Harnessing the Full Potential of SharePoint Intranet
Introduction
SharePoint is a powerful platform developed by Microsoft that allows organizations to create and manage their intranet sites. With SharePoint, businesses can centralize their information, collaborate more effectively, and improve overall productivity. In this article, we will explore the various ways in which organizations can harness the full potential of SharePoint intranet.
Benefits of SharePoint Intranet
Before diving into the details, let’s first understand the key benefits of using SharePoint intranet:
- Centralized Information: SharePoint allows organizations to store and organize all their information in a centralized location, making it easily accessible to employees.
- Improved Collaboration: SharePoint provides a range of collaboration tools, such as document sharing, task management, and discussion boards, that enable teams to work together more efficiently.
- Enhanced Productivity: By streamlining processes and providing easy access to information, SharePoint helps employees save time and be more productive.
- Customization Options: SharePoint offers a wide range of customization options, allowing organizations to tailor their intranet sites to their specific needs and branding.
- Security and Permissions: SharePoint provides robust security features, allowing organizations to control access to sensitive information and ensure data privacy.
Choosing the Right SharePoint Development Agency
When it comes to SharePoint intranet development, it is crucial to choose the right development agency. Here are some factors to consider:
- Experience and Expertise: Look for a development agency with extensive experience in SharePoint development and a team of skilled developers.
- Portfolio: Review the agency’s portfolio to see if they have worked on similar projects and delivered successful results.
- Client Reviews: Check client reviews and testimonials to get an idea of the agency’s reputation and customer satisfaction.
- Communication and Collaboration: Ensure that the agency has effective communication channels in place and is willing to collaborate closely with your organization throughout the development process.
- Support and Maintenance: Inquire about the agency’s post-development support and maintenance services to ensure that your SharePoint intranet remains up-to-date and secure.
SharePoint On-Premise vs SharePoint Online
When implementing SharePoint intranet, organizations have the option to choose between SharePoint on-premise and SharePoint online. Here are some factors to consider when making this decision:
- Cost: SharePoint on-premise requires upfront investment in hardware, software, and infrastructure, whereas SharePoint online is a subscription-based service with a monthly fee.
- Scalability: SharePoint online offers more scalability as it allows organizations to easily add or remove users and storage space as needed.
- Accessibility: SharePoint online can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection, while SharePoint on-premise requires a local network connection.
- Security: SharePoint online provides robust security features, but some organizations may have specific security requirements that can only be met with an on-premise solution.
- Customization: SharePoint on-premise offers more customization options, allowing organizations to have full control over their intranet sites.
Intranet Design and Development
Designing and developing an effective SharePoint intranet requires careful planning and consideration. Here are some best practices to follow:
- Define Objectives: Clearly define the objectives and goals of your intranet project to ensure that the design and development align with your organization’s needs.
- User-Centric Design: Design your intranet with the end-users in mind, focusing on usability, simplicity, and intuitive navigation.
- Information Architecture: Create a logical and organized structure for your intranet, making it easy for users to find the information they need.
- Mobile-Friendly Design: With the increasing use of mobile devices, it is essential to design your intranet to be responsive and accessible on different screen sizes.
- Engaging Content: Populate your intranet with relevant and engaging content to encourage employee adoption and participation.
- Continuous Improvement: Regularly gather feedback from users and make necessary improvements to ensure that your intranet remains effective and up-to-date.
Outsourcing SharePoint Development
Outsourcing SharePoint development can be a cost-effective and efficient solution for organizations that do not have in-house expertise or resources. Here are some benefits of outsourcing:
- Expertise and Experience: Outsourcing to a specialized SharePoint development agency ensures that your intranet is developed by experts with extensive experience in SharePoint development.
- Cost Savings: Outsourcing can be more cost-effective than hiring and maintaining an in-house development team, especially for small and medium-sized organizations.
- Time Efficiency: By outsourcing, you can save time on recruitment, training, and project management, allowing your organization to focus on core business activities.
- Access to Latest Technologies: SharePoint development agencies stay updated with the latest technologies and best practices, ensuring that your intranet is built using the most advanced tools and techniques.
- Scalability: Outsourcing allows you to easily scale your SharePoint development team up or down based on your project requirements.
Managed SharePoint Services
Once your SharePoint intranet is developed, it is essential to ensure its smooth operation and maintenance. Managed SharePoint services can help you with the following:
- Monitoring and Support: Managed services providers offer 24/7 monitoring and support to ensure that your intranet is always up and running.
- Security and Compliance: Managed services providers can help you implement and maintain robust security measures to protect your intranet and ensure compliance with industry regulations.
- Performance Optimization: Managed services providers can optimize the performance of your intranet by identifying and resolving any bottlenecks or issues.
- Regular Updates and Maintenance: Managed services providers can handle regular updates, patches, and maintenance tasks, ensuring that your intranet remains secure and up-to-date.
- Backup and Disaster Recovery: Managed services providers can implement backup and disaster recovery solutions to protect your intranet data in case of any unforeseen events.
Conclusion
SharePoint intranet offers numerous benefits for organizations, including centralized information, improved collaboration, enhanced productivity, and customization options. By choosing the right SharePoint development agency, deciding between SharePoint on-premise and SharePoint online, following best practices for intranet design and development, considering outsourcing options, and utilizing managed SharePoint services, organizations can harness the full potential of SharePoint intranet and transform their internal communication and collaboration processes.