As of today, desktop users have a new option for accessing Box Inc.’s file-sharing service.

The collaboration giant is rolling out a new client app for Windows and Mac that offers an alternative to the main browser-based interface. Dubbed Box Drive, it’s a successor to the company’s first attempt at supporting desktops, a tool called Sync that has gained little traction since its launch a few years ago. The main difference between the two is that the new app removes the need for users to keep all the files they wish to access locally.

Instead, Box Drive implements a selective downloading feature similar to the Smart Sync capability offered by Dropbox Inc. and Microsoft Corp.’s Files-on-Demand. When a user launches the app, they’re greeted by what are effectively placeholder icons for the assets in their company’s shared folders. A file is only downloaded if they click on the corresponding symbol.

Box Drive can thus reduce the clutter that tends to build up in traditional file sharing applications, which in turn saves storage space on users’ desktops. Less data kept locally also reduces the security risk posed by device theft, a major boon for the businesses that make up the bulk of the company’s customer base.

But perhaps the biggest advantage that Box Drive provides in the management department is support for desktop virtualization. Virtual workspaces are usually loaded from a static file containing the operating system and key applications, an arrangement that doesn’t lend itself to storing a user’s files because they’re changed on a regular basis. The fact that the new client keeps data in the cloud by default eases operations while reducing backend storage requirements.

According to Box, some early adopters expect to save up to $6 million in infrastructure overhead over the next three years. The cost reductions come on top of the conveniences that Box Drive provides to help professionals work with their files more easily. Like the cloud version, the client packs a user-friendly search bar, has built-in version control and supports more than 120 different file types.  

Box Drive is available for downloaded immediately at no charge.

Image: Box