td>XWiki spaces with homepage, members, notes, decisions and documents.</td> | ||
| 327 | <td>Create one structured space per group.</td> | ||
| 328 | </tr> | ||
| 329 | <tr> | ||
| 330 | <td>Decision records</td> | ||
| 331 | <td>XWiki decision page template.</td> | ||
| 332 | <td>Move decisions out of scattered Docs, email and chat.</td> | ||
| 333 | </tr> | ||
| 334 | <tr> | ||
| 335 | <td>Google Sites pages</td> | ||
| 336 | <td>XWiki public or private spaces.</td> | ||
| 337 | <td>Move informational pages that need history, permissions or governance.</td> | ||
| 338 | </tr> | ||
| 339 | <tr> | ||
| 340 | <td>Shared file archive</td> | ||
| 341 | <td>XWiki attachments for curated files; <a href="https://nextcloud.com/files/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nextcloud Files</a> for general file sharing.</td> | ||
| 342 | <td>Use XWiki for files attached to knowledge pages, not for massive file sync.</td> | ||
| 343 | </tr> | ||
| 344 | <tr> | ||
| 345 | <td>Simple trackers in Google Sheets</td> | ||
| 346 | <td>XWiki structured applications, <a href="https://extensions.xwiki.org/xwiki/bin/view/Extension/App%20Within%20Minutes%20Application" target="_blank" rel="noopener">App Within Minutes</a> or custom XWiki apps.</td> | ||
| 347 | <td>Move recurring lists with stable fields and clear ownership.</td> | ||
| 348 | </tr> | ||
| 349 | <tr> | ||
| 350 | <td>Collaborative drafting in Google Docs</td> | ||
| 351 | <td>XWiki pages for final content; <a href="https://www.onlyoffice.com/docs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ONLYOFFICE Docs</a> or <a href="https://www.collaboraonline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Collabora Online</a> for office editing.</td> | ||
| 352 | <td>Use XWiki for the maintained version, not every draft.</td> | ||
| 353 | </tr> | ||
| 354 | <tr> | ||
| 355 | <td>Forms and surveys</td> | ||
| 356 | <td>XWiki forms for internal processes; <a href="https://www.limesurvey.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LimeSurvey</a> for advanced surveys.</td> | ||
| 357 | <td>Use the right tool depending on whether it is workflow data or survey data.</td> | ||
| 358 | </tr> | ||
| 359 | </tbody> | ||
| 360 | </table> | ||
| 361 | |||
| 362 | <h2 id="what-belongs-in-xwiki">What belongs naturally in XWiki</h2> | ||
| 363 | |||
| 364 | <p> | ||
| 365 | XWiki is a strong destination for information that should be easy to find, maintain, discuss, review and trust | ||
| 366 | over time. | ||
| 367 | </p> | ||
| 368 | |||
| 369 | <div class="services-grid"> | ||
| 370 | #foreach ($entry in $xwikiFitCards) | ||
| 371 | <article class="service"> | ||
| 372 | <div class="service-icon" aria-hidden="true"> | ||
| 373 | <i class="fa fa-$entry.icon"></i> | ||
| 374 | </div> | ||
| 375 | <div class="service-body"> | ||
| 376 | <h4>$entry.title</h4> | ||
| 377 | <p>$entry.content</p> | ||
| 378 | </div> | ||
| 379 | </article> | ||
| 380 | #end | ||
| 381 | </div> | ||
| 382 | |||
| 383 | <h2 id="not-xwiki">What should not be replaced by XWiki</h2> | ||
| 384 | |||
| 385 | <p> | ||
| 386 | A credible transition guide should clearly explain where XWiki is not the right tool. This avoids unrealistic | ||
| 387 | expectations and helps the organization design a better collaboration stack. | ||
| 388 | </p> | ||
| 389 | |||
| 390 | <div class="services-grid"> | ||
| 391 | #foreach ($entry in $notXWikiCards) | ||
| 392 | <article class="service"> | ||
| 393 | <div class="service-icon" aria-hidden="true"> | ||
| 394 | <i class="fa fa-$entry.icon"></i> | ||
| 395 | </div> | ||
| 396 | <div class="service-body"> | ||
| 397 | <h4>$entry.title</h4> | ||
| 398 | <p>$entry.content</p> | ||
| 399 | </div> | ||
| 400 | </article> | ||
