What is Microsoft SharePoint?

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Following some requests for information about SharePoint, Microsoft’s fastest growing technology I have composed this article for the 4N community.
SpiderGroup are a Microsoft Gold Partner in Bristol. We specialise in providing hosted software solutions for businesses ranging from 1 – 500 employees.
 
What is SHAREPOINT?
SharePoint is a business information portal that can easily be built into Intranet, Extranet and Internet sites. SharePoint provides individuals and teams with the tools to share information, files and expertise whilst being able to collaborate without constraints on location. You can work anywhere.

Some SharePoint facts
• SharePoint is the fastest-growing product in the history of Microsoft
• Over 80 million licenses of SharePoint have been sold worldwide
• SharePoint license sales for 2008 are predicted to be $1billion
• SharePoint is listed, by Forrester, as the number 1 portal product
 
Why should you use SharePoint?
SharePoint solves four main problems
 As companies grow so does the amount of their data. It doesn’t take long before difficulties arise keeping track of the multiplying documents and their locations.  SharePoint overcomes this by allowing you to store and locate your files in a central place.  
•  Sharing work files via email attachments is a messy business.  SharePoint solves this problem by allowing all files to be stored online, with easy access by any individual or team. 
•  With the growth of home workers and multi-site operations, the sharing of files can be a headache. SharePoint enables teams and individuals to connect and collaborate together regardless of where they are located.  
•  It’s difficult, costly and time consuming to create and maintain intranets.  SharePoint allows anyone to create sites for use within their company’s Intranet, as they are needed, without having to know any complicated code or IT processes. It’s as easy as using Word.
 
Some further points on how a Microsoft SharePoint solution can help a business:

Improve team productivity with easy-to-use collaborative tools
Connect people with the information and resources they need. Users can create shared folders, coordinate calendars, organise documents, and receive important notifications and updates through communication features including announcements and alerts.
Easily manage documents and help ensure integrity of content
E
nhanced document management capabilities including the option to checkout documents before editing, the ability to view revisions to documents and restore to previous versions, and the control to set document- and item-level security.
Get users up to speed quickly
User interface improvements in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 include enhanced views and menus that simplify navigation within and among SharePoint sites. Integration with familiar programs in the Microsoft Office system, makes it easy for users to get up to speed quickly.
Deploy solutions tailored to your business processes
Rather than trying to force your business into a fixed software solution, SharePoint allows a business to mold it around their current processes and workflows. Let SharePoint change for you not the other way round.
Build a collaboration environment quickly and easily
Creating client, project or meeting workspaces takes seconds not hours and can be achieved by virtually any member of staff. Private areas for management and personnel can be built with the greatest of ease.

To preview some of WSS 3.0’s new features visit the MicrosoftWindows SharePoint Services 3.0 demo
To arrange a free on-site demo from SpiderGroup please visit the SpiderGroup Contact Page.

Date: 31/03/2008
Category: BUSINESS EDITORIAL

Added By: Paul Griffiths on 31/03/2008 15:56:47
Last Updated: 31/03/2008 15:56:47

Number of Views: 296

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