Imagine a large drawing box in a classroom with over 50 children. The box contains tools such as color pencils, drawing sheets, and other essential accessories. Every child in the classroom needs to get these tools. If no one helps them manage things, the children might struggle, leading to disorganization and a less productive environment. This drawing box is like Microsoft SharePoint in the business world. Businesses use this toolbox to store documents, manage tasks, and share creations. A business needs an expert to manage SharePoint tools for all team members. US residents will need a SharePoint solution provider in USA.
In this guide, we’ll talk about:
- Why businesses in the USA need SharePoint.
- The big benefits of hiring a consultant.
- How to pick the right one.
- Real-life stories of success.
- Simple Q&A to answer common doubts.
Why SharePoint Matters in the Digital Age
Gone are the days when employees only worked from the office and depended on paper files. Teams are spread across cities or even countries. They need to keep their files secure and share information while working as a team without dropping performance.
That’s where SharePoint steps in. It helps companies by:
- Giving everyone a single place to find documents.
- Offering tools for teamwork and collaboration.
- Providing strong locks to keep private data safe.
- Connecting with other apps like Microsoft Teams and Outlook.
It is important to note that SharePoint can show some complications. You need a solution provider like Dataonmatrix to solve these complications. That’s why companies call in SharePoint providers or consultants.
Top Benefits of Hiring a SharePoint Consultant
Hiring a SharePoint solution provider is similar to asking a skilled architect to design a building. You can try to create a design, but the expert provides a faster and safer solution. With the help of an expert, you will save time, avoid mistakes, and achieve greater success.
Here are the biggest benefits of getting SharePoint consulting services in USA:
1. Expertise You Can Trust
A SharePoint solution provider or consultant has spent years learning and practicing. They have better knowledge of its hidden features, which saves your time and money. Their knowledge helps businesses avoid mistakes and saves valuable time.
2. Custom Solutions for Your Business
Every business is different and unique. A school doesn’t run like a hospital. A bakery doesn’t work like a law firm. SharePoint consultants design systems that match exactly what your company needs. This means the system feels intuitive for your employees and supports your daily operations perfectly.
3. Smooth and Secure Deployment
The SharePoint solution providers ensure a smooth rollout. Consultants plan carefully, avoid risks, and follow industry standards so your system is ready from day one. They handle technical parts like architecture design, cloud migration, and best deployment practices.
4. Custom Branding and Design
SharePoint doesn’t need to look plain or boring. Your company’s digital workspace should feel like an extension of your office. Consultants can design your SharePoint pages with your company’s logo, colors, and style. Employees feel more comfortable when the system looks like “home” instead of a random new place.
5. Workflow Automation
Imagine if someone could take repetitive, boring tasks off your plate. That’s what SharePoint workflows do. Consultants create automated workflows in SharePoint that handle approvals, reminders, and repeat jobs. Your team saves hours and focuses on bigger goals.
6. Organized Information
The information overload has become one of the biggest challenges in businesses. The same happens when files and data are not organized. Employees waste time searching for files without structure. SharePoint consulting services can help arrange clean information architecture with folders, metadata, and advanced search options.
7. Clear Rules and Governance
Clear rules are essential for keeping systems secure in companies. In SharePoint, consultants create clear rules (governance policies) to keep your system safe. They decide who can open, change, or share files. This keeps everything secure, fair, and under control.
8. Connecting with Other Tools
Your company may already use other apps like customer databases, finance, or HR software. SharePoint can connect with them, but only if someone builds the bridges. Consultants create those bridges so all your tools talk to each other smoothly.
9. Helping Everyone Learn
New tools can be complicated. Most employees are unable to use these tools without training. Consultants make learning fun and simple. They give simple guides, hold training sessions, and answer frequently asked questions. Employees will feel confident and even excited to use SharePoint.
10. Long-Term Support
A SharePoint consultant doesn’t leave after setting things up. They stay around to provide help, fix problems, and update the system. This way, they make sure your SharePoint grows with your company and never falls behind.
Tips to Find the Right SharePoint Solution Provider
Finding a SharePoint provider is similar to picking the right teacher for your school. You will need a knowledgeable and trustworthy person who cares and helps students.
Here’s how to find one:
Tip 1: Clearly Define Your Objectives
Do you need document management, workflow automation, or a full intranet portal? A defined scope or a clear list will help you find the right match that meet your objectives.
Tip 2: Explore SharePoint Consultants
Look online, check Microsoft’s certified partners, or ask other businesses for advice. Good consultants often come with strong recommendations.
You can look for consultants through:
- Search online directories of Microsoft-certified professionals.
- Find consulting firms specializing in SharePoint integration services.
Tip 3: Check Their Technical Skills
Look for certifications like MCSE or MCPD with proven skills. Ask about past projects. Have they solved challenges like yours before?
Tip 4: Hold Detailed Interviews
Contact the shortlisted consultants and hold interviews. Ask how they would handle your project. Share your project objectives. Do they understand and explain things easily? Examine their customization experience and extended support.
Tip 5: Always ask for References
Talk to their previous clients. They will provide complete feedback. Did the consultant deliver on time? Were they supportive or did they keep promises?
Tip 6: Budget and Plan Settlement
Set clear rules about payment terms, estimated time, and task deadlines. This will keep surprises away and prevent confusion.
Tip 7: Sign an agreement
Write down everything in a contract. This will protect both parties. This will ensure both client and consultant remain aligned and secure.
Real-World Examples:
Let’s look at a few real scenarios.
The city of Victoria municipal government, serving a resident population of 94,000, needed to engage its 1,000 employees with a new system. These employees include IT professionals and firefighters.
In 2014, the city government announced an intranet (built on WordPress) to share information among its employees. Their next target was to create a site on Microsoft SharePoint.
In 2017, the government launched the Modern Workplace initiative. The city government achieved its targets and succeeded in bringing its desired solution.
The government leveraged the SharePoint platform, which, in its modern cloud-based form, receives automatic updates. An expert, Wallbridge, said, “You add content to the right place in the document library. The content will appear on any page that has the document library web part.” He highlighted this as a significant advantage.
In another scenario, a healthcare organization faced some challenges. They decided to move their legacy systems to SharePoint Online. They had over 40 terabytes of old files located on-premises. They had to move them to the cloud while keeping all patient information private and secure according to the rules of HIPAA.
Moving the files was important. But they also wanted to follow rules and keep their files organized. Before migration, they needed to clean up the old files. The final goal was to classify the cleansed content using industry-defined MeSH taxonomy. So, they picked Microsoft SharePoint, which could meet all their needs. It also gave them a plan for managing files now and in the future.
After moving to SharePoint Online, people could search for different things. They could use phrases, ideas, or long search terms. This helped them find the right information quickly.
The organization now has a new search tool (called an “insight engine”). This tool can find related ideas and topics. It finds them even if the user didn’t use those exact words in their search.
Common Questions about SharePoint Consultants
Do I really need a consultant?
Yes, if you want SharePoint to work well. Without a consultant, you might only use a small amount of its power. You can unlock all the features and avoid problems with the help of an expert.
How much does it cost?
It depends on the project. Small projects may cost a few thousand dollars, while larger projects may incur higher costs. But think of it as an investment, the money you save in time and mistakes is usually much higher.
Will my employees understand SharePoint?
Yes. Consultants provide training and teach step by step. They answer questions and give easy guides. Soon, your employees will find SharePoint simple and helpful.
