as posted on CNN IReport in response to their question

Hi

my name is ashok hingorani and I am a Microsoft MVP for Groove Virtual office, and have worked with it for 8 years now, so i speak not just from the heart but practical experience.. (as of today Groove is called Sharepoint Workspaces)

At a recent meeting of the IAMCP Western Chapter (International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners) the question came up of how CEOs / CIOs are dealing with the downturn.

While cutting down on Purchases and expansion was the most common solution the results are minimal and short term . The expenditure is at best deferred.

My suggestion was to change the very way we work, by using a technology like Groove, to create Virtual Offices, also largely paperless.

E-work maximizes the use of the most expensive, recurring expense of the company, people, cuts down costs and time loss by as much as 40% in many cases, allows faster decision making.and actually promotes initiative and innovation.

All at very little investment as Groove costs little to own, install, and manage, with no special servers, communications etc. and very little administration. Also no viruses and Spam, making it one of the safest and most productive technologies out there, with an ROI of less than 3 months..

small savings don't help in such times, we need to take bold steps to make the same resources more productive for a long time to come

So it has happened - Groove becomes Sharepoint Workspaces

sad for us old groovers to see the name go but this branding ensures that groove itself will not die or get less dev support that the big moneymaker - MS Office.

One of the "problems" face by groove was that the name did not communicate what funtion it performed - so people did not react positively when when one said use Groove - they had not heard about it and the name told them nothing.

does this diminish groove in any way - i think not - the SP marriage is a natural one and extends the power of both products.

cheers