So you have probably heard it all when it comes to SharePoint, huh?
Throughout my Client ventures, I still hear the questions, “Well, what can SharePoint do for me?” “Our business is too small, does it make sense for us to deploy?” “What hardware or resources will I need?” “What’s my ROI?” and finally, “Can we use that in the cloud?”
In past years, SharePoint was a larger on-Premise more complicated platform that needed Administration, Developers, Maintenance, Site managers, and sometimes full team collaboration to make a successful best practices deployment and positive user experiences. This is still needed in some environments, but clearly, some things have changed.
Over the years, engaging with customers all shapes and sizes, I have run into different scenarios and just couldn’t quite understand why the investment was made for SharePoint, even full implementations, but rarely saw production environments. Well, of course, I had to ask the questions, what happened? The budget was allocated, tools and resources were utilized. And why isn’t SharePoint being used as you envisioned? Well clearly the Business Case was not made, and the value not recognized and an adoption strategy not executed. It sounded like a grand tool at the time of conception, but once it landed on the server it became DOA.
So ideally, when it comes to SharePoint, we are “all in,” especially when we hear about features and benefits, but we are also realistic. We are in a new age of automation, tools, and resources at our fingertips, and if cloud or Shared Resources has been your Buzzword these past several years, then you have been where I have. SharePoint has made vast leaps toward these trends and technologies and has truly become a resource for productivity.
So let’s take a closer look at Building the Business Case for SharePoint.
It all starts here, a Plan and a process:
Educate and Engage: SharePoint is more than a glorified Intranet or network shared tool, SharePoint was built as a Platform, the features and benefits are very robust, so education is key to understanding how SharePoint can apply to business challenges or Pain points. Start with a governance plan, apply this to the business unit and Technology unit of the organization. Showcase Solutions first, not benefits.
Governance: This consists of the people, processes, policies, and technologies to deliver a service. Governance is in command but not in control, and this is where the initiative must start to understand business value and Impact. Start with a governance plan, apply this to the business unit and Technology unit of the organization.
Adoption Plan: Teach on incentives. Streamline efficiencies. Increase productivity. Talk to user training and support, find out about true internal and external collaboration, single point of truth, and multiple entry points. How can SharePoint benefit all business units in an organization? Ask this.
Training: Learning SharePoint is not a onetime event. Training should consist of SharePoint roles and responsibilities, the tools and the technology, and of course a business process. Establish user groups and conference training with your sales rep or consultant to get the most benefits and be able to utilize all that SharePoint can offer you company.
Features and Functionality: When Understanding Document Collaboration inside SharePoint, it becomes a winner without hesitation. It involves and offers integration with Microsoft office, team sites, business process, reporting and dashboards, business intelligence, workflows, Project Management, then the social media adoption. Social media can be a huge part of the way your SharePoint is used. These are all benefits you should consider when building your case for SharePoint.
KTL Solutions offers a tailored unique experience when engaging SharePoint Initiatives, we will look at all Business Unit requirements and make best practice recommendations based on a methodology that works every time. We can assist in SharePoint best practice Deployments, Training and custom development projects, we bring to the table best of breed concepts and consultants that will help you realize the true business value in every engagement. Call Jeremy at 301.360.0001 in order to get more information on how SharePoint and KTL can add value to your business.
Jeremy Hodges | Senior Business Development
Jeremy has over 9 years of experience providing Strategic Technology Services and Solutions, starting in sales and consulting with a Microsoft Gold Partner for IT Training services in New England. Jeremy began working with Mid-size and Enterprise Customers, such as Lego Corporation, Mohegan Sun Casino, and NASCAR, just to name a few. Jeremy then began to shift his focus to the needs of Small business and mid-market organizations and joined an IT consulting firm in the Greater DC market for new client initiatives around Integration and Development Projects, SharePoint, Cloud, and Data Center services.
Jeremy brings a wealth of knowledge and unique blend of experience in Technology Services. With a strategic approach, his priority is understanding and listening to customer challenges and requirements to provide the best value and customer experience possible.