| 401 | #end | ||
| 402 | </div> | ||
| 403 | |||
| 404 | <div class="resource-note"> | ||
| 405 | <p> | ||
| 406 | <strong>In practice:</strong> the goal is not to make XWiki do everything. The goal is to make XWiki the | ||
| 407 | trusted home for maintained knowledge, while integrating or linking to the right tools for files, office | ||
| 408 | editing, chat, meetings and identity. | ||
| 409 | </p> | ||
| 410 | </div> | ||
| 411 | |||
| 412 | <h2 id="open-source-stack">Open-source alternatives that can complement XWiki</h2> | ||
| 413 | |||
| 414 | <p> | ||
| 415 | For organizations trying to reduce dependency on Google Workspace, XWiki can become part of a broader | ||
| 416 | open-source collaboration architecture. The exact stack depends on hosting preferences, support needs, | ||
| 417 | security requirements and user expectations. | ||
| 418 | </p> | ||
| 419 | |||
| 420 | <table class="table table-bordered table-striped"> | ||
| 421 | <thead> | ||
| 422 | <tr> | ||
| 423 | <th>Need</th> | ||
| 424 | <th>Possible solution</th> | ||
| 425 | <th>How it works with XWiki</th> | ||
| 426 | </tr> | ||
| 427 | </thead> | ||
| 428 | <tbody> | ||
| 429 | <tr> | ||
| 430 | <td>Structured knowledge base</td> | ||
| 431 | <td><a href="https://www.xwiki.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">XWiki</a></td> | ||
| 432 | <td>Main platform for documentation, governance, knowledge management and structured content.</td> | ||
| 433 | </tr> | ||
| 434 | <tr> | ||
| 435 | <td>File sync and sharing</td> | ||
| 436 | <td><a href="https://nextcloud.com/files/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nextcloud Files</a></td> | ||
| 437 | <td>Use for general file storage and sharing; link important files from XWiki pages.</td> | ||
| 438 | </tr> | ||
| 439 | <tr> | ||
| 440 | <td>Office document editing</td> | ||
| 441 | <td><a href="https://www.onlyoffice.com/docs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ONLYOFFICE Docs</a> or <a href="https://www.collaboraonline.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Collabora Online</a></td> | ||
| 442 | <td>Use for documents, spreadsheets and presentations that need office-style editing.</td> | ||
| 443 | </tr> | ||
| 444 | <tr> | ||
| 445 | <td>Chat and team messaging</td> | ||
| 446 | <td><a href="https://element.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Matrix/Element</a> or <a href="https://mattermost.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mattermost</a></td> | ||
| 447 | <td>Use for real-time conversation; move durable decisions and outcomes back into XWiki.</td> | ||
| 448 | </tr> | ||
| 449 | <tr> | ||
| 450 | <td>Video meetings</td> | ||
| 451 | <td><a href="https://jitsi.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jitsi</a> or <a href="https://nextcloud.com/talk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nextcloud Talk</a></td> | ||
| 452 | <td>Use for calls; store agendas, notes and decisions in XWiki.</td> | ||
| 453 | </tr> | ||
| 454 | <tr> | ||
| 455 | <td>Surveys and advanced forms</td> | ||
| 456 | <td><a href="https://www.limesurvey.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LimeSurvey</a></td> | ||
| 457 | <td>Use for survey campaigns; publish results, summaries or procedures in XWiki.</td> | ||
| 458 | </tr> | ||
| 459 | <tr> | ||
| 460 | <td>Identity and SSO</td> | ||
| 461 | <td><a href="https://www.keycloak.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Keycloak</a>, Microsoft Entra ID, Google identity or another OIDC/SAML provider.</td> | ||
| 462 | <td>Use SSO so users access XWiki without a separate password and with mapped groups where appropriate.</td> | ||
| 463 | </tr> | ||
| 464 | </tbody> | ||
| 465 | </table> | ||
