SharePoint is a Microsoft-based platform for building web applications. It covers a widerange of capabilities and while it is appropriate for experienced webdevelopers, even non-technical minded users can easily navigate through thesystem and execute functions such as collaborating data, managing documents andfiles, creating websites, managing social networking solutions, and automatingworkflow.
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IT Service Manager at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees
I have been an administrator for SharePoint and have used it as an end-user for document storage. Predominantly, I've been involved in administration
SharePoint helps a lot since we've moved from using it directly to using it as a backend for Teams, which makes collaboration easier. It supports…
SharePoint is primarily a collaboration service, with documentation being its main focus. It has document management capabilities which are essential for internal use. SharePoint provides security for documents, allowing them to remain private and not shared publicly. It offers tools like Sharegate for upgrading SharePoints, making my work easier. Additionally, Microsoft has integrated the Power Platform, enhancing the tool's utility. Moreover, the recent addition of page translation allows users from various languages to translate pages into their native languages, which is a great feature.
PM at EUIPO - European Union Intellectual Property Office
We are using SharePoint Online for everything related to Teams and as an intranet site. The European Commission uses SharePoint for its operations
SharePoint is smooth and easy to use for editing, updating, and uploading files. It allows collaboration on different files and is connected to…
As of April 2025, the mindshare of SharePoint in the Enterprise Content Management category
stands at 16.7%, down from 20.6% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
SharePoint's most valuable features include collaboration, document management, and integration with Microsoft Office. Teams benefit from co-authoring, version control, and extensive search capabilities. Organizations appreciate the ease of use, workflow automation, and customization options. It supports teamwork, social enterprise, and hybrid cloud configurations, enabling efficient project management and communication. Users value the accessibility across devices and strong security with detailed permission settings. The platform's versatility makes it suitable for various business needs.
"The stability of SharePoint is high."
"The most valuable features of SharePoint include the ability to co-edit documents in the Office suite, particularly Excel and Word."
"SharePoint is smooth and easy to use for editing, updating, and uploading files."
Room for Improvement
SharePoint needs enhancements in real-time co-authoring and user interface for improved usability. Permissions are complex to configure, integration with other tools lacks stability, and mobile experience is insufficient. There are search functionality issues, synchronization delays with OneDrive, and limited customization without expert assistance. Training resources and documentation are insufficient for beginners. Scalability concerns remain high with users seeking better data management, intuitive workflows, and expanded licensing options. Integration with broader software ecosystems needs significant improvement.
"The web parts in SharePoint could be more intuitive for end users."
"The technical support from Microsoft for SharePoint is often slow and rated a three out of ten."
"When working on a website with SharePoint Online, not many people can edit simultaneously. If I am editing one section, my colleague cannot edit it at the same time."
ROI
Organizations report savings by eliminating other cloud service subscriptions. A seven-figure value represents one user's benefit. Most procedures have transitioned online, achieving a paperless office. SharePoint's capabilities ensure high usability, enhancing stability and quality. Streamlined document centralization and accessibility improve process efficiency. Access from anywhere is possible, optimizing collaboration and policy management across departments. Experience varies, with ROI largely unmeasured, but many acknowledge operational improvements and cost-effectiveness compared to larger content management systems.
Pricing
SharePoint pricing varies depending on organization size and licensing needs. It's included in Microsoft 365, offering bundled enterprise pricing that is cost-effective for larger organizations. Smaller companies might prefer cloud options for their flexibility and lower cost. License types differ, with Enterprise offering advanced features but at a higher price. Additional costs may arise for support and third-party integrations. Enterprise buyers should plan carefully to select suitable and scalable licensing options.
"The solution's pricing is relatively expensive because it's bundled with other products."
"It comes bundled with the Microsoft 365 pricing plans."
"The product is reasonably priced."
Popular Use Cases
Companies primarily leverage SharePoint for document management and collaboration. It centralizes documents, templates, and policies, facilitates project management, and integrates with tools like OneDrive and Microsoft Teams. Organizations use it for internal communication, file sharing across departments, and as an intranet portal. SharePoint's flexibility in workflow automation and its cloud accessibility are notable, as well as its features for secure document storage and simultaneous editing, enhancing productivity and information sharing.
