Supercharge Collaboration With Custom SharePoint Development

Posted by Sara Suarez on October 14th, 2022

Until a few years ago, businesses used to employ a shared file system for document management and improving collaboration among the workforce. The major drawback of using a traditional document management system is that users can access it only on their local on-premise servers. However, with the rise of remote work culture in the past few years, it has become critical for enterprises to make a smooth transition from on-premise to a Cloud-based content and document management platform. Since it facilitates authorized users to access crucial business documents from anywhere and edit, share, or review files at any time. In other words, a web-based content and document management solution offers on-site personnel, remote employees, and office staff the same level of convenience regardless of the company size. This may be one of the reasons why enterprises both large and small alike are embracing web-based document management systems.

When it comes to web-based document management systems, there are many platforms available that allow enterprises to streamline workflows and improve collaboration. Amidst all, SharePoint is one such platform that is extensively used by enterprises for document management, file management, content collaboration, business intelligence, process and information integration, advanced search, extranet and intranet portal development, social networking tools, etc. It comes with a multitude of tools and features, which makes it a multi-faceted business solution.

According to recent reports, 250 million organizations across the globe are using SharePoint, including over 85% of Fortune 500 companies namely CitiBank, Viacom, Dell Financial Services, Proctor and Gamble, UPS Store, and many more. What's more interesting to note here is that SharePoint has been witnessing massive growth online since 2017. Now, let’s dig deeper into how custom SharePoint development can help SMBs and enterprise-level organizations harness a host of business benefits including supercharged collaboration, streamlined operations, improved efficiency, and more.

1. Better Data Management

According to a report by McKinsey 28% of work time is spent on reading and responding to emails, which amounts to a staggering 2.6 hours and 120 emails per day. Besides this, a substantial amount of time is spent on marketing reports, meeting notes, presentation minutes, customer support, etc. It can be tedious and time-intensive to organize such large volumes of data. Not to mention, at times the data is stored on local servers, which can’t be accessed by employees working from remote locations. This is where the role of MS SharePoint comes into action. Using MS SharePoint, employees can not only pull data with ease but also sift through large volumes of data, which allows them to find any particular report or business document.

2. Streamline Business Operations

In a business, managing day-to-day activities involve a slew of tasks that are repetitive in nature such as keeping track of a project, collecting feedback, gaining assent, obtaining signatures, and routing a document for printing, etc. SharePoint comes with a host of custom workflows that allow users to automate routine tasks, which in turn, streamlines business operations and drives workforce productivity. Furthermore, users can combine the workflows with their email outreach programs to improve the opening rate of emails.

3. Easy Integration With Several Business Applications

Another key advantage of using SharePoint development solutions is that it facilitates easy integration with almost every business solution out there, no matter whether it is a legacy system or a third-party application. For instance, you can connect MS SharePoint with Office 365 Suite (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint), MS Unified Communications, MS Exchange Server, ERP, CRM, and many other back-office systems. Furthermore, this web-based document management system works well with Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, and all other modern web browsers.

4. Data Security

The advanced security features of MS SharePoint allow users to safeguard the integrity of data from unauthorized access. For instance, authentication enhancements and new workflow upgrades can help users optimize the shareability and accessibility of the information. In other words, the robust multi-layered security system of MS SharePoint not only cuts down the risk of data theft significantly but also provides access/editing privileges, which can be set both at a document or item level. Organizations that deal with sensitive business data can opt for SharePoint development solutions since it allows them to configure security settings at various levels to manage shareability, auditing, and storage. This will help in attaining regulatory compliance with the industry standards on data security.

5. Doesn't Require Sound Technical Knowledge

Without being tech-savvy, it's challenging to compete in a technologically-driven world. However, when it comes to custom SharePoint development, you can perform all the crucial business functions without having any technical knowledge. The reason being is that this web-based document management system comes with a host of tools and features that allow users to perform most of their technical stuff on their own such as building intranet portals, websites, social networking tools, etc.

Summing Up

SharePoint has become the go-to platform among businesses of all sizes for streamlining business operations, improving collaboration, and driving workforce productivity. If you also want to leverage the potential of MS SharePoint in your business, you should consider partnering with a reliable SharePoint development company.