Brief
Smollan migrates 9,000 users to Google Workspace in complex multi‑region rollout
The migration, led by Argility’s Japie Saunders, showcases Google Workspace’s recent AI enhancements.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Smollan Technologies has finished moving roughly 9,000 users from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace, a project described by Japie Saunders, managing executive for Google solutions at Argility/Smollan, as one of the most complex multi‑domain, multi‑region deployments ever executed globally.
What happened
The migration spanned two years and covered users across eight languages and 24 time zones. Argility, the Digicloud Africa Google Premier Partner practice within Smollan, coordinated the delivery while Smollan assumed the risk of being an early adopter. The rollout involved synchronising data, re‑configuring security settings and training staff on the new platform.
What the report adds
According to the source, Google Workspace has undergone significant changes in the past 12 months. At Cloud Next in April, Google introduced “Workspace Intelligence,” a layer that runs across Gmail, Docs, Slides, Sheets and Chat to map organisational information, linking documents to projects, people and terminology. The article also notes that Workspace Studio became generally available in December, allowing users to create “agents” that automate tasks without developers. A further addition, called “skills,” lets companies codify routine processes—such as invoice handling or contract review—into reusable commands that any employee can invoke.
What was said
Saunders said, “Google builds the platform and continually enhances it. Google Cloud distributor Digicloud Africa makes it properly available on the continent, along with the training that lets partners do something useful with it. We handle the delivery, and a client like Smollan carries the risk of going first.” He added, “The clearest signal of change came at Cloud Next in April, with something called Workspace Intelligence… Most AI tools only connect to your data. This is built to understand it.”
How it came about
The migration builds on Smollan’s broader digital transformation strategy, which has previously been covered by Felo News in articles about Google’s AI developments and regulatory actions. The new Workspace features, particularly Intelligence and skills, were highlighted in Felo’s September coverage of Google’s AI Overviews and Gemini 4 Argon model restrictions, underscoring the company’s push toward AI‑driven productivity tools.
Key facts
- Smollan migrated about 9,000 users from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace. (techcentral.co.za)
- The project lasted two years and covered eight languages across 24 time zones. (techcentral.co.za)
- Google introduced Workspace Intelligence at Cloud Next in April 2026. (techcentral.co.za)
- Workspace Studio became generally available in December 2025. (techcentral.co.za)
- The new 'skills' feature lets companies turn routine processes into reusable commands. (techcentral.co.za)
Sources
- [1] techcentral.co.za — originally reported as “What Smollan learnt moving 9 000 users to Google Workspace”
