Unlocking Creativity: Pros, Cons, and Key Features of SharePoint Online for London's Creative Industry Businesses

SharePoint Online is a cloud-based platform that provides an effective collaboration and document management solution for businesses of all sizes.

SharePoint Online, a component of Microsoft's Office 365 suite, is a robust tool engineered for providing an interactive platform for businesses. It combines a variety of features that facilitate collaborative working environments, content management, and basic website functionality, all of which can be scaled accordingly to the needs of the organization.

From designing your site aesthetics to setting up advanced workflows, SharePoint Online opens the door to heightened productivity with seamless coordination among teams. At the core of SharePoint's impressive feature list are interactive intranets, which can be set up on-premises or within the cloud, and user-friendly extranets for streamlined external collaborations.

With its ability to store, organize, and share files, many organizations are considering SharePoint Online as cloud storage for their business. However, the question remains: can SharePoint Online truly function as a cloud storage solution for a business? In this article, we will explore the potential benefits and drawbacks of using SharePoint Online as a cloud storage solution.

What is a cloud storage solution?

A cloud storage solution is a type of storage file system that is available across an entire enterprise network and accessible to all users in real-time. It is designed to make it easy to share files across a large organization, and it allows users to collaborate and work together on documents regardless of their location. A cloud storage solution typically needs to be highly scalable, secure, and reliable. It should also provide features like version control, auditing, and access control, which are essential for effective file management.

This platform, crafted meticulously by Microsoft, carries the essence of convenience and collaboration at its core. SharePoint Online tenants can develop, not just simple intranets, but also high-functioning, user-friendly extranets, either on-premises or in the cloud. The intranet features such as home page teams, communication and hub sites, libraries, lists, and web parts pave the way for seamless information sharing and interaction.

Apart from these, SharePoint Online also offers advanced enterprise-wide search capabilities and social features, supplemented by a dedicated mobile app for unfettered access at any time, from anywhere. Versatile web pages and content-sharing options are just the tip of the iceberg - workflow management capabilities truly set this platform apart.

Having been designed with a deep-rooted understanding of business process management, SharePoint offers a buffet of options for planning, maintaining, and executing workflows. SharePoint's credibility as a Workflow Management System (WMS) and Document Management System (DMS) is already well-known in industry circles.

In addition to internal collaboration, SharePoint extranets provide a bridge for engagement with external businesses, stakeholders, and other user groups, selectively showcasing features and information endorsed by the organization itself. This way, SharePoint not only optimizes your internal operations but also extends a helping hand for managing external alliances.

SharePoint's rich knowledge management features such as Wiki page library, Enterprise Wiki template, custom lists, and Discussion Board web part empower users to centralize and streamline information sharing and access. On the downside, while Excellently fitted for a host of applications, SharePoint has its limitations too, particularly when it comes to managing ERP and CRM systems, creating public-facing websites, and administering complex management systems.

This broad spectrum of capabilities, coupled with its straightforward implementation and usage, makes SharePoint Online a comprehensive tool for businesses within the creative industry in London, offering newfound ways to drive productivity, collaboration, and innovation.

How is SharePoint Online different from other similar platforms?

When it comes to selection between SharePoint Online and other similar platforms, some key differences make SharePoint Online a more appropriate choice for many. One aspect that truly distinguishes SharePoint Online from others is its inherent ability to scale in accordance with business growth. As your creative business grows, SharePoint Online grows with it, whether you're dealing with the demands of dozens or thousands of users.

Another stand-out aspect of SharePoint Online is how it was designed with business process management at the forefront. For an industry that thrives on order and seamless operations like the creative industry, this tool is meant to elevate the ease with which you handle your everyday business processes.

SharePoint Online's features also extend to creating user-friendly extranets. While most other platforms just focus on intranet capabilities, SharePoint goes a step beyond, allowing you to deploy your SharePoint-based solutions either on-premises or in the cloud.

The customization potential offered by SharePoint is also something to be noted. As opined by professionals from Iflexion's consultancy, SharePoint's customization options are leaps and bounds ahead of its competitors, enabling you to create a solution that's perfect for your specific business needs and goals.

However, SharePoint Online does have certain limitations. For example, its user interface isn't ideally suited for public-facing websites, and for complex enterprise management requirements, it may require deeper levels of customization. Despite this, SharePoint still manages to be a popular and powerful choice for workflow management systems, document management systems, and intranets, primarily because of its wide array of functionalities and features tailored to these areas.