| 466 | |||
| 467 | <h2 id="transition-plan">A practical transition plan</h2> | ||
| 468 | |||
| 469 | <p> | ||
| 470 | The safest transition is gradual. The organization should not begin by migrating every Google Drive folder. | ||
| 471 | That approach creates too much noise, too many permission questions and too many low-value documents. | ||
| 472 | </p> | ||
| 473 | |||
| 474 | <ol class="process-list"> | ||
| 475 | #foreach ($entry in $roadmapSteps) | ||
| 476 | <li> | ||
| 477 | <strong>$entry.title</strong> | ||
| 478 | $entry.content | ||
| 479 | </li> | ||
| 480 | #end | ||
| 481 | </ol> | ||
| 482 | |||
| 483 | <h2 id="pilot">A good pilot: one working group space</h2> | ||
| 484 | |||
| 485 | <p> | ||
| 486 | A strong pilot is small enough to control but useful enough to prove value. For example, one working group, | ||
| 487 | committee, project team or community group can move its durable knowledge into XWiki while keeping office | ||
| 488 | tools for drafting, spreadsheets and presentations when needed. | ||
| 489 | </p> | ||
| 490 | |||
| 491 | <div class="services-grid"> | ||
| 492 | #foreach ($entry in $pilotCards) | ||
| 493 | <article class="service"> | ||
| 494 | <div class="service-icon" aria-hidden="true"> | ||
| 495 | <i class="fa fa-$entry.icon"></i> | ||
| 496 | </div> | ||
| 497 | <div class="service-body"> | ||
| 498 | <h4>$entry.title</h4> | ||
| 499 | <p>$entry.content</p> | ||
| 500 | </div> | ||
| 501 | </article> | ||
| 502 | #end | ||
| 503 | </div> | ||
| 504 | |||
| 505 | <div class="resource-note"> | ||
| 506 | <p> | ||
| 507 | <strong>Pilot success question:</strong> can members find the current and trusted version of important | ||
| 508 | information faster than before? | ||
| 509 | </p> | ||
| 510 | </div> | ||
| 511 | |||
| 512 | <h2 id="adoption">How to convince the team to use XWiki</h2> | ||
| 513 | |||
| 514 | <p> | ||
| 515 | People do not usually change collaboration habits because a new platform exists. They change when the new | ||
| 516 | platform makes an important part of their work easier, clearer or more reliable. | ||
| 517 | </p> | ||
| 518 | |||
| 519 | <p> | ||
| 520 | A useful adoption message is: | ||
| 521 | </p> | ||
| 522 | |||
| 523 | <div class="resource-note"> | ||
| 524 | <p> | ||
| 525 | <strong>XWiki is not another folder where files disappear. It is the place where the organization keeps | ||
| 526 | the current version, the owner, the context, the decision and the links around important knowledge.</strong> | ||
| 527 | </p> | ||
| 528 | </div> | ||
| 529 | |||
| 530 | <p> | ||
| 531 | Simple rules help adoption more than abstract platform arguments: | ||
| 532 | </p> | ||
| 533 | |||
| 534 | <ul class="resource-checklist"> | ||
| 535 | <li>If it is official, maintained or reusable, it belongs in XWiki.</li> | ||
| 536 | <li>If it is a temporary draft, it can stay in an office editor until it becomes useful knowledge.</li> | ||
| 537 | <li>If it is a complex spreadsheet, do not force it into XWiki.</li> | ||
| 538 | <li>If it was decided in a meeting or chat, summarize the decision in XWiki.</li> | ||
| 539 | <li>If nobody owns it, do not migrate it as current content.</li> | ||
| 540 | <li>If users need the same answer repeatedly, create or improve an XWiki page.</li> | ||
| 541 | </ul> | ||
| 542 | |||
| 543 | <h2 id="implementation">Practical XWiki features to implement early</h2> | ||
| 544 | |||
| 545 | <p> | ||
| 546 | The following improvements can make the transition easier to accept and easier to govern. | ||
| 547 | </p> | ||
| 548 | |||
| 549 | <ul class="resource-checklist"> | ||
| 550 | #foreach ($item in $implementationItems) | ||
| 551 | <li>$item</li> | ||
| 552 | #end | ||
