SharePoint is one of the most widely used workflow and productivity-boosting programs. Yet users have been looking for alternatives to SharePoint because of issues with workflow flexibility, usability, deployment/adoption speed, process/project management capabilities, and many other aspects. Enterprises are often left in a situation where they have to decide between moving to SharePoint cloud or some other alternative.
Benefits of Using SharePoint
There are many so-called benefits of using SharePoint:
- It helps centralize key documents
- It helps connect to a virtual identity server
- It helps in integrating web applications and other tools
- It helps in improving project management
- It helps in creating SharePoint networks with clients
Despite these benefits, there are limitations in each aspect.
Improvements in Process Management
Workers are always looking for better ways for managing and tracking their work through better workflows. Another demand is for automated and easier methods for reporting on goals and statuses.
Surveys show that 3 out of 10 SharePoint users don’t have any workflows or processes. Some of the key limitations of the platform in this regard include:
- Lack of flexibility
- Need for a high level of expertise and more time for customization
- Shortage of skilled developers in most enterprises
High Level of Care & Maintenance
Another limitation to the platform is the high level of care required to it. There are alternatives that are all about setting and forgetting it. But that is not the case with SharePoint.
Users need to organize things manually. It is required to spend lots of time in categorizing and handling files and creating a logical structure to allow everyone to locate and view files. When the content grows at an exponential rate, it can cause the administration to go out of control.
Site-Building & Search Limitations
If the data is not properly tagged with metadata, the search feature will not provide the files needed. But proper tagging is also a hard work with SharePoint.
Only those with in-depth knowledge of the industry are capable of mapping the platform’s architecture in an error-free manner. Therefore, most enterprises are unable to outsource the tasks. It also means that the users have to be provided with advanced training.
Another limitation of SharePoint is that it is built on the concept that all its users have knowledge of how to design websites.
Instead of making things simpler and faster, SharePoint has been a costly investment for user worldwide. Its use requires more time and effort. Thus, it makes more sense in investing in an alternative to sharepoint.