Groupware as a software category has largely been absorbed into the less cohesive market for web-based collaborative computing. In fact only three products continue to identify themselves along groupware lines: Lotus Notes, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWiseTM. More, it can be argued that with Domino and Outlook, respectively, the first two are being recast as web-based collaboration tool. That leaves GroupWise as the keeper of the keys.
It turns out to be a lucky call. In a recent study GartnerGroup reported that total cost of ownership for customers using Novell's GroupWise is far lower than for customers using Notes or Exchange. In the study, sponsored jointly by IBM, Microsoft, Netscape, Novell and Oracle, the intranet/workgroup computing solutions of over 300 companies were evaluated on a cost-per-user basis for the planning, implementation and operation of each solution. GroupWise was determined to be the least costly overall of all the solutions reviewed.
GartnerGroup's Management Summary on this study can be found at www.novell.com/groupwise.
Low card wins
The GartnerGroup study, which examined costs on a three-year basis, reported the cost-per-user for this time period for GroupWise was $136.00; whereas the cost-per-user for Exchange was over three times higher at $486.00, and Notes was over five times higher at $719.00.
"GartnerGroup's acknowledgment of GroupWise as the industry's lowest cost-per-user collaboration solution validates Novell's overall commitment to reducing the total cost of network ownership through all of its products and services," said Paul Smart, vice president of Novell's Collaboration Services Group. "If you break down the cost-per-user numbers on a yearly basis, GroupWise comes out at a mere $45.00 per year, per user. Compared with $162.00 for Exchange and $240.00 for Notes, GroupWise offers significant cost savings for a company."
The study also reported that the operation costs for Lotus Notes and Microsoft Exchange were nine and 10 times higher respectively than GroupWise. Operating costs, unlike planning and implementation costs, recur every year over the life of a product and account for the largest portion of the total cost of Intranet/workgroup computing solutions. Operating cost-per-user for GroupWise was $36; versus $390 for Lotus Notes, $330 for Microsoft Exchange and $144 for Netscape SuiteSpot.
Ease-of-use and directory-enabled technology are key factors in keeping GroupWise operating costs notably low. GroupWise allows users to perform workflow, document management, scheduling and calendaring tasks within a consistent, familiar E-mail environment, which in turn, reduces training costs.
GroupWise is also able to significantly reduce the cost of using groupware by leveraging the power of Novell Directory ServicesTM (NDSTM). NDS-enabled GroupWise diminishes costs of operation by providing network administrators single-point administration and by eliminating redundant collaborative system maintenance and administration.
"Network administrators are faced with the often difficult task of improving efficiency through technology, as well as ensuring the company's technology investments remain within budget parameters. GroupWise provides businesses with a collaborative software solution that addresses both benefit and budget concerns," said Smart.
"The ability to install and operate business critical-workgroup solutions efficiently is a pivotal success factor for businesses of all sizes," said Peter H. Janak, vice president and chief information officer, TRW. "GroupWise successfully provides Novell's customers with the lowest cost-per-user solution in a very competitive market."
About GroupWise
GroupWise 5.2 offers cross-platform, expanded E-mail solutions, including full document management and automated workflow capabilities, as part of its Universal Mailbox. The Universal Mailbox provides users with single-point access to personal calendaring, group scheduling, tasks, voice mail, facsimiles, documents and other message types both from the desktop and via the Internet using GroupWise WebAccessTM. GroupWise 5.2 also includes the ability to scan and store images and the freedom of remote access via the telephone.
GroupWise 5.2 natively supports open Internet standards such as TCP/IP, HTTP, HTML, SMTP/MIME, LDAP, IMAP4 and POP3, with support for NNTP and S/MIME due shortly. This combination of Internet support and rich functionality makes GroupWise the first of a new breed of expanded E mail systems to offer intranet-ready collaboration and full functionality out of the box.
About Novell
Founded in 1983, Novell (Nasdaq: NOVL) is the world's leading provider of network software. The company offers a wide range of network solutions for distributed network, Internet, intranet and small-business markets. Novell education and technical support programs are the most comprehensive in the network computing industry. Information about Novell's complete range of products and services can be accessed on the World Wide Web at http://www.novell.com.
Novell is a registered trademark. GroupWise, GroupWise WebAccess, NDS and Novell Directory Services are trademarks of Novell, Inc. All other registered trademarks and trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
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