Service and Support
Customer service for SharePoint varies, often relying on specific experiences with representatives. Technical support quality is mixed; it ranges from excellent to challenging, largely based on service agreements. Many find third-party solutions effective. Some praise Microsoft's responsive support, especially for cloud products, while others criticize slow responses and high costs. Users highlight the importance of purchasing additional support, with some finding internal resources and online communities more beneficial.
Deployment
Initial setup experiences with SharePoint vary. Many users found it straightforward with Microsoft’s tools, while others deemed it complex, requiring significant planning, external consultants, or third-party assistance. Familiarity with the IT environment or previous experience improved ease. Cloud versions simplified the process, contrasting with the complexities of the on-premise deployment. User adoption posed challenges, as proper understanding and prior technical knowledge were necessary for effective setup and integration.
Scalability
Many find SharePoint highly scalable, praising its ease of adding users and expanding capacity. Some note challenges with default storage limits, suggesting improvements through add-ons. They acknowledge the necessity of proper configuration and IT expertise in larger projects. There are mixed experiences regarding scalability for extensive data operations, while others highlight effective multi-user environments. SharePoint's ability to adapt for numerous teams and large data is a common sentiment.
Stability
SharePoint stability varies with infrastructure quality and proper setup. Many experience stability without issues, finding it reliable and resilient. Some encounter challenges during deployment but improve with updates and optimizations. Performance issues arise with large data and lack of governance. Occasional Microsoft service outages can affect stability. Best practices can mitigate issues. Users generally rate stability highly, with improvements over time. Complex configurations or outdated versions might contribute to rare instability.
These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.
Major areas that SharePoint deals with are websites,communities, content, search, insights, and composites. The purpose is to give usersthe ability to create or develop these key business components on their owneven without technical knowledge of, for example, how to build a website or howto integrate coding. Configuring SharePoint into a business's system is meantto cut out all of the complicated steps, and pave the way for easierimplementation all around.
SharePoint was previously known as SharePoint 2007, SharePoint 2010.
SharePoint customers
Toyota, Aeroports de Paris, ASBBank Ltd., Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals, CambridgeshireConstabulary, D&M Group, NPL Construction Company, and The Regional Municipality of Niagara.
"The technical support process should be more streamlined as it usually involves contacting vendors and arranging calls for resolution."
What is our primary use case?
I am using SharePoint solely for logging tickets related to user issues or any bugs. I've also been using SharePoint for over eight years, handling Yammer, Teams, and other Office 365 apps. The purpose of SharePoint is to manage and store documents internally within the company with specific privileges. It is used for collaborating documents and storing them in a secure manner.
What is most valuable?
SharePoint is primarily a collaboration service, with documentation being its main focus. It has document management capabilities which are essential for internal use. SharePoint provides security for documents, allowing them to remain private and not shared publicly. It offers tools like Sharegate for upgrading SharePoints, making my work easier. Additionally, Microsoft has integrated the Power Platform, enhancing the tool's utility. Moreover, the recent addition of page translation allows users from various languages to translate pages into their native languages, which is a great feature.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
"SharePoint is smooth and easy to use for editing, updating, and uploading files."
Cons
"When working on a website with SharePoint Online, not many people can edit simultaneously. If I am editing one section, my colleague cannot edit it at the same time."
What is our primary use case?
We are using SharePoint Online for everything related to Teams and as an intranet site. The European Commission uses SharePoint for its operations.
What is most valuable?
SharePoint is smooth and easy to use for editing, updating, and uploading files. It allows collaboration on different files and is connected to external applications like Power BI. It now extends its usefulness with AI and Copilot, assisting in automation and integration with data handling through dashboards and reports.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
"SharePoint's collaborative features are valuable as they enable productivity by allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously. "
Cons
"The search functionality could be improved, especially when dealing with 'lift' lists, where there are performance issues. "
What is our primary use case?
We primarily use SharePoint for content management and as a repository for documents. It serves as a document management and storage solution for both department-related and company-related information.
SharePoint also offers collaboration features, such as online editing of documents, allowing us to co-edit documents in real-time.
How has it helped my organization?
