Top Reasons why you should choose SharePoint 2013

Over the last five years, SharePoint has been widely adopted across organizations. Certain major changes were ushered in by SharePoint 2010 and SharePoint 2013 carried on with the trend through the introduction of some revolutionary features with respect to web content management, big data, search and workflow. Here are 10 top reasons why you should consider upgrading to SharePoint 2013.

1. SharePoint apps

The Apps for SharePoint are autonomous functional pieces that broaden the potential of a SharePoint website. JavaScript, HTML, CSS, as well as protocols like OAuth (Open Auth) and OData (Open Data) can be leveraged to communicate with SharePoint with the help of Apps. Since the app constitutes a safe isolated container, it is possible to go for client site calls through the use of JavaScript. One of the most noteworthy advantages of the app model is that there is a separate server for running of custom code. Hence the organization does not need to worry about potential performance problems that the custom apps may create.

2. Free Office Web apps that operate across mobile devices

In case of external as well as internal users, Office Web apps do not require any office client. The only thing is that internal users need to possess an Office 2013 license (pro or standard) so that they can edit documents. Extranet users can avail free Office web apps and moreover, they do not require CALs. Again, Office Web apps at present operate on mobile devices such as the iPad.

3. Enhanced workflow

When you upgrade to SharePoint 2013, it is possible to maintain the previous SharePoint 2010 engine. You can download and install a new add-on known as the Workflow Manager separately. This Workflow Manager is capable of running across its own server. Moreover, respective databases are there for the Service Bus and the manager itself. With SharePoint 2013, workflow creation has become extremely convenient, due to the presence of the Task Process Designer canvas. It makes use of a Visio 2013 add-in inside SharePoint Designer 2013.

4. SharePoint Search

For the 2013 version, Microsoft has come up with SharePoint Search wherein the FAST features are built in. This ensures scalable and powerful search for the users bringing in broader search capability, faster results and more functionality.

5. OData supporting Business Connectivity Services

SharePoint 2013 comes with BCS or Business Connectivity Services that facilitates connection and interfacing with data that is external to SharePoint, with the help of added OData Support. SharePoint was always able to come up with list data by being an OData provider, and now it can join with external sources with the help of OData.

6. Yammer integration

Every SharePoint release brings with it new enhancements and social features. Microsoft has already purchased Yammer last year and lately the Yammer integration roadmap has been released by the company. Ultimately Yammer integration is all set to entirely replace the SharePoint Newsfeed through 90-day updates.

7. Community Portal Template

SharePoint Server 2013 broadens the discussion list concept through the introduction of Community Site, a new site template. The unique feature is that users can have access to this site and also observe conversations, following which they can join a community for posting. Other noteworthy aspects of the site template include the following:

• Once you become a member, the community site can be automatically followed.
• Adjacent to all posts, member photos are revealed.
• To trigger participation, “gamification” options such as badges, points are there.
• Capability of topic based conversation categorizing.

8. Big data support

SharePoint 2013, with the help of integrated PowerPivot technology, facilitates support for larger data. Created over the Vertipaq engine, it is possible to compress and filter large data sets, making room for speedier operations.

9. Cross-Site publishing enabling enhanced publishing capabilities

SharePoint Server 2013 brings in cross-site publishing to ensure effective web content management. This in turn improves the authoring and publishing procedure of the company. With the help of cross-site publishing, storage and maintenance of content is possible for one or more sites. There is an authoring site collection wherein once the content is changed, the same gets reflected on other site collections where the content is being reused.

10. Enhanced design capabilities

SharePoint Server 2013 offers enhanced features for site design and content layout.

• Customization of the current and global navigation menus can be done by designers and site owners through direct drag and drop of menu items onto the page.
• Sites can now be branded utilizing external tools such as Dreamweaver.
• SharePoint Server 2013 renders support in order to target different devices like set-top boxes, tablets and Smartphones.

SharePoint 2013, with all its innovative features, is indeed a great choice for those looking for an outstanding content management and collaboration solution that enhances productivity. If you planning for a sharepoint site migration to the latest version, make sure you evaluate the development company based on their expertise in handling migration services.

We provide sharepoint application development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert sharepoint developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.

