Forcing a SharePoint Solution
January 28, 2014
Many companies initially adopted SharePoint as a collaborative way to share data, but as SharePoint stretches to include additional features, these same companies are looking to the platform to provide multiple solutions. And while the “one application fits all” approach might be tempting, it is also riddled with complications. Read more in the CMS Wire article, “A Square Peg in Round Holes: Using SharePoint for Multiple Solutions.”
The article says:
“A good business case isn’t enough to make for a solid and powerful SharePoint implementation. To realize the value, it will be important for your organization to embrace the changes required for success. I’d like to highlight some of the potential areas of concern I’ve seen in my work on SharePoint implementations with various organizations and show some ways to get past roadblocks or find detours to help you get to your final destination.”
Stephen E. Arnold is a longtime leader in search and has followed the SharePoint ups and downs for many years on his service, ArnoldIT.com. He finds that SharePoint does well when they keep the main thing (enterprise management) front and center. But when they veer from their main directive, things get a bit dicey.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 28, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
SharePoint eDiscovery for Content Management
January 27, 2014
Many case-based operations can be simplified by e-discovery tools, which are now built in to the SharePoint 2013 suite. SearchContentManagement explains how in their article, “Using SharePoint E-Discovery for Enterprise Content Management.”
The article begins:
“With any Microsoft release, part of the challenge is getting a handle on its tools — not just how they work but also the best way to use them. SharePoint e-discovery functionality in SharePoint 2013 provides specific enterprise content management advantages — but only if you think about your usage scenarios up front.”
Stephen E. Arnold is a longtime leader in search and the man behind ArnoldIT.com. He often covers SharePoint in his information service, as he follows the trends of enterprise search and content management. He research makes it clear that while SharePoint still has the lion’s share of the market, customers are constantly looking for increased functionality. It seems that is what SharePoint is trying to give them as they work to expand their customer base, and keep their existing one.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 27, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Increasing SharePoint Productivity
January 24, 2014
SharePoint is no doubt the enterprise content management giant, and yet it is no longer a one-stop-shop for all things enterprise. The information environment is increasingly complex, and managers are looking for increased productivity. CMS Wire covers this topic in their article, “SharePoint Strategy: Focus on Productivity Improvements.”
The article states:
“With an updated platform release, companies often reflect on the state and well-being of their existing investments, asking themselves whether a move to the newest version is necessary, or possible. The same can be said for reviews of SharePoint implementations. A common question from executives to the teams and stakeholders who own and manage SharePoint is ‘How productive are our end users in SharePoint?’”
And executives may not like the answer to that question. Stephen E. Arnold is a longtime leader in search and follower of SharePoint news. His latest coverage on ArnoldIT.com has focused on how despite the fact that SharePoint is still the leader in the market; companies are looking toward more and more customization in order to achieve efficiency in an increasingly complex work environment.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 24, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
SharePoint Licensing Models
January 23, 2014
SharePoint used to be a straightforward on-site installation. However, as with all things, SharePoint has changed to keep up with the times. They now offer a few options for licensing, and Search Content Management attempts to break them down in their article, “Making Sense of SharePoint Licensing Models.”
The article begins:
“Microsoft is moving away from, though not yet abandoning, its traditional model. The new model increasingly emphasizes annuity payments for Software as a Service and services. So how can customers make sense of this new model amid an already confusing licensing setup? Microsoft has simplified licensing somewhat. There are three major approaches you can make sense of today: 1) Traditional SharePoint on-premises 2) SharePoint in the cloud and Office 365 3) Hosted SharePoint.”
The traditional on-site licensing model is still the backbone of SharePoint. However, organizations are growing more agile, and more mobile, and that means they appreciate the new options. Stephen E. Arnold, of ArnoldIT.com, is a longtime leader in search and follower of SharePoint. His coverage of the latest SharePoint news points to a trend in customization and mobile, which means that SharePoint is listening to what the customers want. Whether or not customers are completely satisfied with the out-of-the-box solution is another matter.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 23, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
SharePoint Training Now Focuses on 2013
January 22, 2014
Many companies make their success on the basis of SharePoint. Some may provide customization while others will offer training. Once such company is PremierPoint Solutions and they made the latest headlines on PRWeb in, “PremierPoint Solutions Reduces Training Prices, Unveils New ‘SharePoint 2013 Power User Fast Track’ Course.”
The article begins:
“PremierPoint Solutions has reduced the prices of its SharePoint training classes and unveiled a new three-day course called ‘SharePoint 2013 Power User Fast Track.’ ‘We are concentrating primarily on SharePoint 2013 training courses in the new year, as more and more organizations are deciding ‘out with the old; in with the new’ when it comes to SharePoint,’ said Randy Moody, sales and marketing representative for PremierPoint Solutions.”
The surge in SharePoint training and customization is proof that out-of-the-box, SharePoint alone is not enough. Stephen E. Arnold is a longtime leader in search and follows this trend on his Web service, ArnoldIT.com. Much of his coverage focuses on what companies are doing to make the most of SharePoint through customization, add-ons, and increased training.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 22, 2014
SharePoint 2013 Podcast
January 21, 2014
SharePoint 2013 offered a lot of out-of-the-box features that were considered freebies to many that were expecting a traditional enterprise content management system. Scott Robinson is a SharePoint expert that offers a rundown via podcast. Read more in the Search Content Management article, “SharePoint 2013 Out-of-the-Box Features.”
