Microsoft SharePoint

From intranets to document and content management, allow users to access files and work collaboratively with Microsoft SharePoint.

Akita is a designer of SharePoint instances that promote smarter working and simplified file storage as an organisation grows.

What is Microsoft SharePoint?

Microsoft SharePoint is a content management and collaboration solution. It is a secure environment where organisations can order, store and share information and files across all devices.

SharePoint has been recognised by Gartner as the leading tool for building business intranet sites, portals and content platforms. SharePoint’s flexibility means that it can be customised to streamline work processes and generate efficiencies, while the cloud hosting means team members can work collaboratively wherever they are.

With the advent of Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint can be delivered either on-premise on your own server or as a hosted application.

• SharePoint Online – A cloud-based service, hosted by Microsoft, for businesses of all sizes. Instead of installing and deploying on-premise, any business can subscribe to an Office 365 plan or to the standalone SharePoint Online service. Your employees can create sites to share documents and information with colleagues, partners, and customers.
• SharePoint Server – Organisations can deploy and manage SharePoint Server on-premises. It includes all the features of SharePoint Foundation. And it offers additional features and capabilities, such as Enterprise Content Management, business intelligence, enterprise search, personal sites, and Newsfeed.

Companies that already have Office 365 business licences can discover that they already have access to SharePoint Online. This means they can enjoy an advanced SharePoint intranet or solution for a low development cost compared to a bespoke system.

SharePoint Services

Our SharePoint designers create solutions for customers across a wide range of industries. Our SharePoint services include:

• SharePoint Consultancy & Scoping
• SharePoint Design
• SharePoint Development
• Project Management
• SharePoint Hosting (for on-premise)
• Backup (for SharePoint Online and Office 365)
• SharePoint Integration & migration
• Microsoft licensing
• Ongoing Support

Our team of consultants will be able to work proactively with you to get the most from your SharePoint instance, ensuring it fits with your business model and the way you work.

Common Uses For Microsoft SharePoint

Intranets
SharePoint provides the ideal platform for creating and managing intranets (effectively internal facing websites). This allows companies and authorised employees to easily communicate important internal information such as company announcements, company policies, employee notices and so on, as well as store all documents that staff may need in their day-to-day business.

Team websites
SharePoint provides a cost-effective way to create professional-looking websites with a range of useful features. These are ideal for sites which are knowledge-intensive or for those requiring collaboration.

Extranets
An extranet is an external facing portal where authorised individuals can login and gain access to select company documents or see notifications. This allows for external communication through a secured and monitored system. Extranets are useful for storing customer reference documents, or for HR to give access to training material for new staff in the process of on-boarding with a company.

Project management tool
Teams can create a SharePoint site for projects, with easier and more efficient management. For those using MS Project, this seamlessly synchronises. By providing team-members with the most up-to-date project information and making it far it easier for them to control, share and collaborate, it is an incredibly powerful project management tool.

Document management systems
By creating Document Library folders, users can upload any files to SharePoint, whether or not they are standard Office files. However, through its’ integration with Microsoft Office programs users can share and collaborate using the application itself, seamlessly saving to document libraries for Excel, Word, Visio, etc. Synchronisation between programs is, as you would expect, a strong feature of the product. For example, Microsoft Office calendars and contacts can be synchronised with your team’s site.

Benefits of Microsoft SharePoint

Simplify
SharePoint makes the management of files simple. A far more advanced solution than a simple storage drive, SharePoint allows for users to find and access files from any device. With search and advanced meta tag filtering, you won’t be routing through folder nests for key documents. And with user permissions, you can set who can access and edit files, making SharePoint perfect for storing sensitive documents.

Collaboration
A key benefit of Sharepoint is how it lets users work together and stay connected. Multiple users can work simultaneously on files, removing the need to create different versions. Change tracking and rollback allows users to follow changes and undo them as necessary. Shared workspaces, news portals, calendars, notifications and alerts can also be designed in SharePoint. These features can also be accessed while offline, with changes syncing once back online.

Security
SharePoint’s document management features ensure the integrity of documents. Access to SharePoint can be controlled via password or further secured with multi-factor authentication. For document control, users can be restricted in their access to files, or made to check options before editing, viewing revisions or restoring previous document versions. With SharePoint Online, all data is also stored within Microsoft’s highly-secure and GDPR compliant data centres.

Branding & customisation
With improved design and richer themes, SharePoint can now be fully designed to match your organisation’s branding. There’s reat control available over look and feel, with background images that can be changed and logos added. Web content management is also now much easier in comparison to previous iterations.

Integration
SharePoint can now be intuitively integrated with other Microsoft products to offer enhanced functionality. Paired with Outlook, files can be shared at the touch of a button. Coupling with Dynamics 365 allows you to store all company-relevant documentation against CRM records. And partnering with PowerApps allows for the development of mobile apps that store and deliver content from the cloud, for solutions such as service catalogues or field service fault logging.

To discuss your project with a SharePoint designer, please get in touch.