CUSTOMER REFERENCE / COLLABORATION / GROUPWARE
Ergonauten: Groupware and Knowledge Work with grommunio and Nextcloud
The migration from Kopano to grommunio preserves familiar workflows and connects groupware, shared files, knowledge and office documents in a self-hosted environment.
- grommunio
- Nextcloud
- Collaboration
- Single Sign-On
Project highlights
From Kopano to grommunio
The migration preserved familiar groupware services and required only limited adjustment from users.
Nextcloud Files
Files, shares, versions, reminders and shared group areas are managed centrally.
Knowledge and documents
Collectives structures shared knowledge, while EuroOffice enables office documents to be edited in the browser.
SAML single sign-on
Nextcloud is connected to central sign-in while retaining a controlled direct access path for recovery.
Account protection
Password policies, suspicious-login detection and time-based two-factor authentication complement the identity flow.
Platform operations
Updates, certificates, background jobs and service monitoring are operated together rather than as isolated applications.
One platform strategy for communication, files and knowledge
Ergonauten needed email communication, appointments, contacts, shared files and editorial knowledge to work beyond a set of unrelated tools. The objective was a self-controlled environment that combines established groupware functions with modern file collaboration.
ForgeOne implemented grommunio and Nextcloud as two clearly separated but coordinated services. grommunio provides personal and shared communication. Nextcloud supplies working files, sharing, group areas, knowledge collections and browser-based office editing.
From Kopano to grommunio with familiar workflows
Under changing product and operating models, Kopano was no longer the right foundation for the environment’s continued development. Ergonauten therefore needed a sustainable groupware platform without forcing users to replace their established way of working.
With grommunio, email, calendars, contacts, web access and mobile synchronisation continued without functional reductions in the services used every day. Familiar interaction patterns kept training and transition effort low. At the same time, the central management interface makes the platform easier to administer and supports suitable tasks through self-service.
grommunio as the communication and groupware layer
grommunio brings email, calendars and contacts together in browser-based groupware. Standard access methods and mobile synchronisation make the same mailboxes and groupware data available to suitable desktop and mobile applications.
Mail processing is connected to an active anti-spam service. The web interface, delivery, synchronisation and administration components are operated as one service group instead of confronting users with several inconsistent communication systems.
Nextcloud for shared work and knowledge
Nextcloud provides personal and shared files, versioning, a recycle bin, download limits, reminders and email-based shares. Groupfolders creates permanently managed shared workspaces whose contents are not tied to one individual account.
Collectives extends file management with jointly maintained knowledge collections. EuroOffice is integrated directly into Nextcloud so supported text, spreadsheet and presentation files can be edited in the browser without downloading them for every change.
Central sign-in without unnecessary dependency
Nextcloud uses SAML to authenticate through the Ergonauten identity service. The public sign-in page retains direct login alongside SSO. This deliberate recovery path supports maintenance and restoration if the central identity service is temporarily unavailable.
Time-based two-factor authentication, backup codes, password policies and suspicious-login detection complement the access model. The case study describes the paths that are actually enabled and does not treat SSO as a blanket security guarantee.
Consistent operation of the collaboration services
The platform is defined by more than its visible applications. The database, cache, web server, office service, certificates and scheduled background jobs are arranged so updates and maintenance can be performed in a controlled manner.
The result is a clearly structured collaboration environment: grommunio carries communication and groupware, while Nextcloud carries files and shared knowledge. Users receive understandable working paths, while technical responsibilities remain separated between the services.
Andreas Mauczka is available as the Ergonauten reference contact for a professional exchange about the project.
Bring groupware and file collaboration together
ForgeOne connects grommunio, Nextcloud, central identities and ongoing operations in one clearly structured collaboration platform.