A new platform that delivers enhanced management and end user features to organizations that have #gonegoogle

As Cloud Sherpas continues to help businesses and organizations adopt Google Apps, we have found that many customers, regardless of location or industry, request a common set of additional management controls and end user features for their Google Apps environment. Until now, the response to most of these inquiries was that organizations had to develop custom applications that work with Google APIs to achieve their goals.

Today Cloud Sherpas announces the start of a beta program for SherpaTools for Google Apps, a new platform that enhances the functionality and ease-of-use for administrators and end-users. Delivered as a service and requiring no installation or updates, we invite Google Apps administrators to signup for the beta program, free of charge, and instantly take control of their domain.

The first module in SherpaTools is Directory Manager, which today enhances an organization’s ability to effectively communicate by granting administrators greater autonomy and management control over both User Profiles and Shared Contacts. Coming soon is an automated bot that retrieves data from your directory from any device connected to Google chat. Also on the horizon is a Compliance and Reporting module that will provide scheduled reports, automated alerts and powerful privacy and content sharing controls.

SherpaTools is the easiest, most cost-efficient way to extend Google Apps in your organization. The suite addresses many common use-cases to provide a more user-friendly and self-directed Google Apps experience. Take one of the limited spots in our beta program and see for yourself the benefits of SherpaTools for Google Apps.

To view a quick, 3 minute video overview and to learn more about SherpaTools for Google Apps, please visit www.sherpatools.com.

Google Apps Sync for Outlook offers choice; Need for Exchange significantly diminished.

On Sunday, PC World claimed that IT decision-makers were still reluctant to leave Microsoft, and writers for BusinessWeek.com scoffed Monday that Google Apps is still not a threat to Redmond, but a stunning announcement from Google on Tuesday has propelled Google Enterprise past what was arguably the most common excuse for Microsoft shops not to use it.

In an unprecedented resolution between SaaS advantages and legacy product familiarity, Google Enterprise has developed the Google Apps Sync for Microsoft Outlook. Now, IT departments reluctant to abandon the familiarity of Outlook can offer users a choice — they can either continue to use Outlook or adopt Gmail, while Google Apps, behind-the-scenes, eliminates the Exchange server and floats the former infrastructure into the cloud. The impressive end result boasts two considerable advantages:

1. High capital expenses associated with purchasing Microsoft server licenses and hardware disappear, as do the operating costs of maintaining this legacy, on-premise infrastructure.

2. End-users determined to stay on Outlook now have that option, although Google is confident that the majority of employees, especially those already familiar with Gmail, will choose Google Apps over the Outlook interface once they experience what Google Apps has to offer.

For an employee like Sherry Arp, though, this option to remain on Outlook is invaluable. Sherry Arp, an Avago Technologies employee that transitioned to this Outlook-Google Apps system, describes the process as “seamless” and adds in this interview that, “It was just like Outlook. I didn’t have to learn anything new.”

For Bob Rudy, vice president and CIO of Avago, Google Apps Sync for Outlook “eliminates the last hurdle or mindset for letting go of [Microsoft] Exchange or the Exchange mentality.” In the clip below, he firmly advocates the product, stating that it saves the company $1.6 million a year.

Dave Girouard, President of Google Enterprise, also mentioned on Tuesday’s announcement that Google has more than 1.75 million businesses and 15 million users already benefiting from its expertise in cloud computing. The plug-in for Microsoft Outlook has eliminated what was perhaps the largest remaining deterrent to the switch from expensive Microsoft Enterprise Agreements (EAs) to Google Apps, and the impending growth now seems virtually limitless.

Google’s own explanation of the product:

If you’re still reading, what are you waiting for? Capitalize on this breakthrough. As a authorized reseller and leading Google Enterprise deployment partner, our job as Cloud Sherpas is to help your organization seamlessly make this transition.

Let’s talk about the switch. We’re ready when you are.