Google announced that it is acquiring Synergyse, a business technology startup based in Toronto which was launched in 2013 by a group of former Google employees.
What is Synergyse all about, and why did Google acquire it?
The startup offers businesses guided tutorials on how to utilize Google Apps, with Synergyse's services allowing companies to provide their employees with step-by-step guides. The tutorials cover a wide variety of tasks that can be carried out using Google Apps such as sending emails in Gmail and using Docs as a collaboration tool.
Synergyse updates its tutorials as Google releases new features, allowing businesses and their employees to remain current with what they are able to do through Google Apps.
Previously, Synergyse customers had to pay $10 per year for individuals and $10 per employee per year for businesses, but it was free for students. With Google's acquisition of the startup, the service is being made free for all Google Apps users.
"Given the enthusiasm that exists for Synergyse already, we want to extend this service to all of our customers," wrote Google Apps Operations Senior Director Peter Scocimara about the acquisition in a blog post on the official Google for Work blog.
Scocimara added that Google is planning to offer the service as part of Google Apps within the year. Current customers of Synergyse, however, will be able to continue accessing the service as the integration is developed. Users that would be interested in trying out Synergyse's offerings could also download a free extension for the Chrome browser.
Integrating Synergyse's tutorials into Google Apps should not be complicated as the startup built its offerings within Google's Cloud Platform.
According to Google, the customers of Synergyse utilize Google Apps 35 percent more compared to users that have not undergone the training that the startup offers. By integrating the startup's tutorials directly into Google Apps, Google is looking to increase the adoption of its software, entrenching users into the apps as opposed to having them use and switch to competing services such as Microsoft's Office 365.
