They need products that offer the benefits of scalability, mobility, usability, and reliability.
A solution or an application is only some of what SharePoint is. Microsoft has created a web-based, enterprise-level collaborative platform. It works seamlessly with Microsoft Office 365. In-depth information on "What is SharePoint?" will be provided in this blog.
Before we begin using SharePoint, let's first understand what it is.
What is SharePoint?
Sharepoint is a grouping of many goods, innovations, and services. It provides several options that can be utilized to address various business issues both internally and with stakeholders.
There are some use cases:
- Document and content management system
- Enterprise-level social networking
- Reporting and project management tool
- Electronic data capture and processing
- Learning and development tool
- Calendar and task management
- Collaboration and management of meetings
SharePoint: Why Use it?
Organizations utilize SharePoint for various purposes depending on the business goals. Healthcare, pharmaceuticals, hiring & recruitment, financial services, and construction use SharePoint.
Consider all the emails you obtain daily and the files kept in boxes. Keeping up with all those emails and responding to them might be challenging. Teams and individuals may securely store and organize documents, information, and content with the help of SharePoint's robust document management system. They can also work with other people and archive them.
SharePoint Features
SharePoint 2021 offers a better user experience for all customers who use SharePoint, SharePoint On-Premises, and hybrid scenarios.
Let me go over each feature in detail in SharePoint.
- Modern Homepage - Sharepoint groups many goods, innovations, and services. It provides several options that can be utilized to address various business issues both internally and with stakeholders.
- Modern team websites - Modern websites have faster site provisioning and are mobile-friendly. Additionally, they provide rapid links, activity, mobile optimization, in-line editing, and contemporary news. Team sites become more collaborative as a result.
- Modern communication websites - Sites for communication have the same function as sites for publication. Modern communication platforms use our message boards. They are independent of subsites. It is possible to design stunning, mobile-friendly pages without using code or meeting other standards.
We can construct our designs based on our needs and post news, events, and team images on communication sites.
- Modern Lists and Modern Libraries - To communicate news, events, and team images, as well as to make custom designs depending on our requirements, we can use communication sites.
- Web parts of the modern age - The look and feel of web parts have been changed. It's now simple to resize and move web parts and design custom web pieces.
- Modern search - In the modern SharePoint 2021 experience, you can immediately see your search results by typing the letters into the search box. It also becomes highly contextual to update and modify the results as you type.
- Search results can be grouped by type - Sharepoint Start Page, Hub Sites, Communication Sites, and Modern Team Sites provide modern search experiences to users.
- Branding - We can use site themes or modern UI pages in SharePoint 2021 to create a customized look and feel.
- The hybrid experience - Office 365 and Sharepoint 2021 allow for a hybrid experience. Office 365 is a global administrator.
SharePoint: Benefits
SharePoint's capabilities and utility can be used for the following:
- Effective communication - Communication is key to making mission-critical decisions. Teams can work together securely and reliably regardless of where they are located to share, interact and do their work.
- Sharing and tracking - Teams can share documents after reviewing, editing, or reviewing them. It is difficult to determine which document is original, which has been edited, and who edited it.
- A Flexible Solution for All - Sharepoint can be used on the cloud, on-premises, or as a hybrid. Depending on your organization's needs, SharePoint can be used stand-alone or in conjunction with Microsoft Office 365. Small, medium and large businesses can use SharePoint Online Service.
SharePoint Online is a great way for companies to reduce IT and hardware involvement. SharePoint Online can be used with Office, 365 Enterprise subscriptions, or on-premises Organizations to get the best benefits.
- Cost-Effectiveness: SharePoint combines several enterprise solutions into one system. This allows organizations to offer solutions for a variety of use cases. SharePoint's endlessly evolving capabilities reduce development, IT infrastructure, and management costs.
Its features allow organizations to create applications and manage operations, lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO).
- Easy Deployments: SharePoint is easily integrated with almost all legacy systems and any other software or technologies.
- Corporate portal With the powerful intranet, extranet, and extranet capabilities and features of SharePoint, every organization can't miss the opportunity to use SharePoint as a powerful, intelligent, and interactive website.
Corporate portals are a way to save business information and functions. They can be saved as sites or intranet portals viewed by various stakeholders.
- Modern intranet: SharePoint modern Intranet allows organizations to create landing pages and corporate communication portals. It also helps them to set up departmental sites like IT, Marketing, Finance, and Sales.
- A modern experience: SharePoint offers a modern experience through site collections linked to a hub. These elements include navigation, branding and publishing, search, sharing, permissions, performance, and search.
- Collaboration: Collaboration allows organizations to build communication metrics, systems, tools, structured and ordered processes, roles, and responsibilities and interact with relevant people.
