Why SharePoint is the Best Platform for Document Management

10 January 2023

SharePoint is a powerful and versatile platform that can help businesses and organizations of all sizes manage their documents more efficiently. It is an easy-to-use platform that can be tailored to the specific needs of any organization, making it the ideal choice for document management. With SharePoint, users can access and share documents from any location, and the platform is equipped with features such as version control and document security that help ensure documents are organized and secure. Additionally, SharePoint is cost-effective and can be integrated with other programs, making it a great choice for businesses of all sizes. From small businesses to large enterprises, SharePoint offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use document management solution. From organizing and categorizing documents to implementing version control and access permissions, we’ll cover everything you need to know to maximize the benefits of SharePoint for your document management needs. Let’s dive in and discover the SharePoint document management best practices that will empower your organization to harness the full potential of it.

What is SharePoint Document Management System?

SharePoint Document Management is a cloud-based document management system that helps businesses manage and share files across the organization. It’s perfect for small businesses that need a simple, easy-to-use system to manage their documents. With DMs, you can easily share files with co-workers, customers, and other partners. You can also use this to track changes and version history, which is helpful when communicating with others about the changes to a document. And it is compatible with a wide range of devices and platforms, so you can use it anywhere you have Internet access.

SharePoint Document Management System Benefits

SharePoint Document Management is a powerful tool that can make your work more efficient, organized, and focused. It enables you to manage your content, projects, users, and processes with ease.

Automation and Collaboration

SharePoint is a great tool for streamlining and simplifying your workflows. Automate document creation, routing, approvals, signatures, and feedback with ease. Plus, multiple users can collaborate together at the same time, and each change is color-coded so that you can track who did what.

Flexibility

With a wide range of integrations and compatibility across multiple devices, SharePoint offers a never-ending list of possibilities. Additionally, you can customize the features to best suit your company’s needs.

Data Security

Rest assured, SharePoint is an ideal choice for keeping your data safe and secure. Issues with the server are rare, and you can go back and access previous versions of documents if needed. Plus, you can set restrictions so that only authorized users can view certain documents.

Document Sharing

Do you distribute a written text to colleagues for review and comment? Is it necessary to collect all modifications and opinions in a single file? SharePoint has a much smarter approach to managing input, remarks, and revisions. You may store a file in a document library. Several people can access and modify the file by implementing access, workflows, and permissions. You will have a single version of the file with everyone’s input, and the article’s comments will be automatically combined.

Centralized Administration

SharePoint is the most effective way of centralizing management. Certified admins can access this consolidated repository by accessing certain sites. You can update content in a variety of ways, including SharePoint updates, software control features, restores and backups, SharePoint farms, system setup, the configuration of applications, and security configuration.

Metadata

One of the core SharePoint features is metadata. It is extra information about SharePoint documents that you can monitor. Here you can upload and label documents and then search those documents based on keywords and tags. Think of it like folders on your document sharing, except that you can define different metadata fields.

Synced Workplace

In a document management system, sharing and collaboration is extremely easy. Why because within a system documents are synced for everyone and in real-time, sharing information and contributing to it between groups and individuals. There are various levels of convenience provided by the capacity to collaborate on documents with person in any location at any time. This ease of use is unmatched by any other document management method.

SharePoint Document Management Best Practices

Organize documents with a well-defined structure

To ensure easy navigation and retrieval of documents, it is crucial to establish a clear and logical structure within SharePoint. Create a well-organized hierarchy of document libraries, folders, and subfolders that align with your organization’s needs. Implement consistent naming conventions for files and folders, and consider metadata tagging to enhance searchability and categorization of documents. By structuring your documents effectively, you can optimize document management within SharePoint.

Leverage metadata and tagging

Metadata and tagging play a crucial role in enhancing document discoverability and searchability within SharePoint. By defining relevant metadata fields, such as document type, author, project name, or date, you can classify and categorize documents effectively. Encourage users to tag documents with appropriate keywords and attributes to facilitate quick and accurate search results. Utilizing metadata and tagging not only improves document retrieval but also enables efficient content management and document lifecycle tracking.

Enforce security and permissions

To safeguard sensitive information and maintain data integrity, it is essential to establish proper security measures within SharePoint. Define access levels and permissions based on user roles and responsibilities. SharePoint provides granular permission settings that allow you to control who can view, edit, or delete documents. Regularly review and update security settings to ensure that access rights align with the changing needs of your organization. By enforcing stringent security practices, you can protect confidential data and mitigate unauthorized access risks.

Implement version control

Version control is one of the best practices of SharePoint document management system, particularly in collaborative environments. SharePoint offers robust versioning capabilities that enable tracking and managing document versions efficiently. By enabling version control, you can maintain a comprehensive history of document changes, track who made modifications, and easily revert to previous versions if needed. This ensures document integrity, eliminates confusion, and improves collaboration among team members.

Regularly review and update documents

Review documents periodically to ensure they are accurate, relevant, and up-to-date. Make updates as necessary and communicate changes to relevant stakeholders.

Implement workflows and automation

SharePoint offers robust workflow capabilities that streamline document-centric processes. Leverage SharePoint’s workflow engine to automate routine tasks, such as document review and approval, content publishing, and document routing. Workflows ensure consistent adherence to predefined processes, reduce manual effort, and enhance productivity. By incorporating workflows into your document management practices, you can achieve greater efficiency, reduce errors, and expedite document processing.

Provide training and support

Provide training and support to users to ensure they understand the SharePoint document management policies and procedures and how to use SharePoint effectively. This helps to ensure that documents are managed in a consistent manner and encourages user adoption of the platform.

Conclusion

SharePoint document management offers a multitude of benefits and best practices that can revolutionize how organizations handle their documents. By adopting these best practices businesses can experience increased productivity, streamlined collaboration, enhanced data security, and improved information governance. SharePoint’s robust features empower organizations to efficiently manage their documents, optimize search and retrieval processes, and ensure regulatory compliance. Embracing SharePoint document management best practices is a strategic decision that can propel organizations towards greater efficiency, cost savings, and overall success in the digital era.

Star Knowledge can help your business to succeed with its services in Migration and Integration, Data & Document Management, Intranet, Custom Development & Support. Contact us today to get started.