How to Choose the Best SharePoint Consulting Company for your Next Project

Posted by Jessica Thomas on May 24th, 2022

When we think of content management, SharePoint is one of the first words that come to mind. It is used by more than 78 percent of Fortune 500 companies worldwide. It is utilized daily by 62% of information workers. One out of every five knowledge workers brings into play SharePoint to retrieve their information. These are just a few statistics that demonstrate how essential SharePoint has become in the business sector. However, comprehending where to begin and how to begin can be challenging; that’s where a SharePoint Consultant can help. A reputable SharePoint Consulting Company can assist you in getting the most out of SharePoint for your company.

Finding a professional SharePoint Consultant is a challenging and time-consuming endeavor. When reviewing a qualified SharePoint Consulting Company for your next project, consider some factors.

Defining the Scope:

You can find the best only when you know what you exactly need. Every organization has its unique skillset and competence, which is a hard-core industry truth. So, first and foremost, you must clearly describe your project scope; this will significantly assist you in determining which firm to approach. For instance, do you require an Intranet for your company, or are you seeking a Document Management System? Are you looking for SharePoint Adoption Training or Business Process Automation? Because different firms specialize in diverse areas, you must precisely define your scope to work with the best one.

Concentrate on Expertise

Each organization has a predetermined specialization. Since you now have a specified scope, you must choose firms that are experts in your field. SharePoint is a collection of various features. Companies have different SharePoint Consulting Services, such as Intranet construction, Document Management System development, Metadata configuration, out-of-the-box features, Business Intelligence Solutions, Branding, Integration, Enterprise Custom Development, Upgrading & Migration, Support and Maintenance, and so on. You should concentrate your search on SharePoint Consulting Companies with experience in the field you\\\\\'ve defined.

Speak upon Resource Allocation

Resource Allocation is an essential element to consider when hiring a SharePoint Consulting firm, yet vendors sometimes overlook it. You must be familiar with the members of the project team. You should be aware of their strengths and capacities. You must have one-on-one communication with the team’s point of contact.

In addition, many companies delegate the project or a portion of the project to third-party vendors. Therefore, you should strive to leave such SharePoint Consultants off your list because dealing with such organizations on a long-term project can be difficult.

Communication Matters

Communication is the key, and your project will only be completed on schedule if you maintain effective communication throughout the duration of the project. You must choose a SharePoint Consulting Company that can communicate effectively with you in your time zone. When the vendor\\\\\'s and client\\\\\'s time zones do not overlap, it becomes a nuisance.

Training

SharePoint implementation is not the end; it’s just half done. The main combat begins afterward. First, you should hire SharePoint Consultants who will train you once the project is completed. It would cut off unnecessary support charges required to use SharePoint on-premise and online both. So, make sure training is always included as a part of the project submission.

Just SharePoint or other M365 Apps?

It\\\\\'s vital to understand whether you only need SharePoint or whether you\\\\\'ll also need other M365 apps to justify your scope. Let\\\\\'s imagine you need a Helpdesk System; you need to capture requests in a SharePoint List, you\\\\\'ll need Power Automate to automate the process, and PowerApps for the user interface. You might also need PowerBI for analytics and reporting. In this instance, you would require an Office 365 Custom Development. Thus, a SharePoint development team will not be enough; instead, you will require a team of Microsoft 365 Consultants.

Payment Structures

Most SharePoint Consultants work on an hourly basis, which can be prohibitively expensive for small businesses and nonprofits. Therefore, you must have a project budget and understand whether to use fixed pricing, hourly rates, or a dedicated resource allocation technique. As a result, the Consultants should be adequately hired.

Look for Experienced SharePoint Consultants

Every company has its own set of designated domains for which they have worked. Some SharePoint Consultants, for example, excel in providing services to the healthcare industry, while others do not. One may have extensive experience in the manufacturing industry but little or no knowledge of aviation. So, always inquire about the brands with which the SharePoint Consulting Company has worked. If the SharePoint Consultant cannot demonstrate a proven track record, you may need to hunt for someone else.

Support and Maintenance

Even after extensive testing and customer clearance, a project launched in a production environment has a probability of detecting bugs. As a result, you should hire a SharePoint consulting firm that offers at least 7-15 days of support and maintenance as part of the project deliverable.

Conclusion

SharePoint is a dynamic platform that can be customized to meet your specific business needs. If you\\\\\'re unsure where to begin, you can contact one of Beyond Intranet’s qualified consultants. For Beyond Intranet, they take a consultative approach for its clients and support them from concept to implementation and beyond.