There are four primary use cases for SharePoint that you'll probably find most relevant when considering its adoption for your own company.
1. Company Intranets
As an intranet platform, Microsoft SharePoint excels. Its out-of-the-box functionalities include a branded homepage, project and task scheduling, flexible content sharing options, modern team and communication sites, social features, and mobile access.
2. Internal training documentation
Transitions are always complicated to handle in business but worse when your team has to search for the relevant documentation for daily operation.
SharePoint makes it easy to find and access the information you need if you are:
- trying to onboard a new employee
- looking for IT security protocols to deal with a disruptive emergency
- looking to train yourself to reach that next promotion
3. Collaborate with clients on joint files and projects
In the same way that you can collaborate with your team on individual files, you can create collaborative projects and invite clients or contractors to collaborate in real-time, if desired. This eliminates the need for joint projects to be in-person-only and helps avoid email tennis.
4. Integration with Microsoft 365 Applications
If your company uses Microsoft Outlook, Onenote, or Teams, you'll be able to work on SharePoint pages and files without the need to use a separate application window.
In this way, SharePoint helps to centralize your workflow by decreasing the number of applications you have to jump back and forth.
SharePoint licensing explored
Almost all Microsoft 365 business licenses include a subscription to SharePoint Cloud services.
If your compliance or IT infrastructure needs lead you to purchase SharePoint as a standalone product, there are two primary licensing options:
- SharePoint Online — This is licensed out on a per-user basis and comes in two versions: Plan 1 and Plan 2. Both can be purchased as a standalone product or included in your Microsoft 365 plan.
- On-Premises — With this option, your intranet sites get licensed with a Server/Cal (Client Access License) model. However, since most businesses get the program as part of their Microsoft Office 365 package, they tend not to use on-premise versions in favor of the cloud.
Next-level documentation and collaboration
SharePoint is a unique tool that has been in use for years by companies of all sizes. Instead of relying on legacy systems to share, organize, and update company files, many businesses embrace SharePoint as an alternative that has only grown in popularity the longer it's been around.
What are some benefits of SharePoint?- cost-effective
- has a built-in search engine
- streamlines collaboration within and outside of your organization
- simplifies document management, automates tedious tasks
- has subtle social media functionalities
- comes with built-in cybersecurity and compliance precautions
Challenges of using Microsoft SharePoint - adoption is quite complex
- bulk migration of files into SharePoint as links and documents can get broken
- ongoing management as you'll need someone on your IT team and a "designer" to maintain and expand the site
Adopting SharePoint for your business
Despite Sharepoint being designed to assist your company with document organization, management, and collaboration, the application may come off as overwhelming to you and your team.
Such complexity shouldn't deter you from taking advantage of the application's benefits, which is why Commprise is here to make the process of adopting SharePoint a breeze. With our Managed IT Services, your business will be able to keep to its day-to-day tasks and get SharePoint working in your favor.
