As a web technology expert, We have used SharePoint to improve communication and collaboration in a variety of organizations. Here are some of the key things I have learned:
Use a responsive design. Your intranet should look good and function well on all devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. This will ensure that all of your employees can access the intranet, regardless of what device they are using.
Use web parts. Web parts are small, modular pieces of functionality that can be added to SharePoint pages. There are a wide variety of web parts available, including news feeds, calendars, lists, and libraries. You can also use web parts to create custom functionality, such as polls, surveys, and social media feeds.
Use custom themes. Custom themes allow you to change the look and feel of your intranet to match your organization’s branding. This can help to create a more unified and professional experience for your employees.
Use SharePoint Power Apps. SharePoint Power Apps is a no-code/low-code platform that can be used to create custom apps to automate tasks and workflows. For example, you could create a custom app to automate the process of submitting and approving vacation requests.
Use SharePoint Power Automate. SharePoint Power Automate is a no-code/low-code platform that can be used to create automated flows to connect your intranet to other Microsoft services and to automate tasks and workflows. For example, you could create a flow to automatically send an email notification when a new document is published in a SharePoint library or to automatically create a new task in Microsoft To Do when a new item is added to a SharePoint list.
Here are some specific examples of how I have used SharePoint to improve communication and collaboration in organizations:
Created a news feed to keep employees informed of the latest news and announcements. I used a SharePoint web part to create a news feed that displays the latest news and announcements from the organization’s leadership team. Employees can subscribe to the news feed to receive notifications when new items are added.
Created a discussion forum to allow employees to collaborate on projects and share ideas. I used a SharePoint web part to create a discussion forum where employees can ask questions, share ideas, and collaborate on projects. The discussion forum is organized by topic, so employees can easily find the information they are looking for.
Created a team site for each department to allow employees to share documents and collaborate on projects. I used SharePoint to create a team site for each department in the organization. Employees can use their team site to share documents, collaborate on projects, and communicate with each other.
Created a custom app to automate the vacation request process. I used SharePoint Power Apps to create a custom app that automates the vacation request process. Employees can use the app to submit vacation requests, and managers can use the app to approve or reject vacation requests.
Created an automated flow to send email notifications when new documents are published in a SharePoint library. I used SharePoint Power Automate to create an automated flow that sends email notifications to employees when new documents are published in a SharePoint library. This helps to ensure that employees are aware of new documents that may be relevant to their work.
By using web technology to improve communication and collaboration in SharePoint, I have been able to help organizations to become more efficient and productive.
Here are some additional tips for using web technology to improve communication and collaboration in SharePoint:
- Use social media features. SharePoint includes a number of social media features, such as likes, comments, and mentions. These features can be used to encourage employees to interact with each other and to share content.
- Use video conferencing. SharePoint includes a video conferencing feature that allows employees to have video calls with each other. This can be a great way for employees to collaborate on projects and to communicate with each other when they are not in the same office.
- Use gamification. Gamification is the use of game-design elements in non-game contexts. SharePoint includes a number of gamification features, such as badges, leaderboards, and points. These features can be used to motivate employees to use SharePoint and to collaborate with each other.
By following these tips, you can use web technology to improve communication and collaboration in SharePoint and create a more efficient and productive organization.