- Productivity: SharePoint can integrate with legacy systems, software, technologies, and Web applications through web services or APIs. SharePoint analytics, Business Intelligence, and Workflows allow organizations to gain insight while automating business processes, thereby increasing productivity.
- Secure access to information -Organizations allow employees to access the information securely. Collaborators can search document libraries, access documents with the appropriate permissions, check version information and metadata, and track changes.
- Customizations, Scalable Development: SharePoint is an assortment of products, software, and technologies. It's a platform. SharePoint's capabilities allow organizations to customize the platform and build functionalities.
- Central administration: SharePoint configurations, settings, and security can be managed from a SharePoint console. Administration at the central level is smooth with backup, restore, upgrade, and other deep control mechanisms.
- Reporting: SharePoint lets you track, record, schedule, and analyze different information-sharing aspects. SharePoint reporting tools give all stakeholders a complete overview of SharePoint's environment.
- Maximize ROI: SharePoint allows you to share easily, organize and collaborate. Companies can increase their ROI by leveraging team collaboration, content management, knowledge and document management, employee communities, and automation of workflows and processes.
SharePoint Apps
Both a stand-alone and a mobile version of the SharePoint app are offered. Using the SharePoint App, employees can search for and locate pertinent content, such as news articles, communication sites, and other relevant websites.
The SharePoint application is a stand-alone program that addresses a business issue. Users can install the app on their SharePoint sites by downloading it from the public SharePoint store.
Microsoft PowerPoint includes a mobile application that enables you to access approved websites and files, work with others, and accomplish tasks while on the go. Employees can collaborate and have access to news and records.
Versions of SharePoint
|
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 |
23-11-2003 |
|
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003, Service Pack 1 |
18-10-2004 |
|
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 2. |
18-10-2005 |
|
Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Service Pack 3. |
18-09-2007 |
|
Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 |
27-01-2007 |
|
Microsoft SharePoint Portal Server 2001 |
Review Note |
|
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2001 Service Pack 2 |
30-05-2001 |
|
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2001 Service Pack 3 |
23-03-2004 |
|
Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 Service Pack 1. |
28-06-2011 |
|
SharePoint Server 2010 |
15-07-2010 |
|
SharePoint Server 2010 Service Pack 2. |
23-07-2013 |
|
SharePoint Server 2013 |
09-01-2013 |
|
SharePoint Server 2013 Service Pack 1. |
25-02-2014 |
|
SharePoint Server 2016 |
01-05-2016 |
|
SharePoint Server 2019 |
22-10-2018 |
SharePoint's History
Office Server Extension and Team Pages, both of which have since been decommissioned, were used to construct SharePoint Portal 2001. It was developed to collaborate with the now-defunct Frontpage, Server Extension, and Team Pages.
Top-down portals and search were the early focal points of SharePoint. Document management was given little attention. WSS Windows SharePoint development services were produced by the Microsoft Index server's search, indexing, and query language capabilities.
Web content management and publishing features are also included in SharePoint 2007. The goal of SharePoint 2010 was to offer a comprehensive business solution. It features Microsoft Office integration, document management, and records management. SharePoint 2010 includes global metadata, social networking, reporting, and taxonomy.
After it, the SharePoint Foundation was created. The purpose of the service architecture is to enable service sharing and more flexible scaling. BPOS was replaced with Office 365.
Microsoft launched SharePoint 2013, an expansion of the features of SharePoint Server 2013. SharePoint Online was built on top of SharePoint Server 2013. Based on SharePoint Server 2013, Microsoft released SharePoint Online.
As an on-premises SharePoint platform, SharePoint Server 2016, which integrates the features of Office 365 with SharePoint Online, was released.
With Office 365 services like Yammer and OneDrive for Business, Sharepoint integration is simple. These tools enhance how individuals operate. They deliver engaging and interactive solutions and complete services to link consumers with pertinent information. Additionally, a smartphone version was unveiled.
Microsoft designed SharePoint Hybrid by combining the features of SharePoint on-premises with SharePoint online to take use of cloud computing.
SharePoint Server 2019, which is built on both cloud and on-premises capabilities, has finally been launched by Microsoft.
With its unparalleled ability to share, access, and utilize data, information, and content from any device, anytime, and anywhere, SharePoint Server 2019 offers a contemporary experience. Without sacrificing security, compliance, teamwork, or security.
SharePoint Overview
Microsoft's newest website-based service, SharePoint 2019, was built on SharePoint 2016. A single platform for collaboration and communication strengthens cooperation, business processes, and communication.
It's dependable, scalable, and secure to use SharePoint 2021. It is also cutting-edge, wise, and intuitive.
