Mobile and remote work-forces are more common now than they have every been and are ever more reliant on tools to share and collaborate with one another.
Microsoft SharePoint is a tool that helps make that happen.
SharePoint is used in science and education, law and government, finance, computers, electronics, and technology sectors.
If you’re subscribing to one of Microsoft 365’s Business plans, great news, you already have access!
SharePoint is Microsoft’s document management and collaboration tool. Users, wherever they are, simply connect to SharePoint through their own browser or use One Drive to sync straight from the desktop. SharePoint streamlines the process of tracking workflow and storing documents. But that’s not all that the platform offers.
SharePoint Core Features
Collaboration. Now, you can store documents in a folder on a server. SharePoint lets you create workflows, see document history, track file access, and more.
Organisation. SharePoint greets users with a screen that shows:
what they interact with most frequently;
sites that they are following;
featured links;
a search bar
Having recent activity and access to important links and relevant sites as the entry point to the platform can help keep your people productive.
Within SharePoint sites, you can also create lists to collect items. This might be announcements, contacts, links, or a task list.
Integration. SharePoint works with Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and more. A team might create a shared notebook to keep information in one place and evolve as projects do.
Create community. SharePoint websites are a centralised location for teams to find what they need. Human resources might set up a site with its updates and important forms. This allows everyone to quickly find the information they need.
Version control. Don't worry about emailing documents to various team members for input. A SharePoint document becomes the single source for the one, current document.
Search. Advanced search capabilities make it easy to look across a site library. Or users can search content in all SharePoint sites they can access. Avoid decentralisation where assets are spread over employee PCs or different department silos.
Data insights. Keeping all business data in one place makes it easier to review. Determine what’s being used or who is accessing what to identify trends. Site admins, owners, and members can track number of views, popular items, how many times people interact with the site, and more.
Share news. Keep teams engaged and informed using the News feature. Users post updates, or share reports and documents in the newsfeed section of the website.
Mobility. Users can upload files and access them from anywhere. SharePoint works with Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox browsers. There’s even a mobile app to let people remain connected from their mobile devices.
Why SharePoint?
SharePoint bundles many features together in a dedicated platform suiting different industries. Replace inefficient, paper-based processes with a centralised, online repository of documents. This can help with accountability and limit business bottlenecks.
SharePoint helps you build personal, team, project, customer, and/or vendor-facing websites.
Avoid unwieldy email threads or confusing conference calls. Chat online and track edits in SharePoint.
You can also automate business processes. SharePoint allows you to create intelligent workflows for simple tasks. For example, you can streamline processes, with SharePoint automatically sending files for approval. Once done, you’re notified the review is complete.
Success with SharePoint
You’ll need to establish an implementation plan, which as simple as setting up a document area to be shared, and also and ensure you have the knowledge to implement user friendly processes to help your staff make the most of this tech.
Our IT Team can determine the SharePoint service model that’s best for you. We can help integrate SharePoint and add customisations where they can help you.
Contact us today on 01953 857980 or enquiries@norfolkcs.co.uk