LTech was able to provide us development expertise that we enjoyed working with. We were able to brainstorm well with them, good give and take, with solid professional recommendations from them.
Google Apps for Enterprise Implementation Process
Step 1: Proof of concept and pilot planningIdentification of key issues and business requirements to be addressed for the full Google Apps implementation. Gather technical variables and end user information for deployment of pilot.
Step 2: Pilot PeriodThe pilot allows for issues to be addressed before a full rollout and for the technical planning of the full migration. A pilot period can range in number of users involved and length of time.
Step 3: TrainingWe fully train IT and support personnel to be able to operate, admin and maintain Google Apps. End-users will be provided access to our training portal containing knowledge resources including video tutorials.
Step 4: Full MigrationExecution of the technical migration plan takes place, including changes or documentation to address any user-issues identified during the pilot process.
Step 5: Ongoing consulting, guidance and supportA certified Google Apps professional will be available to provide post-deployment related services and ensure continued smooth operation for your entire organization.
Pilot Process
Although Google Apps is simple to learn and use, the initial switch will have an impact on your users. They will need to become familiar with the new email, calendar, and document-authoring applications, while adjusting to an exciting new way of communicating and collaborating. In order to facilitate a smooth transition, we recommend that you follow IT best practices and conduct a pilot deployment first.
Why Conduct a Pilot?
A pilot will replicate your production deployment on a small scale, allowing you to evaluate Google Apps without changing your existing infrastructure or disrupting your normal business operations. In short, it's a testing ground for your production deployment.
During the pilot, your users will get acquainted with Google Apps and offer feedback on their experience. This will help you assess how well Google Apps improves productivity and supports your business processes - all with minimal risk to your existing environment.
Also, because only a subset of your user population will use Google Apps during the pilot, you can keep your support efforts to a minimum.
Another advantage of running a pilot is the ability to leverage any integration work for your production deployment. For example, if you decide to implement an automated user provisioning process using the Google Apps Provisioning API or provide integrated authentication through our Single Sign-on (SSO) service, your implementations will continue after you scale up to a complete rollout of Google Apps.
LTech's Pilot Process
We believe that the key to a successful Google Apps Premier Edition pilot begins with a detailed plan. This includes a careful selection of users, configuration, training plans, support needs, and user feedback. A thorough plan will ensure the best possible experience for both pilot users and IT staff, as well as provide you with the necessary data to affirm the switch to Google Apps.
- Help in planning your Google Apps pilot, including how to choose pilot users and develop training and support plans
- Determine the right configuration for your pilot, which you can leverage for your production deployment
- Migrate email, calendars, and contacts from your existing systems to Google Apps
- Set up mobile devices for Google Apps, including BlackBerry, iPhone, and Windows Mobile devices
- Integrate Google Apps with your security and authentication systems through single sign-on (SSO)
- Help to establish Pilot Evaluation Criteria
- Establishing Roll Back Plan
Types of Google Apps Pilots
Fit TestLimit IT user focused sandbox test
A Fit Test is run to determine feasibility of using Google Apps within an organization.
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Mock DevelopmentSelected user group collaboration
A Mock Deployment or Pilot is conducted for the purpose of testing group collaboration
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