Whether you love working on SharePoint or hate it, one cannot simply ignore this popular collaboration tool. Of course, it has tons of benefits for workspaces and teams, but getting into it can be somewhat of a battle especially if you aren’t familiar with it at all.
In this post, we take a look at five incredible facts about SharePoint you should be aware of. That goes for the fans and those who are indifferent!
#1 Search Is Great When It’s Done Properly
Look, the search function on SharePoint truly is fantastic. You won’t have to run around and look for files or documents. But it will only work as well as it was configured to begin with. If it’s not setup properly, you might want to grab your running shoes.
In a nutshell SharePoint search should be worked on, adapted and configured on a regular basis, otherwise it will be useless. To help you out with this, you can add Result Sources and Types or perhaps create Managed Properties.
#2 It’s Not That Easy
Yes, it is a fantastic resource that can add value in any workspace. But, it’s not going to be as simple as just sitting down and having everyone proficient on it in one days’ time. Firstly, it’s the type of software that will work for you if you bring your time and effort to the table.
It’s fantastic, but you’ll have to put some elbow grease into it and plan everything properly. It’s not just a dive-in, but you’ll be happy you’ve made the effort once everything is running. We can vouch that you’ll fall in love with it too.
#3 Co-Authoring Documents is Great
Gone are those days where you had to sit and wait for one co-worker or employee to do their bit on a document before you can get started on it. The possibility of co-authoring documents makes it possible to work and edit on documents simultaneously.
Yes, SharePoint will automatically keep track of all changes. Not only does this save you a whole lot of time, but also streamlines workflow quite a bit. Say goodbye to twiddling your thumbs and hello to getting things done!
#4 Projects Should be Clearly Defined
This goes for using SharePoint altogether as well. You’ll need to know exactly why it would be of benefit to your company or workflow. SharePoint is a magical tool and can add value, simply wanting to collaborate is not good enough reason to buy in.
First, identify what the problem with your current intranet or work system is. This should be a great start and test run to use SharePoint optimally. Remember, you can always ease into things rather than throwing it into an already broken system.
#5 Content Types and Site Columns is a Must
If you have no idea what content types or site columns are, you should start getting comfortable with these. The thing is, if you don’t know and are not using them properly, the whole SharePoint experience may become more of a pain than a joy.
Everything done on SharePoint is linked to site columns and content types, so you see, you’ll have to wrap your head around how to use them properly. If not, you won’t ever get a taste of the beauty of SharePoint at all!
There you have it. If you had any doubts in your mind about introducing SharePoint to your workspace, we trust that you are now able to make an informed decision. Best of luck!a