Google Gemini or Microsoft Copilot: How They Power Multi-Cloud Productivity

The era of generative AI (GenAI) as a novelty is over. It is now a standard tool for modern productivity, deeply embedded in productivity platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365. IDC shows that over 50% of enterprise applications already include AI assistants, and 20% are agent-enhanced, signaling a significant pivot toward autonomous, multi-step workflows.

According to Gartner, most organizations adopt a multi-cloud approach to avoid vendor lock-in and take advantage of best-of-breed solutions. A leading identity provider reports that 48% of its Microsoft 365 customers also use Google Workspace — an increase from 33% five years ago. While this reflects only that provider’s customer base, it offers a clear lens into a broader pattern: Enterprises aren’t choosing but rather blending collaborative ecosystems to drive resilient, AI-ready productivity. 

Let us explore how both platforms’ AI assistants can be leveraged collaboratively to drive governed, AI-powered productivity across a multi-cloud environment.

Google Gemini in Workspace: Features and Fit 

Gemini has lowered the barrier to AI adoption: It’s been included in Workspace Business and Enterprise plans at no extra cost. This accessibility makes it a powerful option for businesses experimenting with and scaling AI without a substantial upfront investment. 

Key features include:

• NotebookLM. This is a Gemini-powered tool for contextual research and information synthesis, allowing users to upload documents and have Gemini summarize, analyze, and generate content based on them.
• Advanced reasoning and deep research. Gemini can instantly digest and reason through thousands of pages, from books and reports to code and websites, delivering expert-level synthesis and a comprehensive report beneficial for professionals, researchers, and students.
• Integration with Google’s ecosystem. Gemini is seamlessly integrated across core Workspace applications like Gmail, Docs, Sheets, and Meet, providing in-line assistance for tasks like drafting emails, summarizing meetings, or organizing data.

According to the Total Economic Impact™ (TEI) of Google Workspace by Forrester, Google Workspace with Gemini delivers a compelling return, with a 336% ROI over three years, a 30% improvement in collaboration, and 40% faster information retrieval. These metrics highlight Gemini’s tangible impact on research and productivity within the Google ecosystem. Organizations find that this powerful, multimodal tool can enhance specific tasks like complex research, structured thinking, and seamless collaboration.

Copilot in Microsoft 365: Features and Fit

Microsoft 365 Copilot (Microsoft Copilot/Copilot), similarly, is a cornerstone of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. It’s an intelligent productivity tool deeply integrated with Microsoft Graph, which provides a rich, contextual understanding of your data and workflows.

Copilot’s core features include:

• Integration with Microsoft’s ecosystem. It is integrated across all primary Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams, empowering users to create, analyze, and communicate more efficiently.
• Copilot Studio. This powerful tool enables organizations to build custom AI assistants and workflows, integrating with line-of-business applications and extending Copilot’s functionality to unique enterprise needs.
• Task automation. This feature streamlines your workday by intelligently handling routine tasks across Microsoft 365 apps, whether scheduling meetings in Outlook, generating tasks from Teams meeting notes, or building workflows in Power Automate.

Forrester’s TEI study on Copilot echoes the significant value proposition of embedded AI. The study reports an impressive ROI between 112% and 457%, with a payback period of under six months. Beyond the financial metrics, organizations also report improved employee satisfaction and faster onboarding times, showcasing Copilot’s positive impact on the employee experience.

Why Use Copilot and Gemini in a Multi-Cloud Setup

Each tool offers unique strengths and integrations. Together, they unlock more flexibility and productivity across the enterprise:

• Gemini excels at creative ideation, multimodal content generation, and complex reasoning — ideal for research-heavy or creative teams.
• Copilot shines in structured data analysis, enterprise workflows, and compliance-heavy documentation — critical for finance, legal, and operations.

This makes a strong case for using both tools in tandem. It allows teams to work in their preferred environments while maintaining a unified approach to governance, security, and productivity. 

Using Copilot and Gemini empowers teams to work where they’re most effective, while a unified platform enforces policies, secures data, and governs AI usage across both environments. This collaborative approach is essential as AI evolves from a simple assistant to an autonomous agent capable of performing multi-step workflows, making prompt management and security more critical than ever.

How AvePoint Supports an Agentic Future

A unified data foundation is essential as agentic AI becomes the new north star of AI adoption. IDC reports that 83% of companies believe AI agents will replace traditional apps, and 76% expect to consolidate app suppliers due to agentic AI. The future of autonomous, cross-platform workflows requires a cohesive strategy for data security and governance.

This new wave of AI isn’t just about automating tasks; it’s about a more profound transformation toward agentic transformation, where machines respond to inputs and drive outcomes independently. With Google Agentspace, AI agents are assigned objectives, not micro-tasks, while Microsoft’s Copilot Studio Agents operate at the process level, taking on the role of a process manager. 

AvePoint enables secure collaboration across both Google and Microsoft environments. Our comprehensive suite of solutions for governance automation, compliance monitoring, and lifecycle management helps businesses manage AI usage policies, access controls, and data protection. This ensures that your data is well-governed, secured, and AI-ready even as AI agents move across clouds.

Balance innovation and security in your multi-cloud environment