Google to introduce training wheels to its suite of apps with Synergyse acquisition

Google wants to make new features in its core suite of apps even easier to understand and more enticing to newcomers. The search giant has announced it has acquired a cloud-based training company called Synergyse, which was founded by ex-Googlers in 2013, and will integrate its virtual coaching into the core Google Apps suite later this year.

Synergyse provides training wheels for new users: its integrated coaching can be used to provide a general introduction to Google apps for complete newcomers or to highlight new features following an update for more experienced users. Synergyse’s training modules appear as voice coaching and on-screen interactive instruction, as you can see in the video below. Think of it like a less-annoying version of Microsoft Paperclip.

Say, for example, Gmail adds some new features – you can get an overview of what’s changed, what the new features do and how to use them via a Synergyse menu right there in the interface. The same goes for starting from scratch – Synergyse can walk those totally unfamiliar with Google Apps through all the features of the Google suite to get them up to speed with the way a company does business.

While Synergyse is currently a Chrome extension, following the acquisition Google plans to make Synergyse “an integral part of the Google Apps offering later this year”. You can already search for help topics from within the apps via the extension and everything is neatly baked into the Chrome interface. In the coming months, keep an eye out for the ways in which Synergyse training will start getting integrated into Google Apps.

Synergyse reports that organizations that use its cloud-based training “see on average 35% higher adoption across Apps products, meaning those organizations are more likely to be productive, collaborative and embrace digital transformation”. As the integration takes hold, we may all find ourselves out of a job when it comes to helping family members with their Android problems at family gatherings.

Thoughts on this kind of training? How often do you help family members with their Android problems?