Your essential guide on how to find the top SharePoint consultancy service for your business

Key Takeaways

1. SharePoint consultants can transform your business by tailoring the platform to enhance productivity and streamline operations.
2. Choosing the right IT consultancy involves assessing their expertise, services offered, and how well they align with your business needs.
3. Effective SharePoint consultancy can lead to improved data management, security, and collaboration within your company.

What are SharePoint consultancy services?

SharePoint consultancy services are specialised IT support services aimed at enhancing your business's use of SharePoint, a platform developed by Microsoft for document management, collaboration, and much more. These services offer expert guidance in navigating SharePoint's comprehensive suite of tools, ensuring your business leverages the platform to its full potential.

Why do businesses turn to SharePoint, and how does it stand out amongst its competitors?

Let's break it down:

• Collaboration: SharePoint makes team collaboration seamless. Whether it's working on documents simultaneously or managing projects, SharePoint's integration with Microsoft 365, including Teams and Office, fosters a collaborative environment.
• File management: With robust document management capabilities, businesses can store, access, and manage files efficiently. SharePoint's secure cloud storage ensures that important documents are safely managed and easily retrievable.
• Portals: SharePoint portals are a central place for employees to access information, tools, and resources. They enhance internal communication and streamline access to important data.
• Custom solutions: Tailoring SharePoint through custom web parts and automating business processes allows for the creation of solutions that are specifically designed to meet unique business needs.
• Data management and security: Efficient data management and built-in security features protect your company's data while making it accessible to those who need it.

The importance of SharePoint consultancy services and the role they play

SharePoint consultancy services are vital across various industries, from finance and healthcare to retail and government. These services play a crucial role in implementing SharePoint solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of a business. Here's how they make a difference:

• Industry-specific solutions: SharePoint consultants understand the unique challenges and requirements of different industries, enabling them to implement solutions that are not just effective but also compliant with industry standards.
• Expertise in small vs large teams: Whether your business requires a small, dedicated team for a specific SharePoint project or the resources of a larger firm for enterprise-wide deployment, SharePoint consultants offer scalable solutions.
• Specialist vs general consulting: Specialist SharePoint consultants provide deep expertise in specific areas like intranet development, document management, or process automation. In contrast, general consultants offer broader advice on using SharePoint to improve overall business processes.
• Real-world impact: With over 200 million active monthly users as of 2020, SharePoint's popularity underscores its effectiveness as a collaboration and document management platform. Consultancy services play a pivotal role in helping businesses navigate and maximise the benefits of this powerful tool.

Consultancy services range from strategic planning and implementation to custom development and ongoing support.

By working closely with qualified SharePoint experts, businesses can ensure their SharePoint environment is optimised for efficient workflows, secure data management, and enhanced collaboration.

Whether you're looking to implement a new SharePoint intranet, migrate to SharePoint Online, or develop custom solutions to streamline your business processes, SharePoint consultants are the key to unlocking the platform's full potential.

The top 5 benefits of working with Microsoft SharePoint consultants

Working with SharePoint consultants can transform how your business manages data, collaborates, and operates daily. Beyond the direct advantages of SharePoint itself, consultants bring added value that amplifies your investment in the platform. Here are the top five benefits:

1. Enhanced productivity through customisation: SharePoint consultants tailor the SharePoint platform to fit your specific business needs. From custom web parts to tailored SharePoint intranets, they ensure the platform functions precisely how you need it to, enhancing productivity and streamlining operations.
2. Seamless integration with Office 365 and Microsoft Teams: Experts in SharePoint consultancy ensure that SharePoint seamlessly integrates with Office 365 and Microsoft Teams. This integration not only enhances collaboration among team members but also ensures that your business leverages the full suite of tools available for maximum efficiency.
3. Expert guidance on data management and security: SharePoint consultants provide specialised knowledge on the best practices for data management and security within the SharePoint platform. This includes implementing efficient workflows for document management and ensuring that sensitive information is securely stored, yet easily accessible to authorised users.
4. Strategic planning and implementation for SharePoint projects: Qualified SharePoint experts bring a strategic approach to planning and implementing SharePoint projects. Whether it's a migration to SharePoint Online, the development of a new intranet, or leveraging the Power Platform to automate processes, consultants ensure your projects are executed flawlessly from start to finish.
5. Ongoing support and evolution: SharePoint consulting services don't just stop at implementation. Consultants offer ongoing IT support, keeping your SharePoint environment up-to-date and evolving with your business. This means continuously refining workflows, adding new features, and ensuring that your SharePoint solution always aligns with your business objectives.