SharePoint has integrated well with our internal platforms, such as Outlook, Microsoft Teams, and Microsoft Office 365. It provides not only a document storage solution but also a collaborative solution.
It has inbuilt workflows, security permissions, versioning, and supports a lot of apps for surveys and no-code applications. It's beneficial for internal communication and coordination.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
"It would be nice if the editing and setting up of SharePoint were more user-friendly, so I do not have to have an expert to deal with it."
What is our primary use case?
I use SharePoint for collaboration on documents. It serves as a database for documents and allows for simultaneous collaboration on them. That is mostly what I use it for.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of SharePoint is the ability to collaborate on documents without having multiple versions. For me, it is the fact that I can work with my team on the same documents live, without having multiple versions and getting confused between them. This feature is a big winner for me. It is totally worth the time, and for what we pay for it and the benefit we get, I think it is money well spent. We have seen approximately a 30% time savings, particularly in efficiency on the admin side across all departments.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
"SharePoint manages version control, which makes it easier to track and amend documentation accurately, maintaining document integrity and enabling quick recovery if necessary."
Cons
"The introduction of AI and automation with Copilot could be a beneficial improvement."
What is our primary use case?
I am not an architect or a consultant for SharePoint. I use SharePoint services mainly for accessing data when someone uploads it and using it for my reviewing purposes or updating documentation. I do not create any subsites in SharePoint or internal architecture specific to SharePoint.
How has it helped my organization?
SharePoint allows Microsoft to have most of their documentation on SharePoint online. When I need to work on a particular deliverable, the requirement is to prepare a PowerPoint slide or documentation which I then upload on their SharePoint portal. This centralized location allows them to review and store documentation long term.
Additionally, SharePoint manages version control, which makes it easier to track and amend documentation accurately, maintaining document integrity and enabling quick recovery if necessary.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
"The most valuable aspect of SharePoint is its integration with Teams. T"
Cons
"There's room for improvement in the search functionality, although it has matured significantly over the years."
What is our primary use case?
I have been an administrator for SharePoint and have used it as an end-user for document storage. Predominantly, I've been involved in administration.
How has it helped my organization?
SharePoint helps a lot since we've moved from using it directly to using it as a backend for Teams, which makes collaboration easier. It supports real-time document sharing, uploading, and updating, especially for Excel documents.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
"We can now share to team members by MS Teams and assign planners to follow and update statuses in a single platform. "
Cons
"We'd like to be able to upload from MS Excel to deploy tasks and use drop-down lists to collect further information. "
What is our primary use case?
We collect the lists for enterprise infrastructure and application solutions by classifications, including app catalog, profile, inventory, and data. It is a secure place to store, organize, share, and access information from any device.
SharePoint is a collaboration platform. It is designed to help organizations manage and share tasks more efficiently. SharePoint helps by providing a centralized platform for document management, team collaboration, and communication. With SharePoint Online, team members can access application inventory data from anywhere, facilitating remote work and improving productivity.
How has it helped my organization?
We can now share to team members by MS Teams and assign planners to follow and update statuses in a single platform. If anyone is missing the deadline, the tracking progress can be displayed as well as the review status. The ongoing process is easy to record and keep evidence online for verification. If we did not have such a platform that combined email, instant message, file management, security permission, and OS authorization, the incorporation efforts would lead to paperwork and time consumption.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
"The most valuable feature of SharePoint is its user interface, which is very easy to use."
Cons
"SharePoint is not always intuitive to use and can be overwhelming for non-tech-savvy users."
What is our primary use case?
SharePoint is primarily used for collaborative documents in my organization. It serves as a common repository for maintaining all project-related files, and it is extensively used for collaborative work, especially with teams spread across different geographies.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of SharePoint is its user interface, which is very easy to use. I do not have to be very technical to use it. Its rights management capabilities and ability to restrict access to certain people are also very useful. Furthermore, I can access SharePoint from any device, whether it is a phone or laptop, which is very convenient.
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Product version discussed: Office 365, SharePoint Online, SharePoint 2019
SharePoint has conquered the enterprise intranet. Although the conquest is never as bloody nor expensive as more invasive conquests, such as the Mongols under Genghis Khan, intranet citizens are not always thrilled by the new system and structure under Gates Khan.