So without further ado, let's look at the pros and cons of SharePoint online for the creatuve industry:

Unveiling the Pros and Cons of SharePoint Online for the Creative Industry

Delving into the Pros of SharePoint Online

As you navigate through the maze of online collaboration tools, Microsoft SharePoint Online is a standout platform that offers a myriad of benefits to businesses, specifically those operating in the thrumming creative industry of London. Let's look at some of its highlighting features:

Unmatched Scalability: When it comes to managing huge volumes of data, SharePoint Online rules the roost. Its impressive scalability allows organizations, irrespective of their size, to grow seamlessly and manage data effortlessly.

Revolutionizing Collaboration: With SharePoint Online, teamwork takes a major leap forwards. The platform is packed with features like real-time updates, version control, and document co-authoring. This allows teams to chart progress and work together more efficiently on projects.

Impenetrable Security: When it comes to the safety of your data, SharePoint Online does not compromise. It's fortified with robust security measures to counter unauthorized access and meets various stringent industry standards, ensuring your critical information is always secure.

Unrestricted Accessibility: The key to smart working is having critical files within reach at all times. SharePoint Online, accessible from any device with an internet connection, allows your teams to access files wherever they are, lightening the burden of geographical constraints.

Flexibility of Customization: One of SharePoint Online's major strengths lies in its customization capabilities. You can mold it to perfectly fit your organization's unique needs and workflows, simplifying complex processes and enhancing productivity.

In a nutshell, SharePoint Online packs in an array of features designed to boost your business's efficiency and productivity while ensuring optimum data security.

Understanding the Cons of SharePoint Online Cloud Storage

While SharePoint Online presents promising features and functions, there are certain caveats that businesses should be aware of before full adoption is considered:

Advanced Nature: Due to its depth and comprehensive features, SharePoint Online can be challenging to set up, especially for businesses with limited IT resources. This tool may require customized configuration to align with your business processes effectively.

Cost Implications: Although competitively priced, SharePoint Online may impose a significant cost for businesses, especially those requiring vast data storage capacities. Businesses must balance cost implications against the benefits gained.

Learning Curve: SharePoint Online's complexity means it possesses a steep learning curve. To maximize productivity and efficiency, it might be required that employees undergo training on how to use this multifaceted tool effectively.

Integration Challenges: If your business infrastructure relies heavily on older or legacy systems, integration with SharePoint Online might be a challenging endeavor. Situationally, there may be complications synchronizing SharePoint with different business systems and applications.

Upkeep: SharePoint Online requires regular maintenance to run optimally. This time investment could be a potential deterrent for businesses lacking sufficient human resources specializing in SharePoint management.

Understanding these potential drawbacks is crucial for businesses contemplating SharePoint Online as a prime choice for their cloud storage solution. Still, countless organizations successfully leverage it, drawn towards its powerful, customizable features perfect for file management and organization-wide collaboration.

Balancing SharePoint Online: Assessing the Benefits and Drawbacks for the Creative Sector

When it comes to pluses, SharePoint Online stands out with its robust customization features. This scalability is a significant boon to creative industries because it allows them to mold their digital workspace according to unique needs—thanks to Iflexions consultants who emphasizes SharePoint's customizability. With the ability to address scale using its intranet feature, businesses in the creative sector can grow without worrying about outgrowing their digital tools.

Furthermore, SharePoint isn't restricted to serving the needs of businesses within its native environment. Its unique traits also enable the creation of user-friendly extranets. Whether it's on-premises or in the cloud, SharePoint can craft secure, collaboration-friendly areas for your company to interact with external partners and clients.

One of the most powerful attributes of SharePoint Online is its instinctive design for Business Process Management (BPM). From setting up, maintaining, and executing workflows, SharePoint offers a range of options to accommodate varying levels of complexity. This is crucial in creative industries where processes may vary greatly from one project to the next.

However, perfection is elusive, and SharePoint Online is no exception. The platform's limitations become apparent when it comes to serving public-facing websites, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and complex management systems. For these services, SharePoint would require deep customization, which could pose a challenge.

Moreover, user access management can become challenging with SharePoint Online. Though it offers the ability to control who has access to what, setting this up can be complex.

The Design Manager feature, available in publishing sites in both SharePoint Online and Office 365, gives creatives the much-needed freedom to develop distinctive site designs. However, this aspect could also be a double-edged sword—the potency of these design tools may pose challenges to those without a design background.

As with any tool, SharePoint Online may have its shortcomings, but the capabilities it delivers to creative businesses are hard to ignore. Leaders in the creative industry need to understand these aspects and find ways to maneuver around the constraints to fully leverage the power of SharePoint Online for their businesses.