People and organizations can share and collaborate, stay informed and engaged, and revolutionize their business processes thanks to SharePoint 2021. It works with all types of gadgets.
Options for Deployment
SharePoint is a business collaboration platform designed to meet the needs of all organizations, regardless of their size or where they work.
Microsoft offers these deployment options.
- SharePoint on-premises
- SharePoint Online with Microsoft Office 365
- Hybrid.
SharePoint on-premises Deployment
The only place that can keep sensitive data is on-site. This covers banking, healthcare, and manufacturing organizations in the public and private sectors.
To use SharePoint internally and externally, these businesses can alter SharePoint and design their governance regulations. From SharePoint, they can also extract project reports.
SharePoint Online Deployment
Organizations that choose SharePoint Online can purchase licenses for the platform. Microsoft regularly installs updates, maintains the infrastructure in its data centers, and ensures high network bandwidth, low latency, and disaster recovery capability.
Hybrid deployment
Hybrid deployment allows an organization to use SharePoint Online and SharePoint On-Premises features. You can authenticate on either the Active directory on-premises or online. The regulatory authorities determine conformity in different countries.
SharePoint Pricing
SharePoint Online licenses are per user. You can choose either a stand-alone solution or Office 365. Pricing starts at $5 per user/month.
SharePoint Roles
Licenses for intranet sites use a Server/CAL model (Client Access License).
SharePoint Standard Cal: This CAL provides the core capabilities of SharePoint.
SharePoint Enterprise Cal: This CAL gives SharePoint the full power it deserves.
Microsoft SharePoint Online can be used as a standalone service or in conjunction with Microsoft Office 365.
Read More:- 10 Skills Every SharePoint Developer Needs 2023
Pricing and plans are determined by the capabilities of each plan.
SharePoint Roles
|
Role |
Description |
|
Product owner |
The platform is managed by the product owner, who assigns roles. |
|
Business owner |
The business owner determines how SharePoint will be implemented within an organization. |
|
The administrator of the farm server |
This person is responsible for the hardware supporting the platform |
|
The administrator of the farm system |
This person is responsible to manage the operating system running SharePoint |
|
Contributors |
SharePoint allows contributors to collaborate and use the environment. |
|
SharePoint trainers |
Training is required for new recruits |
|
SharePoint power user |
The primary user is the Power-user |
|
SharePoint Developer |
The SharePoint developer adapts the SharePoint application to meet the needs of the enterprise in order to improve productivity |
|
SharePoint Business Analyst |
The business analyst evaluates and analyzes the workflow of the organization and recommends how to implement SharePoint. |
|
SharePoint QA Analyst |
During the implementation of SharePoint, the QA analyst plays a vital role within the organization. |
|
Administrator |
The user administrator is responsible for managing users and groups, setting passwords, managing service request requests, and monitoring service health. |
Companies use SharePoint and their lists
For more than a decade, businesses have been shifting to SharePoint to meet their diverse business challenges and needs. This is a list of companies that use SharePoint Server / Microsoft Office 365 to power their businesses.
|
Amgen |
Wells Fargo |
Parsons Corporation |
JPMorgan Chase |
|
Perspecta |
Integris Health |
Viacom |
Valero Energy |
|
Kraft Food |
Avnet |
Emerson |
IBM |
|
HCL |
Unisys |
Sapient |
Amazon |
|
Cybage |
Capgemini |
|
Hexaware |
|
Nestle Nutrition Institute |
FCA North America |
Petronas |
Northwestern Mutual |
|
Tampax - P&G |
Ingram Micro |
ADM |
Valero Energy |
|
Dell Financial Services |
HESS |
NuStar Energy |
INTL |
Six Steps to a Successful Microsoft SharePoint Implementation
It's time for the installation phase now that you have all the data you need to choose the finest Microsoft SharePoint version for your company.
Be cautious; take your time with a full implementation because the SharePoint user interface seems simple.
Following these steps, you can use an iterative, carefully thought-out method to integrate SharePoint into your company. This enables you to completely comprehend your business requirements, create a strategy to encourage user adoption, and lower the possibility of a disastrous SharePoint implementation.
Form an Implementation Team
You will want individuals with experience in the SharePoint implementation procedure to oversee the project. Doing this will make it possible to complete tasks fast and correctly. Incompetent employees may result in disillusionment, decreased productivity, and, ultimately, a failed implementation.
You might outsource SharePoint deployment services if your IT department needs experts. Although SharePoint is a user-friendly tool, it needs to be launched by a skilled team.
Because of their exposure to numerous industries, projects, and best practices, an experienced SharePoint implementation team can effectively deploy the ideal solution for your needs within a specified time frame.
