If your business has a Microsoft 365 subscription, then it’s essential for you to be getting the most out of your apps and services. One of the productivity tools you should be prioritising is SharePoint, Microsoft’s web-based collaboration and document management platform that allows teams to work together on projects, share information, and manage documents in a secure online environment.
The power and utility of SharePoint should not be underestimated, the platform provides employees with increased power to work collaboratively from wherever they carry out their daily duties. Whatsmore, SharePoint is hugely customisable, allowing you to tailor the hubsite’s content to meet the needs of your team. Today we take a look at the beneficial features of SharePoint, how it can benefit your business, and how you can authentically tailor your collaboration platform to respond to your business requirements.
Unsurprisingly, having a centralised point of collaboration can be hugely beneficial to employees - shared documents and projects are stored in one place, allowing for remote access whenever needed. However, the collaborative and flexible benefits provided by MS SharePoint are multifaceted, with these being some of the plus points of using the platform:
Centralised Access to Information: SharePoint allows businesses to centralise access to information and documents, making it easier for team members to find what they need. It also eliminates the need for multiple copies of the same document, reducing the chances of document and data loss.
Improved Collaboration: SharePoint provides tools for team collaboration, such as shared calendars, project timelines, and discussion forums. It also allows for the creation of team sites, where team members can work on projects together, share files, and communicate in real-time.
Customisable Sites: SharePoint sites can be customised to fit the needs of your business, with options to add custom lists, libraries, workflows, and web parts. This allows for the creation of personalised business websites that meet your team's specific needs.
Secure Access to Information: SharePoint provides secure access to information, with options to set permissions at the site, folder, or document level. This ensures that only authorised team members can access sensitive information, further protecting your business from data breaches.
Integration with Microsoft Office: SharePoint integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Office, allowing users to work on documents within SharePoint using familiar tools such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Mobile Access: SharePoint sites can be accessed from any device, including smartphones and tablets, allowing team members to access information and collaborate on projects from anywhere.
As highlighted above, SharePoint has a wealth of customisable features - both aesthetic and functional. But how exactly can you practically tailor your hubsite to meet your specific needs?
Choose a theme: SharePoint allows you to customise the look and feel of your site by choosing from a variety of pre-built themes or creating your own. You can choose a theme that matches your brand or create a custom one that reflects more informal individual tastes.
Add and customise web parts: SharePoint comes with a variety of pre-built web parts that you can use to add functionality to your site - such as calendars, picture libraries, and data lists.
Create custom lists and libraries: SharePoint allows you to create custom lists and libraries to store and manage data. You can customize these lists and libraries by adding columns, views, and workflows to meet your specific needs.
Use SharePoint Designer: SharePoint Designer is a free tool that allows you to tailor your SharePoint site by creating custom workflows, adding custom code, and modifying the site's layout and design.
Use SharePoint Framework: SharePoint Framework is a development platform that allows you to create custom web parts and extensions using modern web technologies such as React and Angular. This can help you create highly customized and interactive experiences for your users.
As discussed, SharePoint provides a wealth of opportunity for customisation and utility. If your business is currently using Microsoft products and services, then it’s essential to maximise and create your own internal hubsite. SharePoint is a powerful tool that can help you improve employee collaboration, document management, productivity, security, and scalability - and can be tailored and scaled to suit businesses of all sizes and industries.
If you’re unsure how to proceed with redesigning and catering your SharePoint hubsite, then your trusted IT partner should be the first port of call. When working with Microsoft services it’s advisable to partner with a Microsoft Solutions Partner MSP - at Fitzrovia IT we have access to exclusive training and resources, and have certified competencies in numerous Microsoft fields. Our expert team can help you identify your SharePoint needs, and create a unique and custome hubsite to match.
Don’t hesitate to contact our Microsoft Solutions expert team today to discuss any plans for your SharePoint hubsite.