| 553 | </ul> | ||
| 554 | |||
| 555 | <h2>Example transition scenarios</h2> | ||
| 556 | |||
| 557 | <h3>Scenario 1: Working group documentation</h3> | ||
| 558 | <p> | ||
| 559 | A working group has Google Docs for agendas, meeting notes, decisions and reference files. In XWiki, this can | ||
| 560 | become a structured space with a homepage, meeting note template, decision records, document list, open | ||
| 561 | questions and links to files that remain in Nextcloud or another storage system. | ||
| 562 | </p> | ||
| 563 | |||
| 564 | <h3>Scenario 2: Policies and procedures</h3> | ||
| 565 | <p> | ||
| 566 | Policies stored as Google Docs can become XWiki pages with owner, review date, status, history and restricted | ||
| 567 | edit rights. This makes it easier to know which version is current and who is responsible for keeping it updated. | ||
| 568 | </p> | ||
| 569 | |||
| 570 | <h3>Scenario 3: Spreadsheet tracker</h3> | ||
| 571 | <p> | ||
| 572 | A simple Google Sheet used as a list of requests, assets, documents or contacts may become a small XWiki | ||
| 573 | application when the fields are stable. A complex financial model or reporting workbook should remain in an | ||
| 574 | office spreadsheet tool. | ||
| 575 | </p> | ||
| 576 | |||
| 577 | <h2>Recommended target architecture</h2> | ||
| 578 | |||
| 579 | <p> | ||
| 580 | A realistic architecture does not replace every Google Workspace feature with XWiki. It gives each tool a clear role. | ||
| 581 | </p> | ||
| 582 | |||
| 583 | <table class="table table-bordered table-striped"> | ||
| 584 | <thead> | ||
| 585 | <tr> | ||
| 586 | <th>Layer</th> | ||
| 587 | <th>Recommended role</th> | ||
| 588 | </tr> | ||
| 589 | </thead> | ||
| 590 | <tbody> | ||
| 591 | <tr> | ||
| 592 | <td>XWiki</td> | ||
| 593 | <td>Structured knowledge, documentation, governance, working group spaces, policies and decisions.</td> | ||
| 594 | </tr> | ||
| 595 | <tr> | ||
| 596 | <td>Nextcloud or equivalent</td> | ||
| 597 | <td>General file storage, file sharing, sync clients and optional groupware.</td> | ||
| 598 | </tr> | ||
| 599 | <tr> | ||
| 600 | <td>ONLYOFFICE, Collabora or LibreOffice</td> | ||
| 601 | <td>Office document editing for documents, spreadsheets and presentations.</td> | ||
| 602 | </tr> | ||
| 603 | <tr> | ||
| 604 | <td>Matrix/Element, Mattermost or Nextcloud Talk</td> | ||
| 605 | <td>Real-time messaging and team coordination.</td> | ||
| 606 | </tr> | ||
| 607 | <tr> | ||
| 608 | <td>Jitsi or another meeting tool</td> | ||
| 609 | <td>Video meetings and calls.</td> | ||
| 610 | </tr> | ||
| 611 | <tr> | ||
| 612 | <td>Keycloak or existing identity provider</td> | ||
| 613 | <td>SSO, group mapping and identity lifecycle.</td> | ||
| 614 | </tr> | ||
| 615 | </tbody> | ||
| 616 | </table> | ||
| 617 | |||
| 618 | <div id="related-resources" class="resource-note related-resources"> | ||
| 619 | <p><strong>Related Agnease resources:</strong></p> | ||
| 620 | <ul> | ||
| 621 | <li><a href="$xwiki.getURL('services.xwiki-migrations')">XWiki migration services</a></li> | ||
| 622 | <li><a href="$xwiki.getURL('services.xwiki-authentication-access-control')">Authentication and access control for XWiki</a></li> | ||
| 623 | <li><a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-custom-development')">How to customize XWiki without creating upgrade problems</a></li> | ||
| 624 | <li><a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-access-rights-governance')">Why XWiki access rights need a clear governance model</a></li> | ||
| 625 | <li><a href="$xwiki.getURL('resources.xwiki-security-review')">What an XWiki security review should actually include</a></li> | ||
| 626 | </ul> | ||
| 627 | </div> | ||
| 628 | |||