By working closely with SharePoint consultants, your business benefits from dedicated expertise that goes beyond basic setup. These professionals work closely with your team to build solutions that not only meet your current needs but are scalable for future growth.

This partnership ensures that your investment in SharePoint and related Microsoft technologies truly enhances your business processes, security, and collaboration efforts, setting a solid foundation for your company's future.

How to select the perfect SharePoint consultancy service for your business

Selecting the right SharePoint consultancy service is crucial for enhancing your business operations, collaboration, and data management practices. According to many of our clients, the primary reason for switching IT consultants was poor communication.

This highlights the importance of choosing a partner that not only possesses the technical expertise but also values clear and consistent communication. Here's a practical checklist to guide you through the selection process:

1. Evaluate their communication style:
   • Does the consultancy prioritise clear, transparent communication?
   • Are they responsive and available to address your concerns and queries?
2. Assess local presence vs national reach:
   • Does the consultancy have a local presence, offering the advantage of in-person meetings and site visits?
   • Alternatively, does their national or global reach offer a wider range of expertise and resources?
3. Range of services offered:
   • Does the consultancy provide a comprehensive range of services, including SharePoint intranet development, migration, custom web development, and automation of business processes?
   • Can they offer ongoing support and training for your team?
4. Expertise and experience:
   • How long has the consultancy been working with SharePoint and Microsoft technologies?
   • Do they have case studies or testimonials that demonstrate their success in similar projects?
5. Technical proficiency:
   • Are their consultants certified or recognised by Microsoft as experts in SharePoint and related technologies like Office 365, Microsoft Teams, and the Power Platform?
   • How well do they stay updated with the latest SharePoint developments and features?
6. Customisation and scalability:
   • Can they tailor SharePoint solutions to fit your unique business processes and requirements?
   • Are they capable of scaling solutions to grow with your business?
7. Cost structure and transparency:
   • Is their pricing transparent, competitive, and flexible to your budgetary constraints?
   • Do they offer a clear breakdown of costs for initial setup, customisation, and ongoing support?
8. Security and compliance:
   • How does the consultancy approach data security and regulatory compliance within SharePoint environments?
   • Can they ensure your SharePoint setup aligns with industry standards and data protection regulations?
9. Client references and case studies:
   • Can they provide references or detailed case studies from businesses similar to yours?
   • What do their clients say about their reliability, support, and the effectiveness of the solutions they've implemented?
10. Cultural fit:
    • Does the consultancy's work ethic, company culture, and values align with those of your business?
    • Are they someone your team can work closely with and trust over the long term?

Selecting the right SharePoint consultant is about finding a partner who understands your business goals, communicates effectively, and has the expertise to implement solutions that drive your business forward.

Use this checklist as a starting point to ensure you choose a consultancy that not only meets but exceeds your expectations, paving the way for a successful and productive partnership.

Related guides

• Discover how an Office 365 consultancy service can streamline your workflow and enhance collaboration across your team, ensuring you're fully leveraging this powerful suite.
• Wondering how to get the most out of your technology investments? Find out how IT consultants in London can provide the tailored expertise and support your business needs.
• Dive into the world of cloud computing with our guide on Azure consultancy services, and see how it can elevate your business's scalability and flexibility.
• Small business owners, are you looking to boost your IT efficiency without the overhead? Our insights into IT consulting for small businesses show how expert advice can lead to big gains.

Summary

We hope this guide has provided clarity on the value of SharePoint consultancy services and equipped you with the knowledge to find the right SharePoint partner for your business.

Do you see areas within your operation where SharePoint could make a significant difference? Are you looking for ways to streamline collaboration and data management?

We're keen to learn about your experiences and challenges. If you're considering SharePoint and IT consultancy services, don't hesitate to reach out to us for further discussion.