SharePoint is a sophisticated collaboration platform that can host a company’s intranet, extranet and document management systems. It offers a wide range of features that can help you organize and manage information.
SharePoint has many advantages over other platforms, including easy collaboration between employees and partners. Organizations are migrating to SharePoint to enhance productivity, communications, collaboration, track tasks, manage projects, and much more.
However, moving to SharePoint from another system can be challenging because there are many factors involved in making such a shift happen successfully. Read on for some useful tips that can help with your SharePoint migration:
#1 Partner with a SharePoint Migration Specialist
SharePoint allows organizations to optimize workflow through better teamwork. It simplifies data management, collaboration, and information sharing. The cloud-based platform also lets users access data and documents remotely, allowing teams to work together from remote locations.
To gain these and other benefits of the platform, many modern businesses outsource their migration needs to a SharePoint Managed Services specialist. With a Microsoft Solutions partner like Softlanding, you can optimize your SharePoint migration journey. This IT-Managed Services Provider (MSP) has deployed and supported hundreds of SharePoint platforms and offers excellent value for your investment:
- Smooth and Secure: They use their expertise to ensure that the transition is smooth and secure.
- Flexibility: They’ll offer unmatched services whether you need to migrate from on-premises, upgrade to the latest version of the software, or deploy a hybrid version of SharePoint.
- Customization: Their experts can create custom sites and site elements that match your organization’s unique requirements.
- Support: Your IT team will have support for complex issues for all SharePoint versions.
#2 Prepare Your Company
Although migrating to SharePoint is usually a beneficial decision, you’ll face a range of reactions from your team. People familiar with the platform will be eager for the change, though others may be resistant to the system migration.
Invest in demos and other pre-migration programs to optimize the shift. Encourage staff to ask questions and address concerns so that they’re comfortable in the new environment.
#3 Assess and Define
Assess your current environment to understand what works and what doesn’t. By analyzing your existing data and content, you can develop a more effective migration plan. Please also assess the value of your existing content. Letting your migration team know what data can be archived, such as files, images, videos, and other data, may help reduce costs.
You should also define your new SharePoint environment. Defining your new environment will improve collaboration and communication and help staff with workflow.
#4 Create Backups
Some experts suggest that you create backups of your essential data and documents to ensure nothing is lost during migration. Consider shifting the most important data first so your teams can start working with the new system as soon as possible.
#5 Training
Post-migration training is critical. Training sessions should help teams learn how to use the new environment, so everyone can easily adjust to the changes. Instructors should focus on the navigation and usage of the platform and the basics of document sharing and collaboration.
After migration is complete, your IT team will need to monitor activity and help with troubleshooting. It helps to have SharePoint support services from a Managed Services Provider that can assist with administration, configuration, and any complex problems.