The Benefits of Using SharePoint in 2025

SharePoint is one of the most versatile and widely adopted tools in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. For businesses of all sizes, it serves as a powerful platform to create intranet sites, manage documents, enable collaboration, and streamline workflows.

As a cloud-based application, SharePoint can be accessed securely from any device, anywhere in the world. This makes it particularly valuable for UK organisations adapting to hybrid working models, where staff need easy access to files and collaboration tools both in-office and remotely.

What is SharePoint?

The term “SharePoint” refers to several products within Microsoft’s portfolio:

• SharePoint in Microsoft 365 – Included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, enabling businesses to create intranet portals and manage content.
• SharePoint Designer 2013 – A free tool historically used to build workflows (largely replaced by Power Automate).
• SharePoint Server – An on-premises version allowing advanced customisation, integration with Power BI and Microsoft Flow.
• OneDrive Sync – A desktop app syncing SharePoint and OneDrive files for offline use.

This flexibility allows businesses to use SharePoint in a way that best suits their document management and collaboration needs.

Pros and Cons:

SharePoint was initially designed in order to improve corporate teamwork and make collaboration easy.  Many businesses use SharePoint as the basis of their intranet, which is a private network used to store and access documents and files within the business network. Benefits to the business include:

• Integration with Microsoft 365: Seamlessly connects with Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook, consolidating productivity tools.
• Familiarity: Businesses already using Microsoft Office apps find the interface easier to adopt.
• Collaboration: SharePoint becomes a central hub for file sharing, version control, and team communication.
• Data Security: Protected by Microsoft’s enterprise-grade measures, including encryption, compliance certifications, and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Customisation: Offers branding options, Power Apps for forms, and Power Automate for workflows tailored to your business.

Potential Challenges

• Complex Set-up: Migrating data into SharePoint can be complex. A report found that nearly a third of businesses took six months to a year to fully adopt it. Partnering with an IT services provider like SupportWise ensures smooth deployment.
• Customisation Overload: With so many options, managing and maintaining custom workflows can become complicated.
• Training Requirements: Staff need structured training to use SharePoint effectively.
• Costs: While included in many Microsoft 365 licences, implementation, consultancy, and customisation can be expensive for medium-sized businesses.

Benefits to your business

For medium or larger enterprises who want to have a fully customised intranet system without having to pay for a completely bespoke, from-scratch solution, SharePoint could be a great option. Despite the complexity and difficulty in using it SharePoint has several benefits for your business. These include:

1. Empowering Hybrid working – With employees working at home and in the office with SharePoint you can guarantee everyone, regardless of location can access, edit, share and create documents.

2. Improved data management - By having all data stored in the same place, all employees can access the information they need whenever they need it without wasting time hunting in different locations.

3. Simplified workflow – Some tasks are made easier to track and therefore workflow is improved as collecting signatures, routing documents for approval or publication and tracking work tasks for the team becomes quick and easy.

4. Real-Time collaboration – With teams now split between the office and home introducing a system which improves collaboration can only be positive. Sharing, editing and reviewing documents becomes more straightforward as well as ensuring everyone is always working from the most up-to-date documents and can collaborate in real time

5. Increased productivity – By eliminating the need to search for up-to-date documents, waiting for documents to be approved and hunting for client information, productivity will immediately be improved.

6. Centralised IT support – By using a centralised system, making configurational changes can be done once and then rolled out to all users, meaning the time spent on these tasks is greatly reduced.

‍Why SharePoint is Ideal for SMEs and Enterprises Alike

For medium and large enterprises, SharePoint provides a customisable intranet solution without the cost of building a bespoke platform. For SMEs, it offers enterprise-grade tools - document management, collaboration, and compliance features, at an accessible price point within Microsoft 365.

SharePoint remains one of the most cost-effective, scalable, and secure collaboration tools for businesses in 2025. Despite a learning curve, its ability to transform teamwork, streamline workflows, and enhance productivity makes it a strategic investment.

Considering SharePoint for your business but unsure where to start? Contact SupportWise today for advice on setup, migration, and training tailored to your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions