Office Application Domination, Microsoft Office or Google Workspace?

 

From 2016 to 2021, the office application suite market has been highly competitive, with several providers vying for market share and trying to differentiate themselves through features, pricing, and other factors.

The followings are brief overview of some of the key developments and trends during 2016-2021.

·         Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office has continued to dominate the office application suite market, with a wide range of features and tools, as well as a strong brand and user base. In addition, Microsoft has continued to evolve its suite, introducing new features and expanding into cloud-based services with Office 365.

·         Google Workspace (formerly G Suite): Google Workspace has emerged as one of the strongest competitors to Microsoft Office, with a growing user base and a range of features that appeal to many users. Google has also made significant investments in marketing and promoting its suite, as well as integrating it with other products such as Google Drive and Google Meet.

·         Apple iWork: Apple iWork has remained a relatively minor player in the office application suite market, with a smaller user base and fewer features and tools than Microsoft Office or Google Workspace. However, it has continued to release updates and improvements to its suite, and it remains popular among Mac and iOS users.

·         LibreOffice: LibreOffice is a free and open-source office application suite that has gained a small but dedicated user base over the past few years. It offers a range of features and tools that are similar to those of Microsoft Office, and it is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

·         WPS Office: WPS Office is another office application suite that has gained some traction in the market, particularly in China and other Asian countries. It offers a range of features and tools that are similar to those of Microsoft Office, as well as a free version and a low-cost premium version.

Marketshare Trend

The office application suite market has remained highly competitive, with each provider trying to differentiate itself and gain market share through various strategies. While Microsoft Office has remained the dominant player, Google Workspace and other competitors have made significant strides and continue to challenge Microsoft's position.

According to various reports and analyses, Microsoft Office has consistently held the largest market share in the office application market from 2016 to 2021. However, there have been some changes in the sales and market share of other office application providers during this period.

·         In 2016, Microsoft Office had a market share of around 94%, with the remaining market share being split among various other office application providers, such as Google Docs, Apple iWork, and OpenOffice/LibreOffice.

·         By 2018, Microsoft Office's market share had decreased slightly to around 87%, while Google Docs had gained ground with a market share of around 10%. Other office application providers had smaller market shares, with Apple iWork and WPS Office each having a market share of around 1%.

·         As of 2021, Microsoft Office continues to have the largest market share, with estimates ranging from around 80% to over 90%. Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) has steadily gained market share over the past few years, with estimates ranging from around 10% to 20%. Other office application providers, such as Apple iWork, WPS Office, and LibreOffice, have smaller market share

The office application market is dynamic and can be influenced by various factors, such as changes in user preferences, advances in technology, and new competitors entering the market. As a result, the sales and market share of office application providers can fluctuate over time.