Google prepares for remote work future with Workspace refresh

Google is updating its productivity software to better meet the needs of frontline and remote workers, in a bet that the pandemic has permanently changed how work gets done.

A version of the company’s Workspace offering will be tailored specifically for frontline workers, such as retail and health-care employees, the Alphabet Inc. unit said in a blog post Monday. The effort will let organizations better communicate and collaborate with employees through their mobile phones, and is similar to a service from rival Microsoft Corp.

Workspace, formerly known as G Suite, will also integrate with Google’s digital voice assistant and gain features to let employees set and enforce unique working hours.