What is SharePoint?

SharePoint is a web-based collaborative platform that provides your company with a secure place to store, access, and share information across different devices. The only requirement is a web browser such as Google Chrome or Firefox.

Organizations use SharePoint due to the reduced security risks associated with IT and also to cut down expenses. Companies use this platform because it facilitates collaboration among teams and provides seamless access to vital information.

Common SharePoint products

SharePoint can refer to either of the following products:

• SharePoint Online

This is a cloud-based service available to all businesses. It mitigates the need for installing SharePoint Server on-premises. Instead, a business subscribes to an Office 365 plan. It allows your employees to create sites where they can share and modify information.

• SharePoint Foundation

Formerly referred to as Windows SharePoint Services, it is free for on-premises deployment. It can create several sites for collaboration on documents, data, calendars, and web pages.

• SharePoint Server

Ideal for the on-premise server. It is similar to the SharePoint foundation, but it is loaded with extra features such as business intelligence, Newsfeed, personal sites, and enterprise search.

Features of SharePoint

• SharePoint lists

SharePoint provides two ways of managing information; libraries and lists. Lists resemble a spreadsheet. They contain columns and rows. The main advantage is that they are easily accessible by all team members as they reside in SharePoint. Mitigating the need for emailing.

• SharePoint workflows

SharePoint provides templates for your business that reduce time wastage, facilitating efficiency and consistency in your daily tasks.

• SharePoint search

The search feature allows your employees to execute a search query that lets the search application return a set of results matching the search query. The results can be documents, list items, web pages, or libraries.

• SharePoint libraries

These libraries allow your employees to store, modify, group, and filter data stored in the library. This enhances search, therefore, presenting the desired return when a search query is executed.

Benefits of using SharePoint in your business

The above features and many more allow your business to cut down on cost and reduce save time without compromising quality. Some of the benefits include:

• Effective control of the entire platform

The Central Administration console allows managers to access application features, monitor SharePoint farms, conduct upgrades, and perform backup and restoration in a single location.

• Fosters collaboration

It brings about an effective collaboration among team players in your organization. Through features such as discussions, tasks, calendars, contacts, etc., users can share and modify data effortlessly. Collaboration leads to better decision making and facilitates productivity.

• Ease of use

SharePoint enhances you to create business solutions without the need to consult a developer. Its features and tools are straightforward, facilitating the effective creation of solutions tailored to your business needs. Whether performing an upgrade or a backup, you can do this cost-effectively and quickly.

• Enhanced security and integrity

The SharePoint platform provides the much-needed security of information that is not to be accessed by unauthorized persons. It integrates the use of passwords to access files, documents, sites, etc. Additionally, the platform enables all team members to revise an updated document before publishing.

Verdict

Regardless of the industry, your business falls, it would help if you had a tool that enhances productivity, mitigates time wastage, and is cost-effective. SharePoint is the tool that your business needs. It leads to an increase in collaboration in your business hence facilitating productivity.