You can rely on something other than a SharePoint partner just because you hired them. To ensure your IT team can manage the system and expand it long after the project is completed, they can provide technical documentation and system administrator training.
The following people should be part of the implementation team:
- Data size SharePoint Online is completely cloud-based. This means that SharePoint Online's data storage capacity is limited to 1 TB + 10GB per user per licensed company. You can add additional storage as an option.
- Infrastructure and cost: SharePoint Online doesn't require any servers or hardware. It's completely cloud-based. Your pricing plan will determine the monthly subscription costs for each user. Microsoft handles all maintenance, updates, and security patches automatically.
- Control and customization - Since Microsoft hosts SharePoint Online, you don't have any control over the servers. You can only make minimal customizations.
Prioritize, Analyze and Discover Requirements
SharePoint solutions are only successful if they support and enhance the work of people within your organization. You must identify your employees' pain points and inefficiencies before you can build a SharePoint solution that supports or enhances their work.
The implementation team must conduct targeted discussions with key stakeholders, managers, and representatives from each department since a solution that works necessitates agreement at all levels of the business. It is crucial to talk about both present and future requirements. These requirements will guide high-level architectural design and recommendations for infrastructure that support custom SharePoint solution development and scalability.
Determine which requirements will impact the organization's workflow after collecting the requirements from all groups. Making the most of your team's limited time, money, and resources requires prioritization.
A sales-focused corporation will benefit the most from a business intelligence (BI) dashboard and reporting tool like sales. A legal business, on the other hand, will benefit most from a document management tool.
Design, Build, and Deploy
It's now time to start building. The implementation team creates a site and library, adds users, establishes security groups, and sets up metadata and views in this stage.
Use SharePoint's out-of-the-box features to build and try not to write code. This will make it easier to upgrade and maintain the new features. To ensure maintainability and scalability, there are best practices for coders:
- Follow a design pattern (such as Model-View-Viewmodel, Dependency Injection, or Inversion of Control) to ensure that you're always writing quality code.
- Use a SharePoint code quality framework like SPCAF to analyze your code and determine its quality. This will enable you to identify and fix bugs before they reach production.
- To ensure consistency across environments, deploy packages using batch scripts.
- Batch scripts can be used to deploy packages across multiple environments.
- You can create a benchmark performance indicator that you can update whenever you deploy new solutions or features to your SharePoint farm. This will help you reduce performance loss.
- To ensure consistency across environments, deploy your packages using batch scripts.
Conduct User Acceptance Testing
After the first building and deployment, conduct user acceptance testing with a small group of organization users. This is important since it confirms that the solution satisfies requirements. The implementation team can gather input and look for any bugs at this stage.
The suggestions made at this point should be included in the SharePoint solution to enhance the user experience. Before rolling out the solution to the rest of the firm, all bugs must be fixed.
To Drive Adoption, Provide Comprehensive Training.
According to the AIIM Impact of SharePoint study, 67% of firms felt that user training issues contributed to the failure of their SharePoint installation. If employees in your company need to learn how to utilize SharePoint, they won't use it.
As a result, the solution will be kept in cold storage until it is finished.
Senior management and the implementation team should develop a thorough staff training program to help users comprehend SharePoint's capabilities and how to use them to improve productivity.
In-house live training is one technique for employee training. Due to the number of information users must take in and retain during one session, this strategy may lead to low engagement.
Customized SharePoint training and onboarding are provided to employees to promote adoption.
This can be done through an embedded onboarding talk list and on-demand self-help support.
You can see an example of how organizations could embed a self-help widget that provides instant support to SharePoint users and answers frequently asked questions. This helps drive adoption.
Develop a Post-Implementation Strategy
The job only finishes once your SharePoint solution is operational. It is crucial to have an internal staff working on the solution to maintain it, deploy fixes and updates regularly, gather feedback, and make necessary improvements.
Please maintain your SharePoint solution proactively to prevent the site from growing too large, losing quality, and irritating users.
SharePoint's future and potential scope
SharePoint enables file sharing and teamwork across all platforms. SharePoint is a platform for collaborative work, document management, and extensibility. The potential and promise of SharePoint are enormous. However, the SharePoint sector needs more qualified experts.
ASP.NET and WCF are used to create SharePoint. You can work as a SharePoint administrator, programmer, or developer. You'll be able to follow your passions and use your abilities.
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Final Verdict
SharePoint enables file sharing and teamwork across all platforms. SharePoint is a platform for collaborative work, document management, and extensibility. The potential and promise of SharePoint are enormous. However, the SharePoint sector needs more qualified experts.
ASP.NET and WCF are used to create SharePoint. You can work as a SharePoint administrator, programmer, or developer. You'll be able to follow your passions and use your abilities.