What are the unique features of SharePoint Online that can benefit creative industry businesses?

Developed with business process management at its core, SharePoint Online offers an array of features that are well-tailored to meet the dynamic needs of creative industry businesses. The platform's capacity to scale inspires endless possibilities for enterprises of different sizes. Fine-tuning content delivery and collaboration on projects becomes easier with SharePoint's inclusive intranet feature.

Envision a situation where a team of designers in your agency are required to work on a task. SharePoint Online leverages user-friendly extranets, granting remote access across various locations to optimise productivity, while ensuring a seamless flow of operations.

Within Microsoft 365 or SharePoint sites, premium images and creative content can be utilized for diverse commercial purposes. The innovative minds in your creative agency can employ these resources to build sophisticated PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, or Word documents.

Furthermore, SharePoint's customization capabilities are one of its strongest suits, as hailed by expert consultants at Iflexion. To match the stimulating energy of a creative industry, the Design Manager offers unique value by allowing users to produce alluring and distinct sites both in SharePoint and Office 365.

The platform also offers a broad set of options for setting up, maintaining, and executing workflows. These customized workflows, which could be made from built-in templates or with external assistance, help streamline processes by managing and automating operations. This flexibility equates to an effective way of accomplishing projects efficiently and on schedule.

Finally, the platform's knowledge management features facilitate enhanced interaction among team members. These features include an enterprise Wiki template, custom lists (for FAQs), and a Discussion Board web part. When employed, these tools promote collaboration, idea sharing, and information dissemination, which are all essential tenets in the terrain of the creative industry.

What are some success stories of creative businesses in London using SharePoint Online?

London hosts an array of creative businesses that have reaped significant benefits from embracing SharePoint Online. A prime example is Reuters, an international news organization. They saw a significant transformation in their content management processes after implementing SharePoint. The platform facilitated improved team collaboration, as well as efficient and organized content sharing, which is essential in the fast-paced world of news generation.

Another success story involves London-based architecture firm, Foster + Partners. They effectively used SharePoint Online to simplify their project management, fostering greater collaboration among teams. This empowered the firm's architects and designers to focus more on their creative expertise, as the platform seamlessly managed project workflows and data organization.

The popular London marketing agency, The Works also turned to SharePoint Online for better project management and team alignment. Integrating the platform led to a significant improvement in their workflow management and overall productivity, enabling team members to align more efficiently on tasks and projects. This saved them precious time and allowed them to deliver high-quality marketing strategies for their clients faster.

It's important to note, success with SharePoint Online isn't exclusive to creative industry giants. Many emerging creatives in London have also successfully adopted SharePoint Online, leveraging its robust features to streamline their workflows and facilitate secure content sharing, setting the stage for their future growth.

These success tales underscore SharePoint Online's transformative impact on the creative industry, not merely as a tool for digital content management, but more importantly, as a catalyst for enhanced productivity and innovation.

Does SharePoint Online offer any specific benefits for small creative businesses in London?

Indeed, SharePoint Online can deliver some specific benefits for small creative businesses in London. First and foremost, you can develop and customize your site design right in SharePoint. This makes it an ideal tool for creative businesses that desire a unique, standout online presence.

Moreover, thanks to SharePoint's productive features, you can set up, maintain, and execute workflows to streamline your creative processes–becoming a lifesaver for small businesses where every second count. It's cusomization capabilities, as noted by consultants from Iflexion, add to its appeal, allowing businesses to modify the platform to fit their specific needs.

Another essential bonus for creative businesses in London is SharePoint's integration with other Microsoft 365 apps permitting the use of premium images and other creative content. This can be highly beneficial in selling, say, PowerPoint presentations, Word documents, or even Excel workbooks.

That being said, SharePoint has its limitations. It requires deep customization for more complex enterprise management applications and is less suited for public-facing websites, ERP, CRM, and intricate management systems. To mitigate these potential downsides, dedicated technical or consultation support would be ideal.

Overall, when balanced with its potential drawbacks, SharePoint Online presents as a solid choice for small creative businesses in London, fostering customization, workflow management, and a treasure trove of integrated creative content at their disposal.

Cybersecurity London: The Digital Upside for Creative Businesses with SharePoint Online

SharePoint Online kicks cybersecurity up a notch with its robust set of security features. It's a must-mention advantage, especially for creative businesses in London, which often deal with sensitive client data and intellect property. Commitment to data safety is paramount, and SharePoint Online delivers.

