| Is your company considering paying the extra this | | | | important decisions. SharePoint Insights allows |
| year to install or upgrade to Microsoft SharePoint | | | | employees to share important files with one another |
| 2010? If so, you may be in for a bit of a learning | | | | so entire teams have access to results. The |
| curve. SharePoint is not a particularly new | | | | system is flexible, so it's easy to create users and |
| technology, but some new features have been | | | | groups to modify permissions and access to certain |
| introduced to combat Google's efforts into the world | | | | documents. It also uses familiar interfaces so there |
| of collaborative documents stored on the internet. | | | | will never be any difficulties involved in uploading, |
| SharePoint was introduced in 2007 but the 2010 | | | | modifying, and understanding important data. |
| version offers a number of improvements and | | | | An important question to ask is how does Microsoft |
| promises to be even more competitive than before. | | | | SharePoint compare with Google's suite of |
| SharePoint 2010 has a number of remarkable | | | | applications for businesses, Google Apps? In |
| capabilities. First, SharePoint makes it easier to | | | | Microsoft Office and SharePoint 2010, many of |
| create sites for all of your business needs. You can | | | | Google's features are in effect mimicked while |
| not only create a site for internet customers, but | | | | maintaining consistency enough for continued business |
| intranet sites for your own employees, partners, or | | | | use. For example, conversations can now take |
| clients. This service is best for people who are | | | | place directly in Microsoft Outlook, and real-time |
| uncomfortable with web development and would like | | | | collaboration is possible on documents edited through |
| a consistent backend throughout all sites. This | | | | SharePoint. These features have both been |
| makes it easier for an IT team to train regular | | | | available through Google's suite for a long time, and |
| employees and maintain the sites overall. | | | | now it seems as though Microsoft is finally catching |
| Since SharePoint is a Microsoft product, it ties in | | | | up. |
| instantly with all Microsoft services. It's easy to | | | | In truth, SharePoint looks much more professional. |
| save and display Microsoft files on websites, a | | | | It comes at a cost, but offers a number of services |
| traditionally difficult process. SharePoint removes | | | | designed for larger companies. Unfortunately its |
| the need for all the normal editing required for putting | | | | installation is quite complicated as well as expensive. |
| a Microsoft Word document onto the web, for | | | | You will probably require training in addition to advice |
| example. | | | | regarding set-up and configuration. In other words, |
| With SharePoint composites, you can escape the | | | | you'll probably need to bring in outside IT experts, |
| need for tedious programming because the | | | | but once the system is running and your employees |
| technology enables you to create applications and | | | | have been trained properly, they should no longer be |
| develop business solutions without the need for | | | | necessary. |
| code. Save your IT team's expertise for more | | | | For small businesses, however, Google Apps are |
| important projects as you seamlessly share Access | | | | probably more instantaneously useable and |
| databases and Excel spreadsheets with the | | | | cost-effective. Many people are familiar with the |
| necessary recipients. Even if you lose your | | | | way Google works and since all of your information is |
| connection to the internet, you'll still be able to work; | | | | stored in the cloud, it is completely painless to install. |
| synchronising is instantaneous once your connection is | | | | The flat fee per employee also makes it perfect for |
| regained. | | | | small businesses. Schools enjoy even cheaper |
| SharePoint also lives up to its name by allowing all | | | | access, making Google Apps the perfect choice for |
| employees access to the important data they need | | | | educational services. |
| to make sales proposals, development choices, and | | | | |