Tech giant Microsoft came up with SharePoint for one main reason: to simplify the way documents are shared. Since its launch in 2001, the web application platform has been very successful. Microsoft SharePoint is currently a $1.3 billion business, supporting a client base of over 100 million. However, such success hasn’t prevented some myths or negative perceptions to creep in.
Here are five of the most common misconceptions about Microsoft SharePoint.
“Microsoft SharePoint is simply a place to store files.”
Yes, at its very core, Microsoft SharePoint is enterprise software—designed to store and manage a company’s files and documents. However, there’s more to SharePoint than just storage. Through its message boards, microblog, and schedule features, the software encourages collaboration among employees in accomplishing goals in a timely and efficient manner. Also, its workflow feature enables people to electronically collect data, assign tasks, and approve completed documents. Such aforementioned features cannot be found in any ordinary file storage system.
“Microsoft SharePoint is only suitable for small businesses.”
According to Microsoft market research, almost 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies use SharePoint. So, that shatters the misconception that SharePoint cannot support large corporations. This is especially true with the Microsoft SharePoint 2013 upgrade, which manages document storage needs from one central location. A prime example of the optimal function of SharePoint in large companies is BWAY Corporation, a container manufacturer that solved its form entry and workflow problems by partly relying on the platform to build a robust portal-based solution. Contrary to a still-widely held myth, Microsoft SharePoint can accommodate businesses of all sizes.
“Microsoft SharePoint is hard to use.”
This misconception usually comes from people who are not as familiar with SharePoint as they are with other (or more widely used) Microsoft products, such as Word and Excel. However, because SharePoint belongs to the same Microsoft Office 365 suite as the aforementioned applications, all that is required is to navigate its main features and options, which are similar to that of its siblings. Also, users can consult the Help feature if you are confused about something or need further explanations.
“Microsoft SharePoint must only be managed by IT professionals.”
With this misconception, users may ultimately rely solely on the IT departments of their respective companies, even if the requests are small and easy to solve. This places unnecessary burden on IT professionals, who are not responsible for small departmental tasks, but are instead assigned the task of rolling out major processes that ensure company-wide efficiency. SharePoint should always be managed by business decision-makers, rather than being passed on to IT at every single issue.
“Microsoft SharePoint cannot be customized.”
Ask the average Microsoft SharePoint user what immediately comes to mind when asked to visually describe the platform’s interface, and the person is most likely to paint a picture of small blue font and lots of white space. However, this is the default style that Microsoft sets for SharePoint, and it can be customized to the user’s tastes or preferences. Packaged with the platform are a host of tools that enable business analysts to customize it in a way that best suits the company’s vision or branding.