The platform boasts of strong inbuilt protective features, aimed at safeguarding your data from potential cyber threats. One such feature is the Advanced Threat Protection, designed to counter dangerous emails potentially carrying malware.

Additionally, SharePoint Online employs Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies. With these augmentation, you can control the various ways sensitive information can leave your office network - intentional or accidental, giving you the peace of mind you need while focussing on your creative tasks.

Securing access through Multi-Factor Authentication is another feather in SharePoint's cybersecurity cap. This way, even if a password lands in the wrong hands, your data remains protected.

Lastly, it's not all about preventing breaches - but also about recovery, just in case. And, SharePoint Online doesn't disappoint. With continuous data backup and exercises to restore lost data, you can breathe easy.

Overall, with SharePoint Online, you're not just getting a collaborative platform but also a dedicated virtual silo for your creative content, fortified against contemporary digital threats. It’s not just an investment in a tool, it’s an investment in peace-of-mind for your creative business!

Is SharePoint Online cost-effective for creative businesses in London?

In evaluating cost-effectiveness for businesses, particularly those within the creative industry in London, it's pivotal to consider SharePoint Online's vast array of critical features, functionalities, deployment time, and support.

Cracking the Code on SharePoint Online Pricing

Foremost, it's essential to know that SharePoint Online, part of Microsoft's Office 365 suite, offers varying price points to accommodate businesses of different scales. The charges are structured per user, with an array of plans matching diverse needs. Each package guarantees access to SharePoint's potent collaborative tools, deep customization capabilities (a point noted by Iflexions consultants), among a plethora of other features.

Anticipating the Need for Additional Resources

While SharePoint Online boasts a rich portfolio of features, harnessing its full potential may necessitate a significant learning curve or potentially allocating additional budget for a dedicated specialist team. For instance, leveraging SharePoint's Design Manager for site design can demand a deeper comprehension for successful implementation. Moreover, tasks such as embedding ERP and CRM solutions are resource-intensive and time-consuming, requiring continuous post-deployment support.

Amplifying Cost Efficiency with Scalability

The cost-effectiveness of SharePoint Online truly becomes apparent when you consider scalability. The platform has remarkable capabilities to address scale with its online intranet. As your enterprise expands, requiring more storage, increased collaboration or advanced workflows, SharePoint seamlessly expands to meet your evolving needs. Consequently, while initial costs may appear high, your digital workspace’s long-term sustainability and scalability will certainly be guaranteed.

Investments should provide value for its cost, shouldn't they? The idea of pumping hard-earned money into a technology might seem daunting initially, especially when the potential returns are unclear. For SharePoint Online, however, the investment is well justified owing to its diverse and enhanced functionalities.

Focusing on the creative industry in London, SharePoint Online offers advanced customization suited for a variety of business applications. As Iflexion's consultants claim, SharePoint's customization capabilities are quite impressive. This feature empowers you to craft user-friendly extranets, which may adhere to your firm's unique needs, either on-premises or in the cloud. Imagine having the freedom to tweak your digital workspace as you desire! Truly, it’s like creating a bespoke suit for your digital environment.

Additionally, SharePoint Online's design mindset leans towards supporting business process management. This orientation allows onboarding new starters, suppliers, and clients to be streamlined and efficient, which simply means you spend less time getting people up to speed and more time churning out those brilliant, creative ideas.

Despite some complexities and potential need for deep customization for more intricate enterprise applications, the greater benefits are noteworthy. For instance, the introduction of the News and Events feature facilitates seamless and speedy communication across offices. Do you remember those lengthy email chains and incredibly-packed-with-information bulletin boards? Well, those days could be a thing of the past with this impeccable functionality.

Moreover, using SharePoint Online ensures that your agency's ethos and creativity are mirrored straightaway to your intranet design. This feature converts your workspace into a blueprint of your company culture. This might arguably lead to a more conducive environment for creative minds to work and collaborate.

SharePoint's modern Point and Click (PnP) Search also caters to the end-users' need to quickly search and find key content. The time saved can be utilized in focusing on the real work—creating.

Despite the seemingly high investment, it’s clear that SharePoint Online offers functionality that not only streamlines operations but also fosters an encouraging and productive workspace. Truly, it’s an investment worth considering, don't you think?

Choosing The Right Cloud System With Lyon Tech

As a creative business in London, the digital landscape can often feel like a labyrinth of tech jargon, an expanse of confusing cloud solutions, and a muddle of different software claiming to be the 'best'.

Are you looking to move your business to the cloud? Check out our services at Lyon Tech and how we help London businesses move to the cloud.