SaaS Updates Summary: December 11 – December 15

Though 2017 is winding down, there was still a flurry of activity in the SaaS world this week. Box is rolling out a “white-glove program” for customers, Microsoft is introducing new AI capabilities for Office 365 this month, and Google announced multiple updates for Docs, Slides, Google+, and more.

Shutting Down Classic Google Calendar Interop Tool on February 28, 2018
G Suite Updates | Organizations that have previously configured the classic version of the Calendar Interop tool must switch to the new version of Calendar Interop by February 28, 2018. If not, their existing Calendar Interop functionality will stop working and their users will not be able to look up availability information for any users within their Exchange deployment.

Freshdesk Marketplace – Now with Over 200 Apps!
Freshdesk | Here’s a look at a few of the new apps that have entered the Freshdesk Marketplace.

Introducing Release Notes for Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync
G Suite Updates | Google is now publishing regular release notes for both Drive File Stream and Backup and Sync on the Help Center.

Introducing Box Transform: Accelerate at the Speed of Business
Box | Box is launching Box Transform, a white-glove program that offers customers a dedicated, long-term Box consultant to drive implementation of advanced cloud content management use cases, embed in and help reimagine critical customer business processes, and integrate Box with other key digital transformation initiatives across their organization.

Announcing the DocuSign Winter ‘18 Release: We’re Live!
DocuSign | Coming in January, DocuSign is releasing the all-new DocuSign for Gmail add-on, allowing customers to send and sign document attachments directly from Gmail.

New Categories and Languages for Templates in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
G Suite Updates | Google has spent the last several months working with partner experts to develop templates in four new categories: Project Management in Sheets, in partnership with Smartsheet; Sales in Docs, in partnership with PandaDoc; Human Resources (HR) in Docs, in partnership with Zenefits; and Freelancer Engagement in Docs, in partnership with Upwork.

Improving the Menus and Toolbars in Google Docs and Slides
G Suite Updates | Google is making some changes to the menus and toolbars in Google Docs and Slides on the web. These changes will make it easier to find certain items and increase consistency across Docs and Slides.

Protect Corporate Data on Compromised iOS Devices
G Suite Updates | With this launch, Google is giving admins increased power to protect their organizations’ data by preventing their users from syncing corporate data on jailbroken iOS devices.

Protecting Corporate Data on Non-Compliant Managed Android Devices
G Suite Updates | The Device Policy app will now disable access to non-critical apps on any work profile or company-owned Android device that it determines is non-compliant. Users will see a notification informing them that their device violated a security policy and some apps may be disabled.

New Google+ Community Metrics for G Suite Admins and Community Moderators
G Suite Updates | Google is continuing their effort to manage Google+ communities by introducing Google+ community metrics, surfaced in two places: the Admin console and in the Google+ community dashboard.

Eleven Third-Party Applications Added to the G Suite Pre-Integrated SAML Apps Catalog
G Suite Updates | Google is now adding SAML integration for 11 additional applications: &frankly, Bonusly, HelloSign, Salsify, Sequr, Small Improvements, SpaceIQ, StatusHub, Symantec Web Security Service (WSS), ThousandEyes, and PurelyHR.

New to Office 365 in December—Extending Human Ingenuity with Everyday AI
Office 365 | New Office 365 AI capabilities this month help subscribers discover insights from data, leverage organizational knowledge, arrive on time for events, and more.

For last week’s SaaS updates (and beyond), click here for our archive.