SharePoint is present in about 90% of the Fortune 100; and plays a prominent intranet role in about 70% of knowledge worker intranets (either powering the main intranet portal, or delivering associated collaboration sites and/or document repositories). This in spite of its history.
SharePoint 2007 was a dog; SharePoint 2010 was a dressed-up dog; but SharePoint 2013 represented a leap forward to a more user-friendly, true web platform. SharePoint 2016 saw improvements, but perhaps the most significant advances have come in the last couple of years with the release and evolution of SharePoint online (and eventually SharePoint 2019) with the advent of Office 365.
SharePoint Online, and the on-premises version SharePoint 2019 (though the Online version is constantly being updated and improved upon) represent considerable improvement to a a very usable, complex digital workplace solution. SharePoint Online Modern Experience has become a truly mobile friendly solution, with a number of improvements to collaboration (particularly Teams and a dedicated mobile app) and for hybrid cloud scenarios.
There are a lot of reasons to buy into or upgrade to Online or 2019: the latest iteration of Microsoft’s portal-web development platform represents a massive, multi-million dollar upgrade on the previous versions of SharePoint (a version that was typically oversold given its underwhelming if not frustrating performance and lack of execution). SharePoint Online and 2019 are massive upgrade from 2013: noticeable improvements to social computing (social networking via Delve and Teams), mobile computing (responsive design with "modern" pages and a dedicated mobile app), better Office integration, Teams, cloud and hybrid integration, search and more.
But it’s not all good news, and it’s not a solution that fits every organization.
Here at Prescient Digital Media, we upgraded move to SharePoint Online in Office 365 (which is more feature and functionally rich than SharePoint 2019). Though some problems persist, the bugs and challenges are not as persistent as versions 2013 and 2016. There are some obvious improvements (pros) and some persistent issues (cons):
Cloud – you no longer need to worry about patches, maintenance and security; Microsoft takes care of this for you
Mobile – enhanced mobile access experience with completely responsive sites and apps, and dedicated single sign-on apps for each of the tools in the Office 365 toolset
Social – enhanced social networking via Delve, Teams and Yammer
Web CMS – enhanced publishing and management interface (employing the ‘ribbon’ from Office)
Branding – the new "modern pages" are slick and responsive; it can be more challenging to implement new custom designs using the new modern pages versus classic, and MS has openly cautioned against customizing the home page
Search – search is much improved with the full integration with the FAST search engine, but requires some configuration work
There are far more pros than cons, but there should be at the price MS charges. SharePoint is very good for a small to medium-size intranet in a .NET environment that requires a web development platform focused on enterprise content management. In some scenarios, SharePoint can excel as a large enterprise intranet, but it can cause headaches if its overly customized .But it is not cheap, typically requires a lot of work and customization, and doesn’t always work as promised.
Speaking of conquest, the Chinese learned Mongol lessons the hard way, and built the Great Wall. Although a firewall is requisite with any intranet, not just a SharePoint intranet, walls kill collaboration and employee knowledge management. More salient, key lessons can be drawn from implementing and working with SharePoint:
Licensing represents a fraction of the cost
Planning and governance are mission critical – mission critical
Custom or third-party web parts and applications can really enhance the experience
Social collaboration doesn’t just happen, it’s earned
Change management is the key to success
For more information see the SharePoint For Communicators white paper, at www.PrescientDigital.com.
*Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Project Manager at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Scored quite high when we evaluated it on compliance and compatibility with required ECM features (Gartner ECM assessment criteria used in our assessment), i.e. scored in the range of 92% to 96%. Among the criteria evaluated were library services, record services, content creation and capture, metadata management, workflow and BPM, navigation and search, security and access control, and architecture and integration functionalities.
Yes, this is a typical approach and scenario for most companies. Most use it for document management, and team sites. However, more and more are using it for their enterprise intranet portal.
Scored quite high when we evaluated it on compliance and compatibility with required ECM features (Gartner ECM assessment criteria used in our assessment), i.e. scored in the range of 92% to 96%. Among the criteria evaluated were library services, record services, content creation and capture, metadata management, workflow and BPM, navigation and search, security and access control, and architecture and integration functionalities.