10 Must-Know Things about SharePoint 2013 for All IT Pros

The release of SharePoint 2013 has been considered a great launch from Microsoft’s closet. It is derived from the earlier editions of SharePoint launched in 2007 and subsequently in 2010 to offer better support for mobile users, big data and public-centric websites. Let us probe into some crucial aspects of this latest release of Microsoft that all IT professionals need to know.

What’s so stunning about SharePoint 2013?

• Enhanced branding for better web presence: Gone are the days when lots of time had to be spent brooding over confusing designer assets, complicated style sheets and complex packages. The process has now become much more convenient. Presently, any web designer having adequate skills in CSS, HTML and JavaScript will be able to brand a public-facing as well as internal SharePoint site within a short span of time. This in turn leads to the reduction of expense for internal support. Moreover, the utilization of SharePoint as a platform for public-centric websites becomes much more cost-effective.

• Improved hosting for public-facing websites: Previously, it was indeed difficult to host a public-facing website over the SharePoint 2007 platform. The same site could be hosted on SharePoint 2010 with more convenience and with the brilliant capabilities of SharePoint 2013, the process evolved significantly. The latest release incorporates the ability to dish out pages for a variety of devices such as tablets, mobile phones and so on. The latest version of SharePoint also includes a large number of features with respect to search engine optimization, such as friendly URLs, XML based sitemaps, SEO setting by a variety of site collections as well as robots.txt support in order to delineate areas outside the boundary of search engine crawlers.

• Augmented business intelligence: SharePoint 2010 started off with a brilliant platform for big data reports and business intelligence and the capabilities witnessed considerable expansion with the release of SharePoint 2013. Now, SharePoint is equipped with the tools to provide enhanced business analytics and insights. The assimilation between Excel and SharePoint has also become tighter. Moreover the latest version also comes with a potent PowerPivot program which allows you to work with a plethora of columns and rows directly within the memory. Again, features like Dashboard Designer, Visio Services and PerformancePoint Services all function in unison to present a handsome picture of business metrics and health.

• End-user training: The latest version of SharePoint is equipped with an innovative feature that enables a particular group of site collections to operate under the 2010 version during installation of SharePoint 2013 code. In other words, the SharePoint 2010 code is being run within the 2013 version, which facilitates compatibility maintenance and testing with all applications and custom codes built over SharePoint.

• Enhanced mobile support: As SharePoint sites were being utilized in different categories of businesses, the issue of poor SharePoint performance in mobile devices was something that Microsoft had to cope with, so far as the earlier editions are concerned. Presently, we have the HTML5 coded view alternatively called the “contemporary” view which is tailor-made to ensure rapid access across BlackBerry, Android, iPads, iPhones and Windows Phone devices. New support is also available for push notifications, therefore the 2013 version can conveniently reach out as well as push any message into the device depending upon a number of factors.

• Machine translation services: This is one of the most innovative features of SharePoint 2013, which performs content translation automatically. In case an individual or entity requires content to be translated over and over again into several languages, then this Machine Translation Service is of immense help to the content creators.

• Simplified licensing: This facilitates the accessibility of features that were earlier allowed only after payment of extra license fees. An important feature, Fast Search, was available at additional price with the 2010 version but now it is assimilated within the 2013 edition and comes at no extra fee or license.

• Cloud readiness: The 2013 version of SharePoint is developed to make room for cloud services. It can operate totally in the cloud by means of Office 365 and constitutes all the major aspects of SharePoint on-premises.

A couple of concerns about SharePoint 2013

• Migration: It is a known fact that migration towards anything new has its own woes. When it comes to SharePoint 2013, you cannot adopt it unless you are already operating on the 2010 edition, until certain third-party tools are purchased.

• Distinct product editions: To maintain the cloud readiness, Microsoft has come up with two flavors of the product: SharePoint Server, that can be installed on own datacenter and premises and Office 365, which operates within the cloud (in Microsoft’s datacenters). This leads to a series of overlapping elements with respect to the capabilities and features, but Microsoft hopes to cater to all categories of client requirements.

Like every product that is launched into the market, SharePoint migration 2013 might bring with it a few worries. However, keeping in mind the striking and beneficial features of SharePoint 2013, the product indeed has a long way to go.

We provide sharepoint cms customization services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert sharepoint developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.