What the Heck is SharePoint?

I asked ChatGPT to write me an article using my title and basically gave me a Microsoft brochure of the Tool. Boring! Link here.

So then let me address the question in matter, what the Heck is SharePoint? First and foremost, it's crucial to understand what SharePoint is not. Contrary to popular belief, it's not just another file-sharing platform or a mere file system. While it does support file hosting, that's only scratching the surface of its capabilities; SharePoint is not intended for that purpose. So, what is it then?

In my journey with SharePoint, I've come to see it as a versatile tool—an amalgamation of a low-code/no-code community-driven record-keeping relational database and an integrated UI portal solution.

Low-code/No-Code Wonder

Configuration in SharePoint is a breeze. Users can effortlessly configure elements using a simple drag-and-drop interface, making it accessible even for those without extensive coding expertise.

Community-Driven Collaboration

SharePoint thrives in a collaborative environment. It goes beyond individual use, serving as an ideal tool for teams seeking clarity, engagement, and a centralized source of truth. For data managers and leaders, SharePoint becomes the key to driving organizational delivery with precision and collaboration at its core.

Record-Keeping Excellence

At the heart of SharePoint lies its core building blocks—Lists. These Lists act as versatile containers for various data types, providing a dynamic foundation for record-keeping.

• A Wide Variety of Data Types: SharePoint Lists support an extensive range of data types, including text, numbers, images, hyperlinks, persons or groups, single or multi-select choices, and lookup fields from another list.

• Record History and Audit Trail: Every record within SharePoint has a comprehensive history and an audit trail, ensuring accountability and transparency.

• Built-in Security: Lists come with built-in security features, allowing you to decide who can see, change, or create records.

• Alerts, Actions, and Notifications: Users have the ability to set alerts, actions, and notifications, providing control over what happens if someone inserts or changes a record.

• Comment Field as Chat: Each record includes a comment field that functions as an integrated chat, facilitating seamless communication within the platform.

• Integration with Office Applications: Lists seamlessly integrate with Office applications, enabling users to use them as a source for an Excel table, a PivotTable, or Power BI. Lists can also be linked, queried, and bulk manipulated in MS Access.

• File Attachment Capability: Users can attach as many files as needed to a single record, allowing for comprehensive documentation, such as hosting deliverables for a particular task.

• Searchable Elements and SharePoint Index: Once a record is entered, all elements within it are searchable and become part of the SharePoint internal index, enhancing accessibility and data retrieval.

Relational Database Magic

SharePoint acts as a relational database, allowing users to use a list as a source for fields on other lists. This establishes referential integrity and enables streamlined task assignment. For instance, project managers overseeing multiple projects and scrum teams can utilize SharePoint to assign tasks through customizable lists, ensuring data accuracy and preventing deviations.

Integrated UI Brilliance

SharePoint's user interface is a canvas for creativity. Users can craft pages, customize forms, and add images, tailoring the user experience to meet specific needs. Managers can leverage SharePoint to develop applications tailored for internal or external users, offering a platform to master the data they produce.

Integration Beyond SharePoint

Records stored in SharePoint can be seamlessly queried, modified, or inserted using REST APIs. This extends the functionality of SharePoint beyond a standalone tool, making it a workbench for issue resolution and data integration into other systems.

In essence, SharePoint emerges as a powerhouse, transcending the boundaries of a typical collaboration tool. It's a dynamic, multifaceted solution that empowers users to streamline processes, foster collaboration, and unlock the full potential of their data, all within an intuitive and feature-rich environment.

Coming Next!

I will then start writing articles on how you can use SharePoint to stop the bad use and abuse of poor faithful Excel! So you can finally, finally GetRidOfExcel!!!