SharePoint And ECM

Pioneer enterprise content management systems like SharePoint can help in take up your business to the next level, but only if you use them correctly Here are seven things you need to know about this leading web application platform featuring the Office suite, collaborative workforce software and more:

Cloud Computing is Transforming ECM

Cloud computing is becoming a major concern for modern business people. Mid-sized businesses have been particularly quick to pick up on this trend and take advantage of everything cloud computing technology has to offer, particularly those looking to expand their operations and become more flexible. Small businesses, as well as big businesses and corporations, have been a bit slower to adopt this technology overall. SharePoint offers a seamless solution for businesses and organizations of all sizes.

Microsoft SharePoint Puts Safety First

There are still some concerns over the safety and security of content that is stored in and accessed through the cloud, but working with a Microsoft platform offers the kind of security and peace of mind that business leaders need. The fact is that cloud computing in SharePoint opens up new doors to cost effectively handle demanding workloads with a flexible workforce structure and limited physical space.

Regulatory Compliance Grows in Complexity

As all these new trends continue to emerge, regulatory compliance has quietly kept growing in complexity. In order to keep up with the constantly changing face of local, state, federal and industrywide regulations, businesses in many fields must have ECM solutions that address the issues of regulatory compliance and manage risks. SharePoint offers things like archiving, eDiscovery and search features that ensure regulatory compliance, ease the undesirable process of litigation and keep businesses prepared for new regulations still on the horizon.

SharePoint Consulting is the Key

The thought of keeping up with all these trends and complying with complex and evolving regulations is enough to make your head spin, but with the right enterprise content management solutions, it’s possible to do it all. Many experts agree that businesses struggling to keep up with these issues and trends should invest in the services of a dedicated consulting firm with experience in these vital areas. By assessing current ECM strategies, designing effective ECM programs and ensuring they are effectively implemented, knowledgeable content management consultants can help take your enterprise to the next level rather than being left in the dust.

Social Media Also Enters the Mix

The market is also demanding more social media functions within its enterprise content management systems and solutions. Social media can play an integral role in the success of a business’ ECM strategies, including customer service, marketing and sales efforts. Fortunately, Microsoft SharePoint 2013 offers a variety of social content functions and collaborative Workplace features that rely on the same concepts as the most familiar social media platforms.

The Market Demands Mobility

Experts are taking notice of the new demands of the market with regard to enterprise content management, and mobility is certainly a top trend, according to leading sources. Businesspeople and their customers are growing more and more accustomed to being able to access documents and data from any location, at any time of day or night, but not all businesses are prepared to meet this demand. This is why consultants and analysts recommend that businesses of all shapes and sizes invest in ECM solutions that address these demands for mobility. SharePoint supports the use of mobile devices in a way that enables more effective access to content in an easily viewable and usable format on virtually any mobile computing device.

There’s Always Something New

There are always new ways to modify SharePoint to give your business a competitive edge by boosting productivity and fostering innovation through collaboration. In addition to the latest updates to the software, experts also develop innovative techniques for modifying the platform in order to serve the needs of their clients. This is why it is recommended to invest in SharePoint consulting. Consultants can help businesses migrate to SharePoint, update to the latest version of SharePoint and transfer content from several different sources to the SharePoint platform, all while ensuring regulatory compliance and cost effectiveness.

By Jim Kane