webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen>With its best in class reputation, Microsoft SharePoint, online or on-premise, is the benchmark by which all other offerings in the integrated collaboration platform space are measured. It comes out of the box with a full set of features. While the number of benefits is significant, some of the benefits of a Microsoft SharePoint online solution are:
- Facilitates collaboration with team members, as well as outside vendors.
- Efficiently share, manage and archive information, including emails.
- SharePoint’s powerful integrated search capabilities improves decision making.
- Knowledge, experience and expertise is captured in a single secure store.
- Control access to content and functionality by role or user.
- Microsoft SharePoint Online reduces costs by eliminating the need to buy and manage hardware, software and staff.
Everyday more and more players in the software industry are shifting their model from on-client and on-premise to being hosted online. Microsoft’s SharePoint has expanded it’s user base as it too followed this progression. Here are the main reasons for using SharePoint online:
Comparison of MS SharePoint Online vs On-Premise
| Hosted or Online | On-Premise | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Zero to minimal upfront cost. Capital is not locked up in software and hardware. | Relatively huge upfront software and hardware expenses plus the cost of personnel to install, configure and maintain. |
| Management | Our team of SharePoint technology experts constantly builds on experience that they are able to cascade across multiple installs. | Only the largest IT shops don’t suffer when one key employee goes on vacation, takes leave or quits. |
| Accessibility | Browser based hosted apps are accessible independent of location and time. | Maybe you can access the office from remote, maybe you can’t. Who is going to reboot the server? |
| Technology | We handle all your Microsoft SharePoint online upgrades. Our support team is prepared and our expertise remains in step. | The cost of the time and effort to remain current can be excessive. |
| Security | Installing the latest patches and upgrades is naturally one of our core competencies. | Devoting resources to patches are typically given a low priority in many organizations. |
| Scalability | Scale up—no problem. Or scale down and never have to worry about issuing a pink slip. | More hardware + more software + more staff = more money. |
| Sustainability | Our staff with SharePoint experience is large enough that there is no noticeable impact from turnover and attrition. | The knowledge and expertise is concentrated in too few hands/heads. You’re one “I quit” away from chaos. |
| Flexibility | Month to month billing means you can change Microsoft SharePoint Online plans or platforms with ease—no questions asked. | Replacing a software platform can often feel like you’ve paid double. |
| Payment | Bite-sized month to month fees automatically billed to your credit card. | Large purchases involve meetings, approvals, purchase orders and calls from accounting. |
| Vendor(s) | A single point of contact. We’re here for you 24/7 via chat, email or phone. | Multiple vendors, multiple support contracts, multiple bills, multiple headaches. |
| Service | No long term contract dictates our mission…keep you happy. | Fickle technology staff can be a constant challenge to manage. |
| Redundancy | Hardened Class A data center with backup power, full fire protection, etc. | It can be done but it’s going to cost you twice as much. |
| Customization | Customization options can be limited with hosted apps. But how often do you require customization anyway? | Customizing requires expertise, plus time & money. In most cases it can’t be justified when compared to Microsoft SharePoint Online. |
