Ross Wilkers
One year since Unisys implemented a Google cloud computing platform for the U.S. General Services Administration, agency employees have created and shared more than 274,000 documents and created 500 internal websites using the platform.
The company said GSA selected Unisys to install Google Apps for Government in 2010 and the agency began using Google’s email platform nearly one year later for 17,500 employees.
GSA estimates it has saved about $2 million since then and hopes to reduce $15 million in information technology spending over the next five years.
The agency also says it has reduced nearly 90 percent of its server energy consumption and 85 percent of related carbon emissions.
Google estimates $285,000 in annual savings from this reduction in energy use.
GSA employees in its federal systems integration and management center use Google Apps’ video chat feature on their smartphones and tablets to stay in touch with managers, edit documents and view their colleagues“™ calendars while working at client sites.
Those employees also use Google Sites to set up an internal portal, sometimes within three days, according to the company.
Managers in GSA’s public buildings service use Google Apps to organize information and distribute it to employees through smartphones, tablets and other devices.
