The Buzz on SharePoint

The current version of SharePoint has come a long way from its beginnings in 1997. Pulling together document management, content management, search engine, messaging, portal technology, workflow functionalities and a number of other technologies, this current version of SharePoint is a must-see, must-evaluate for an organization of any size.

SharePoint today can serve as a platform for information management, business intelligence, project management, composite applications, content management, specialized portals that serve internal or external users, as well as process automation and more.. The current version’s variety of features make it a highly flexible and extensible platform to collaborate and communicate, driving solutions that serve people, processes and business strategies.

Usage FAQs

Can SharePoint work with my current infrastructure?
SharePoint comes out of the box with capabilities to work with other software investments your company has made. With the ability to support Web Services, RSS, XML/XSLT and .NET technology, SharePoint can be used to create specialized Web Parts to interact with most systems. Microsoft continues to converge many applications into a composite infrastructure, pulling together various technologies such as Form Server, Excel Server, BizTalk, Windows Workflow Foundation, Reporting Services, Project Server and Dynamics to leverage SharePoint and its services.

How do I kick up a notch on my organization’s productivity?
SharePoint is all about getting information workers what they need to enable decisions, action and performance. Some organizations, for example, have deployed SharePoint as a platform to deliver reports and dashboards to executives pulling information from multiple sources. Using its built-in security to create user profiles, SharePoint can safely deliver information to appropriate audiences.

Some organizations have led the industry in using SharePoint as work portal, driving business processes through specialized SharePoint sites to all workers. Creating the right level of business process automation using SharePoint is key to a successful implementation.

Can I deploy a solution quickly?
Yes. Here’s an example of how SharePoint can be put to use right away. An IT manager was having a tough time managing IT assets across the organization. From software licenses to monitors, everything was stored in requisition forms, purchase orders, invoices and spreadsheets—on different systems in different places.

With a SharePoint solution developed and deployed in a short time, now all the forms, digitized paperwork, warranty information, supplier information, asset inventory and asset tracking can be easily viewed and managed through an Asset Management portal.

Can SharePoint help us collaborate better with our offshore team, business partners or customers?
SharePoint can be used to manage an initiative or project that requires document sharing, project management and oversight.  A SharePoint Project portal can be used to help manage multiple projects with internal and external users. The SharePoint solution provides a means to coordinate events, share issues, collaborate on designs, improve cross-functional team communication, and track project dependencies.

How do I reach out to my customers?
The latest version of SharePoint enables truly effective user community sites. Using a combination of calendaring, announcements, discussion threads, blogs and wikis, a community site can now generate and foster interest in your service, product or company. One of the powerful advantages of such a community site is that customers can help other customers through information-sharing and discussion.

Conclusion
For ATI, the key to a successful technology implementation is understanding your exact needs and using our expertise in organizations, business processes and technology to meet those needs. In some of our projects, we have seen instantaneous ROI on SharePoint implementations. In addition, as the adoption of a particular technology expands, the ROI keeps growing.

How ATI Can Help
ATI has extensive experience with the architecture, design, implementation, customization and practical uses of SharePoint solutions. We have provided workshops, delivered formalized training, and helped small and large organizations with strategic and tactical SharePoint solutions.