Item: Microsoft SharePoint
Rating: 7
Author: Chris John

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

SharePoint is currently being used by our entire organization in different ways. First we have a custom application that some outside developers set up for us. Second, we in IT use it to collaborate on some documents that we create and manage. Thirdly, our HR uses a custom application that is currently in the final stages of setting up. SharePoint is quite flexible!

Pros and Cons

Great search feature.
Flexible.
Integrates with Office pretty well.
Lots of out of the box features.
Search query webparts are really cool once you figure out how to use it.

Tons of features can sometimes make things overwhelming.
With other services that are coming out, you start to see some of the flaws of SharePoint such as how sometimes the simplest thing can take quite some time to configure.
As good as the integration is with Office, it could be better.

Return on Investment

Increased employee efficiency
Ability to collaborate
Gives higher ups some insight on what users are working

Alternatives Considered

Drupal and Dropbox

SharePoint was already selected when I got here. However, like I've mentioned before, SharePoint is a very capable platform for collaboration. It has a nice feature set but the issue at times is getting the product to do what you want it to do. Other products are cloud based (though I know MS does have a cloud option for SharePoint as well) so you're not worrying about your backend. But because it's on premise, it does give us the sense of comfort knowing that the product is in house.

Other Software Used

Drupal, Dropbox

Likelihood to Recommend

SharePoint is really great if you're a Microsoft heavy shop. It allows you to really leverage some neat features like version control, checkin/checkout, document sets, metadata navigation, etc. SharePoint 2013 is better than the previous iterations of the product in that it's a little less reliant on Internet Explorer. But you still have some functionality that's tied to IE. So wouldn't recommend to anyone that's an Apple shop.

Support Rating

Support varies by tech and by vendor. I've used Microsoft's support channel and for the most part have been successful to get my questions answered. I've also used third party vendors and have gotten some answers resolved as well, though sometimes getting them on the phone is difficult. It all depends!

SharePoint Customer Support Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Quick Resolution Knowledgeable team Kept well informed Immediate help available Support cares about my success	Poor followup Problems left unsolved Escalation required Need to explain problems multiple times

Premium Support

Yes - SharePoint is a big product and knowing everything would be great, but I don't have the time. I do appreciate the ability to talk to someone and figure out what's going on with my environment and learn best practices.

Bug Resolution

Exceptional Examples of SharePoint Support

I was having an issue with my SHarePoint 2013 search functionality. I contacted Microsoft and opened a case with them. They worked tirelessly with me to get the search working. Even past their office hours! I really appreciated it and can't thank them enough for their support and dedication.

Usability

It works ok but there is a LOT of tweaking to get it to what a regular enduser wants.

Usability Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Like to use Well integrated Feel confident using	Unnecessarily complex Requires technical support Slow to learn Lots to learn

Easy Tasks

Versioning
Search
Office integration

Difficult Tasks

Overall document management
UI can be un-intuitive to users
People expect it to work like a Dropbox, but it's not!

Mobile Interface Availability and Impressions

Yes, but I don't use it

SharePoint 2013, is it for you?

Overall Satisfaction with MS SharePoint