All organizations, regardless of size and industry, are now opting for SharePoint implementations to enhance their document management and collaboration skills. Microsoft SharePoint services have taken over the world, with over 86% of global companies opting for SharePoint cloud services in 2021.
The reason for this is straightforward. Microsoft SharePoint consulting services are the best collaborative platforms for mid-sized to large organizations. SharePoint implementations help companies centralize access to enterprise applications and data. Since most companies complain of lost or difficult-to-track documentation, no matter what they do or which industry they operate in, this is a major advantage. However, these implementations are not as simple as they seem on paper. In this article, we will explore why SharePoint implementations fail and how companies looking to reap the full potential of SharePoint can avoid them.
What are Microsoft SharePoint Services?
SharePoint is a web-based application primarily used for content collaboration. It, however, has many other features that include business intelligence, advanced search, customized intranet portals, document storage, document security, version tracking, etc. SharePoint is one of the most widely used collaborative platforms globally, with over 75% of Fortune 500 companies utilizing it daily. SharePoint’s easy-to-use functionalities and similarity to the office 365 user interface are some of the few reasons its popularity continues to increase globally. On an organizational level, SharePoint helps streamline processes by providing the following features:
- Seamless collaboration with all stakeholders
- Centralized administration
- Advanced integration for data access
- Easy site management
- Minimum downtime
- Increased security
So why do SharePoint implementations fail?
You might think that with endless possibilities to centralize workflows and content, Power BI dashboards, and cloud capabilities, what can go wrong? Right? Even with these massive benefits, some organizations cannot reap the benefits of Microsoft SharePoint services. A study by AIIM revealed that over 40% of SharePoint implementations are likely to fail, but the failure has nothing to do with Microsoft SharePoint
services. Here are some of the top reasons why SharePoint implementations fail in most organizations:
Lack of vision:
Many organizations reportedly failed to implement SharePoint successfully and have jumped into the implementation process without a clear roadmap of what they want to achieve. Such organizations do not have a clear vision of what they wish their SharePoint solution to address. Additionally, there is a common misconception regarding Microsoft SharePoint services that it is an out-of-the-box, ready-to-go product. Due to this misinformation, most organizations cannot understand and define what SharePoint is and thus cannot adequately design a proper implementation process. If an organization cannot understand how SharePoint fits into its current technology infrastructure, it is almost inevitable that its implementation will fail.
Lack of change management:
Another common reason reported by companies with unsuccessful SharePoint implementations is reluctance among employees to accommodate new changes. Change management on the part of an organization is necessary for employees to be onboarded onto a new platform, and the lack of this approach can have dire consequences. Change to a new platform is always resisted as employees are accustomed to the previous processes. The same is the case with any new technology being introduced in a company. A SharePoint implementation likely creates friction between the employees and the management.
However, SharePoint is a highly beneficial platform, and its ease of use will eventually get all employees on board. It is important to consider that the management needs to make the employees feel included when introducing the shift to Microsoft SharePoint services. They should also ensure that employees are made to understand the many ways in which a SharePoint implementation will benefit them (the employees) and how it will improve productivity. It is a good idea to include some employees from the minute the implementation is decided upon so that they feel included and can understand the processes and the platform’s benefits.
Lack of governance
SharePoint is an advanced platform that can be shared between many departments within an organization. To utilize this capability of the platform, it is integral that there is an organization-wide agreement on how the infrastructure should be used. Without proper policies and processes, the platform may not be able to serve its intended purpose, which will fail the entire implementation. With appropriate governance policies in place, the organization can ensure that company standards and protocols are followed. Organizations can also check data usage, role permissions, access, security, etc.
Lack of user training:
Microsoft SharePoint services do not simply need to be implemented within an organization. Of course, there are the initial design, build, and maintenance stages, but once the organization has passed, the training stage is initiated. Training the employees is very important. All company employees using SharePoint need to learn how to use the system to ensure that the company maximizes its investment in the SharePoint implementation. A good approach to solving this problem through building a training program. The training program can help roll out the Microsoft SharePoint services within the organization and, as an added benefit, ensure that your SharePoint implementation was not a bust.
Conclusion:
Conclusively, a SharePoint implementation is the natural next move for all organizations moving to the cloud. But the action does come with its challenges like delete SharePoint site & more. This is where a Microsoft-certified SharePoint consultant or a technology advisor can help. With an experienced SharePoint consultant onboard, you can easily tackle each challenge that comes with the new solution.
