What is SharePoint?

Microsoft SharePoint is a web application platform developed by Microsoft. First launched in 2001, SharePoint is typically associated with web content management and document management systems, but it is actually a much broader platform of web technologies, capable of being configured to suit a wide range of solution areas.

SharePoint is designed as a broad, central application platform for common enterprise web requirements. SharePoint's multi-purpose design allows for management and provisioning of intranet portals, extranets, websites, document & file management, collaboration spaces, social tools, enterprise search, business intelligence, process integration, system integration, workflow automation, and core infrastructure for third-party solutions. SharePoint's core infrastructure is also suited to providing a base technology platform for custom developed applications.

SharePoint is capable of supporting multiple organizations on a single 'server farm'. Microsoft provides SharePoint Foundation at no cost, but sells premium editions with additional functionality, and also provides SharePoint as a service in their cloud computing as part of their Office 365 platform (and previously as part of their Business Productivity Online Standard Suite (BPOS) offering). The product is also sold through a cloud model by many third-party vendors.

When sharepoint has been used in an organization, it makes it easy to create a collaborative website among the employees. This is because the skills and expertise needed for such an accomplishment are very minimal thus turns out to be more favorable in an organization set up. It is easy for a person to access and fulfill all his communication needs and it does a lot of work if used properly. Sharepoint does not handle issues like updating content and defining specific accounts since they come automatically. Sharepoint unlike other software is able to manage information in a professional and effective manner. With schedules, documents, issue log and budget, information management tasks are effectively centralized to the advantage of the user.

Business processes in an organization are made automatic under a sharepoint. There is no need to stress yourself making a certain process successful when sharepoint is there to take care of that. Dashboards are in addition easy to create using specific parts of the web like charts and key performance indicators courtesy of sharepoint. The other big advantage of using sharepoint in an organization is that it is easy to integrate with other existing data sources without difficulties. If you have been having a lot of problems related to data management, communication and any other area in your organization then the solution lies with sharepoint.