For nearly a decade, I managed Google Workspace as the backbone of enterprise collaboration — not just email, but the entire operational layer connecting teams, vendors, and applications.
Beyond Email Administration
Most organizations treat Google Workspace as "IT email setup." In practice, it's enterprise infrastructure that requires the same rigor as any ERP system: user lifecycle management, permission architecture, security policies, and vendor coordination.
What Worked
- Role-based organizational units with granular app permissions
- Shared drive governance with clear ownership and retention policies
- Google Sheets as live MIS dashboards (with Apps Script automation)
- Integration with ERP reporting workflows for seamless data sharing
- Vendor coordination for third-party app access and SSO
Business Continuity
When COVID shifted everyone remote overnight, organizations with well-architected Google Workspace deployments transitioned smoothly. Those treating it as "just email" struggled. Infrastructure thinking — not tool thinking — is what separates the two.