What exactly is Microsoft SharePoint?

SharePoint is a web application developed by Microsoft that was launched in 2001.

SharePoint Puts the Customer at the Center

The most important reason for companies to use a system like SharePoint likely lies in its CRM (Customer Relationship Management) functionalities. With SharePoint, you can store all your customer data in a database and use and manage it with all employees of your company.

Current as well as completed correspondence can be viewed and searched at any time and from anywhere; additionally, you can automatically generate printouts of lists of potential and current customers, including contact and billing information. The advantage over classic Rolodex, index card, and paper file systems is, I think, obvious. Employees thus know among themselves who maintains contact with which customer and can centrally access information or update it independently.

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SharePoint as a Personal Organizer

SharePoint gives users the ability to organize documents and appointments together. Central access to corporate calendars makes it easy to coordinate delivery and meeting appointments. The platform can also be used for document archiving. Whether it involves company policies, memos, vacation requests, or non-disclosure agreements – all these documents can be stored in a single central location and are always findable there.

Navigating the Social Web with SharePoint

With the new SharePoint 2013, news feed functions and website and blog management functions are added to the known collaboration tool. In addition, the central internal control options have been improved, so that intranet managers can retain full control over what happens across the network.

All in all, I think that SharePoint includes so many functions that every company will likely find a use for the system. However, I still wonder how such a large platform seems to appear as a one-size-fits-all solution for everyone. Actually, I am sure that there are specific, individual solutions for each individual company, that are more specifically tailored to the respective company’s needs. Time will show how well SharePoint 2013 satisfies the respective company’s needs.