The article says:
“According to business intelligence and SharePoint expert Scott Robinson, there are several SharePoint 2013 out-of-the-box features that “seem like freebies if that isn’t what you bought SharePoint for.” Robinson takes us through some of what he considers the biggest gifts of the SharePoint 2013 platform, and a couple of Microsoft’s missteps in the latest release.”
SharePoint’s incorporation of business intelligence and social computing features, as well as SharePoint Online are show stealers for Robinson. Stephen E. Arnold is also an expert in the area, and the brains behind ArnoldIT.com. He covers SharePoint through his search news service and offers an objective voice when it comes to enterprise adoption and customization.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 21, 2014
Enterprise Content Management Tips
January 20, 2014
The release of SharePoint 2013 was the top headline in enterprise content management in 2013. But the release of a new product often creates more questions than it answers. For this reason, Search Content Management wrote the article, “The Top Enterprise Content Management System Tips of 2013.”
The article begins:
“It’s no surprise that some of the top ECM tips this year concern how to script in SharePoint 2013, new features in SharePoint 2013 and whether to migrate to on-premises SharePoint or whether to consider SharePoint Online. Check out SearchContentManagement’s top learning content on enterprise content management for 2013 below.”
Stephen E. Arnold, a longtime leader in enterprise search, is also the mastermind behind ArnoldIT.com. Topics like the new features of SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint on-premise versus SharePoint Online are issues he has also addressed this year. The verdict seems to be that while SharePoint is certainly the most dominant ECM system, it is also in need of the most customization to produce a product that aids productivity and increase efficiency.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 20, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Evaluating SharePoint 2013 Mobile Features
January 17, 2014
A common theme in the SharePoint discussion of 2013 was mobile. Mobile was everywhere: Twitter feeds, tech blogs, and enterprise news. And while SharePoint has made some strides toward a more pleasant mobile user experience, many are still skeptical. Search Content Management reviews SharePoint’s mobile strivings in their article, “Are SharePoint 2013 Mobile Features up to Snuff?”
The article states:
“Thankfully, SharePoint 2013 has vastly improved the mobile experience. One major improvement is the inclusion of the new contemporary view, which is for mobile devices that support HTML5. This approach provides a richer experience than was available in SharePoint 2010. For mobile users with older devices that do not support HTML5, SharePoint defaults to the classic view. For a comparison of contemporary and classic views, check out Microsoft’s site.”
Stephen E. Arnold is a longtime leader in search and dispenses his professional opinion through his information service, ArnoldIT.com. He pays a lot of attention to SharePoint and mobile is a common theme. His opinion would be a good one to consider when debating whether or not to supplement SharePoint with add-ons that enhance the mobile experience.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 17, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Basic Search Tips for SharePoint
January 16, 2014
The article titled Not Getting The Search Results You’re Looking For In SharePoint? on Microsoft Office divulges tips to help users who are having trouble with SharePoint, the content management platform from Microsoft. The basic issues it mentions relate to too many or too few results. For those receiving too few results, tips include generalizing search terms and ensuring your settings aren’t blocking the results. For too many results, the article suggests using Advanced Search.
This is what the article suggests for no results regarding syntax use:
“If an error message tells you to make sure you’re using the proper syntax, the search system interprets your search as a KQL query, but finds that there’s something wrong with the syntax. Check that you’re using the right syntax, and particularly the right number of parentheses and double quotation marks. If you want to search for a phrase that contains a parenthesis or double quotation mark, make sure that you enclose the entire phrase… in double quotation marks.”
You can also consult the Keyword Query Language (KQL) Syntax Reference for querying in KQL. However, we have a hunch that this advice is not too useful if the content is not in the index or some other system level issue is a problem. Consider the article more of a basic troubleshoot guide, not a comprehensive directory.
Chelsea Kerwin, January 16, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Streamline SharePoint Extensions
January 16, 2014
SharePoint has become the dominant collaboration tool on the enterprise. Problems are always going to arise with such a large piece of software, but there are tools and approaches that make solutions quicker in coming. IT Business Edge explores this idea in their article, “Streamline SharePoint Extensions for Business Users.”
The article says:
“To maximize the organization’s return on its investment in SharePoint, IT administrators should use the Extend SharePoint Prioritization Tool, available in our IT Downloads. This spreadsheet helps the organization determine which functions within SharePoint provide the most benefit to the business, and which will allow IT to prioritize its time in fixing problems and creating a more streamlined usage for business users.”
Stephen E. Arnold is a longtime leader in search and the man behind ArnoldIT.com. He focuses on all aspects of search but gives a good bit of attention to the enterprise, particularly SharePoint. He advocates smart add-ons and creative solutions that work in conjunction with SharePoint. Without them, SharePoint can be a greater hindrance than it is an asset.
Emily Rae Aldridge, January 16, 2014
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
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