| 629 | <h2 id="faq">FAQ</h2> | ||
| 630 | |||
| 631 | <details class="resource-faq-item" open> | ||
| 632 | <summary>Can XWiki replace Google Workspace completely?</summary> | ||
| 633 | <p> | ||
| 634 | Not realistically. XWiki should not be presented as a full replacement for email, calendar, video meetings, | ||
| 635 | chat, file sync, spreadsheets and presentation editing. It is much better positioned as the structured | ||
| 636 | knowledge and documentation layer. | ||
| 637 | </p> | ||
| 638 | </details> | ||
| 639 | |||
| 640 | <details class="resource-faq-item"> | ||
| 641 | <summary>Can XWiki replace Google Docs?</summary> | ||
| 642 | <p> | ||
| 643 | It can replace many Google Docs that are actually long-term documentation: policies, procedures, notes, | ||
| 644 | decisions, guides and knowledge base articles. For fast real-time drafting or complex office formatting, | ||
| 645 | an office editor such as ONLYOFFICE or Collabora may still be useful. | ||
| 646 | </p> | ||
| 647 | </details> | ||
| 648 | |||
| 649 | <details class="resource-faq-item"> | ||
| 650 | <summary>Can XWiki replace Google Drive?</summary> | ||
| 651 | <p> | ||
| 652 | Partially. XWiki can manage attachments around knowledge pages and can support file-oriented applications, | ||
| 653 | but it should not be treated as a full desktop file sync and sharing platform. Nextcloud is usually a better | ||
| 654 | fit for that role. | ||
| 655 | </p> | ||
| 656 | </details> | ||
| 657 | |||
| 658 | <details class="resource-faq-item"> | ||
| 659 | <summary>What is the best first step?</summary> | ||
| 660 | <p> | ||
| 661 | Start with one high-value pilot: a working group, committee, department or project that has real | ||
| 662 | documentation pain. Create the structure, templates, permissions and migration rules for that pilot before | ||
| 663 | expanding. | ||
| 664 | </p> | ||
| 665 | </details> | ||
| 666 | |||
| 667 | <details class="resource-faq-item"> | ||
| 668 | <summary>How do you convince users to try XWiki?</summary> | ||
| 669 | <p> | ||
| 670 | Do not start by saying that XWiki is replacing everything. Start by showing that XWiki gives users a clearer, | ||
| 671 | more reliable place for trusted knowledge: the current document, the owner, the status, the related decisions | ||
| 672 | and the wider context. | ||
| 673 | </p> | ||
| 674 | </details> | ||
| 675 | |||
| 676 | <details class="resource-faq-item"> | ||
| 677 | <summary>What should remain outside XWiki during transition?</summary> | ||
| 678 | <p> | ||
| 679 | Temporary drafts, complex spreadsheets, presentation working files, ongoing external collaborations and | ||
| 680 | anything without a clear owner can remain outside XWiki until the organization has a reason to migrate or | ||
| 681 | replace that workflow. | ||
| 682 | </p> | ||
| 683 | </details> | ||
| 684 | |||
| 685 | </article> | ||
| 686 | </div> | ||
| 687 | </div> | ||
| 688 | </section> | ||
| 689 | |||
| 690 | <section class="cta-section" aria-labelledby="google-workspace-xwiki-cta-title"> | ||
| 691 | <div class="container"> | ||
| 692 | <div class="cta-panel"> | ||
| 693 | <h2 id="google-workspace-xwiki-cta-title">Planning a transition from Google Workspace to XWiki?</h2> | ||
| 694 | <p> | ||
| 695 | Agnease can help evaluate what should move to XWiki, what should remain in office collaboration tools, | ||
| 696 | and how to design the right structure, permissions, templates, SSO and migration approach. | ||
| 697 | </p> | ||
| 698 | <a class="btn btn-primary" href="$xwiki.getURL('contact.WebHome')">Request a consultation</a> | ||
| 699 | </div> | ||
| 700 | </div> | ||
| 701 | </section> | ||
| 702 | |||
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