Beyond Desktop: Enhanced Browser Application Usage Insights for Google Workspace Readiness
Organizations preparing for a Google Workspace migration need to understand more than which productivity applications are installed across their devices. Employees may use desktop applications, browser-based productivity tools, or a combination of both. Without visibility into these different usage patterns, IT teams risk overlooking application dependencies and making migration decisions based on incomplete information.
Google Endpoints Readiness Tool (GRT) has enhanced its Workspace Readiness capabilities to address this challenge. The latest update extends productivity application visibility beyond installed desktop applications to include browser-based Microsoft 365 and WPS Office usage.
By combining existing application inventory data with browser activity insights, GRT provides organizations with a more complete understanding of their productivity application landscape before migration.
From Desktop Applications to Complete Usage Visibility
GRT Workspace Readiness already helps organizations assess their existing Microsoft 365 and WPS Office desktop applications. Administrators can identify installed applications, distinguish between used and unused software, review file types and macro dependencies, assess compatibility, and explore Google Workspace alternatives.
However, employees do not always rely on installed software to complete their daily tasks.
Applications such as Microsoft Word for the web, Excel for the web, PowerPoint for the web, and Outlook on the web allow employees to work directly through their browsers. These browser-based experiences may exist alongside installed desktop applications, creating a productivity footprint that traditional desktop-only assessments cannot fully capture.
When browser activity is excluded, organizations may overlook employees who already rely on web-based productivity applications, underestimate application dependencies, or fail to understand how different productivity suites are used across their environment.
The enhanced Workspace Readiness feature addresses this gap by incorporating supported browser-based Microsoft 365 and WPS Office usage using URL data already collected by GRT's data collectors. This extends the existing assessment without requiring additional endpoint data collection.
Understand How Applications Are Actually Used
Knowing that an application is installed does not necessarily mean employees actively use it. Similarly, identifying browser-based usage does not reveal whether employees also depend on the desktop version.
To provide clearer visibility, the enhanced Workspace Readiness feature introduces three application usage classifications:
Desktop Only
Identifies applications used through their installed desktop versions, with no corresponding browser usage detected.
Browser Only
Identifies applications accessed through supported browser-based versions, without detected usage of the corresponding desktop application.
Combined Usage
Identifies applications used across both installed desktop and browser-based environments.
These classifications help administrators understand how supported Microsoft 365 and WPS Office applications are accessed across organizational devices.
Rather than treating desktop and browser activity as separate application landscapes, GRT brings both into a unified productivity assessment.
Visibility Across Microsoft 365 and WPS Office
Organizations may use Microsoft 365, WPS Office, or both across their device environments. Understanding this overlap is important when evaluating productivity application dependencies before migration.
The enhanced Workspace Readiness feature maintains separate visibility into Microsoft 365 and WPS Office at both organization and device levels.
Administrators can:
Review Microsoft 365 and WPS Office applications separately.
Identify used and installed-but-unused applications within each productivity suite.
Understand the number of devices using each supported application.
Distinguish between desktop-only, browser-only, and combined usage.
Review application compatibility and supported Google Workspace alternatives.
This makes it easier to understand which productivity applications employees rely on and how those applications are distributed across the organization.
Identify Productivity Dependencies Before Migration
Consider an organization preparing to move its employees to Google Workspace.
Some employees may primarily use installed Microsoft Office applications, while others may work through browser-based alternatives. Certain devices may use both desktop and browser versions, while others may have applications installed without any detected usage.
Without visibility into these differences, migration planning may overlook important dependencies.
With enhanced Workspace Readiness, administrators can examine application usage patterns and continue reviewing existing file types, macro dependencies, compatibility information, and Google Workspace alternatives.
For example, identifying macro dependencies can help teams recognize applications that may require additional assessment before migration. Understanding browser adoption can also provide useful context when evaluating how employees currently interact with productivity applications.
Together, these insights help organizations identify potential migration blockers, prioritize areas for further investigation, and prepare more effectively for Google Workspace adoption.
Better Migration Planning Through Complete Productivity Insights
A successful migration starts with understanding the environment that exists today.
By extending application visibility to supported browser-based Microsoft 365 and WPS Office usage, GRT helps organizations move beyond desktop-only assessments and develop a more complete understanding of their productivity landscape.
The enhancement builds on existing Workspace Readiness capabilities rather than replacing them. Administrators retain visibility into installed applications, application usage, file types, macro dependencies, compatibility, and Google Workspace alternatives while gaining additional context about how supported applications are accessed.
For IT administrators, this means better visibility into application dependencies. For migration teams, it provides additional information to support workload assessment and planning. For decision-makers, it creates a clearer foundation for evaluating the organization's readiness to move to Google Workspace.
Understand what your organization uses. See how employees access it. Plan your Google Workspace migration with greater confidence.
Explore Google Endpoints Readiness Tool: https://googleendpointsreadinesstool.com/
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the enhanced Google Workspace Readiness feature?
The enhancement expands GRT Workspace Readiness beyond installed desktop applications to include supported browser-based Microsoft 365 and WPS Office usage. It provides a more complete view of productivity application usage across organizational devices.
2. Which productivity applications are supported?
The feature continues supporting Microsoft 365 and WPS Office desktop applications while introducing browser-based usage detection for supported applications within these productivity suites.
3. What are Desktop Only, Browser Only, and Desktop + Browser classifications?
These classifications explain how supported productivity applications are accessed. Desktop Only identifies usage through installed applications, Browser Only identifies browser-based usage, and Desktop + Browser identifies usage across both environments.
4. How does enhanced Workspace Readiness support Google Workspace migration planning?
It helps organizations identify browser-based productivity usage, understand desktop and browser adoption, distinguish between used and unused applications, and review existing dependencies such as file types, macro usage, and compatibility. These insights support more informed migration planning and help teams identify areas that may require further assessment.
